you never know

So, here I am in Orlando for a meeting. I go to the gym and spa this morning before my meetings start and guess who I run into in the gym. Danny Wuerffel. (Kevin, this is a former GATOR, Heisman Trophy recipient- you know the guy that Georgia could never beat). Now I don't have the guts to snap a picture as Kevin Connell does..and I'm way too cool to ask for an autograph ...besides what would I do with his signature? Should I ask for his sweat on my towel as a momento? Nah. We shook hands and guess what we talked about? Jesus-stuff. We talked about his ministry - big strides since being devastated by hurricane Katrina and how there are still many needs. hint hint Youth teams during the summer... you just never know who you're gonna run into.

The 1 week 15 minute challenge

I was listening to a preacher on the radio the other day and he talked about the pitiful state in which a survey indicated that Christians spend very little time with Jesus, and do so inconsistently at that. Their Master. Their Savior. Their Everything. He basically identified three periods of 15 minute sessions that if faithfully followed, would radically change our relationship with Jesus. I thought to myself, I don’t do all three MOST days.

Sometimes, just one….and there are days that, my heart is saddened to admit, not even one 15 minute session – or if so, simply a feeble attempt so I can feel righteous about my works. When my time with Jesus is in this self-righteous manner, I failed to remember that this offering….STINKS TO GOD! It isn’t a sweet aroma.
So, the 15 minutes are:

1st- 15 minutes a day hearing from God. This is accomplished by being in His Word. Psalm 119:11 (NKJV) Your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against You. Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

2nd- 15 minutes a day talking with God. Also known as prayer. Romans 12:12 (NKJV): rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; I’m not talking the ‘take your shopping list of needs to Jesus’ kind of prayer! I’m talking confessing, repenting, adoring, worshiping and praying for others. Yes! Jesus knows what you need. When you start to spend more time focusing on Him and others, you’ll spend less time worrying about yourself.

3rd- 15 minutes a day talking about God... Jesus. Witnessing and sharing. Acts 26:22“Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great….”Luke 1:79 “To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death….” Just as we once were!
What a great way to being acting out your commitments to God. It’s a fresh new day – new mercies extended to us. What would be a challenge to you? Just doing one? Then begin with one! Two out of three? That’s a step! All three? Careful…you’re crossing into the danger zone of being radical !
Whatever your choice, care to take the challenge? For one week? I’d love to hear from you at the end of the week and share what God has done in your life! For this upcoming week – my personal goal is 2 out of 3...faithfully without fail.
Do number 2 for me would ya? Oops! I guess I’ll rephrase that and ask you to pray for me!! Serving Jesus Together!!

Not Leading!

I received this from Kevin, the Youth Pastor with whom I serve in the student ministry @ Promise Land Baptist Church. Check out his blog @ www.pluthpastor.blogspot.com.
He sent this article and said : Within the blogworld I came across this guy's post on leadership. I don't know him, but what he wrote is worth the read. For those of you whom God has called to lead, it will rock you. It rocked me! If you aren't rocked by it, I guess you're on it... "Well done thou good and faithful servant." For me, it was a reminder of what leading really is. I printed a copy and pinned it to the wall by my desk. Click here to read it. "

For those who are not in ministry, the same thoughts can be applied to the corporate world. This That is why many of you, my corporate contacts, are receiving this as you are leaders in your fields and I think could appreciate the crossover into the business world as you lead. Karen

A new day

Today is Thursday @ 10 am and I just got back from running. And guess what? Unlike Monday (you have to read "Are you feelin' it" to appreciate today's blabber) I looked forward to my time. I also had a new goal of going from 2 miles to reaching 3 miles today. It didn’t happen. But I’m not bummed about it. In time it will happen, but instead of making it happen in one day, I need to build up to that next mile. So my usual 2 miles in 28 minutes was today another ~1/2 mile in 34 minutes and walked another 4 to cool down. I am happy for the little progress!

This reminds me again of my quiet time. I’m not going to receive a “ramah” from God or feel moved by the scripture every day. But I certainly won’t receive either if I’m not in the Word at all. Meeting with Him each day moves us further down that path of sanctification, whether we feel it or not. Not all moments with God are going to be HUGE, at least mine aren’t. But every moment spent with God is good. My good and ultimately, His glory. If I want to hear from God, I need to be prepared to hear from God. My hands open, my spirit yielded, and my heart ready. God loves to spend time with me; all of his children.

Today is a new day. He is there waiting for you. Why don’t ya go spend a little time alone with Jesus?
Psalm 27:14
Wait on the LORD; be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the LORD!

I'm not feelin' it

Ok, so it was almost two weeks since I ran. Vacation in the mountains, visiting a sick Granny, a cold..all excuses but none the less, valid. So Monday I made myself go running. I didn’t want to. I wasn’t feeling the usual excitement and joy about it..it felt more like a chore than a pleasure. Not necessarily un-enjoyable, but I wasn’t feelin it you know?
Ever feel that way about your daily quiet time? This is shocking coming from you girls’ Sunday school teacher..but there are times I’m simply not feelin’ it. There are days I don’t get out of bed and dive into the Word.. There are even days when during the entire day I have meant to have a meaningful quiet time, but never got around to it and it is now 11 pm and not going to happen.
On those days, I tell my Father that I recognize that I didn’t make Him my priority and actually felt my lost time with Him throughout the day. Then I move on. I don’t beat myself up about it, I simply try to make it more of a priority the next day.
Even when the I’m not feeling it days come I still need to have that time with God. It helps create a good habit. The time together reminds me of the source of my joy, encouragement, and salvation, Jesus. It helps me be faithful and obedient.

So, on those days that you’re not feelin it….be faithful. It is for your good.

So how did I physically feel after running 2 miles after skipping nearly 2 weeks? Painful. Every muscle in my body was aching afterwards. I was now feelin it!!! But I know over the long run – no pun intended- it helps me be faithful and reach my goal.

Feeling "hedged in"?

Psalm 139 You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it.

You ever get the feeling that things aren't happening as they should? A situation hasn't changed as you expected or anticipated? A plan isn't turning out quite right? Progress isn't happening?!

We were "in contract" with selling our house..in October! It hasn't happened. We moved in June-ish into the new digs..translation..two mortgages!!
July - not sold. Cool. God's in control.
August - not sold. Cool. God's in control.
Sept. - not sold. Cool. God's in control.
October - offer of contract. Signed. Cool. God's in control.
Nov - contract buyer issues. Less -cool. God's in control.
December - same issue. Way-less Cool. God's STILL in control.
Jan 2-contract broke, sale not happening. Not cool - but guess what?? God isn't surprised and He's still in control. What is he trying to teach us? Peace in uncertainty. Stewardship of His resources. Open-handed living...any and all perhaps.

Anxiety can begin to creep in and make you doubt what you know to be God's plan for you. You get a boxed in feeling. Pressure. Overwhelming. When God's plan isn't so clear any more especially in these times we must remember- Gods' got my back!! The psalmist uses the word hedged in. God will use certain circumstances to limit our actions. Force our focus on Him and what He's trying to teach us.

Feel like your feet are held close to the fire a bit too long? Don't flinch brother!
Feel like you're compressed from all sides? Take a deep breath sister and just be .....patient, still, obedient, trusting....whatever it is that God is trying to teach you. Be encouraged as God loves you so much He is teaching you to be more like Him. Imagine the lesson learned when you have completed the process -refined is a good word. Clarity. Pure. A bit more conformed to His image. Didn't do so well in the trial? Failed or gave up? Don't worry - you'll get another chance!! Because He loves you too much to leave you in the state you're in!

Today's Turning Point; David Jeremiah

Tuesday, December 25
Service Stars
Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people.Luke 1:68

Recommended ReadingMatthew 2:1-11

A story is told of a man and his son who were walking slowly down the street one night, observing all the service stars hanging in the windows of homes to proudly proclaim the fact that a son was serving his country in war. The little boy clapped his hands excitedly each time he saw another star and was very impressed to see some houses had more than one star. Finally, they came to an open area where there were no houses, and the evening star shone bright in the velvet blackness. Suddenly the little boy said, "Oh look, Daddy. God must have given His Son, for He has a star in His window!"
When you see the star atop the Christmas tree, let it be a reminder to you of the immeasurable sacrifice God made when He sent His precious Son to earth so that we may have eternal life with Him. Offer a word of praise and thanksgiving to God for His gift that came "wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger" (Luke 2:12).
More light than we can learn, More wealth than we can treasure, More love than we can earn, More peace than we can measure, Because one Child is born. Christopher Fry

What if ...

I like presents, don't get the wrong impression form the previous blog that I don't like presents. I got to thinking, what is my gift to Jesus? It is after all, His day of celebration. What if this year I choose to actually live out the Casting Crowns song ""If we are the body"?
"But if we are the body Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing? Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way? There is a way."

What would happen if I actually lived this out? How can I do this?

• I make dinner for my sick neighbor
• I visit my friend's mother in the hospital and share Jesus
• I pour myself into my kids
• I show honor to my husband AND fervently prayed for his godly leadership in our family
• I hang a JESUS stocking on the mantle along with the others and started a tradition where each family member places a note describing their own gift to Him for the new year. What a great conversation starter for the visitors!
• I am swift to hear and slow to speak
• I place a mini table-top christmas tree somewhere special all year. I write the names or initials of those I love who are lost on bulbs and hang them on the tree. Through the year I can add names as well as remove those who got saved. Great visual to help remind me the harvest is plentiful
• Be a harvest worker!
• I handed out PD4 cards with a glad heart!
• I let Jesus inconvenience my timetable with His!!
• I spent the 24 days in December leading up to Christmas in dedicated prayer about..well whatever God wants to talk about. I hush and listen.
• I learn new things so God can use me in ways beyond MY capability. Yield and obey!
• I sincerely thank those who minister to my kids...
• ...and in turn, minister to theirs.

Wow, there are tons of ways to give our King gifts. How about just one?

"Are you ready for Christmas?"

I have been asked this question, as have you, alot! Even today I was asked twice. For some reason that question disturbs me. It is an innocent enough question and I understand everyone's meaning. Have I bought all the stuff yet?! (no, I haven't) Grocery shopped? (Sam's last week!) House clean? (It was on Friday)...

I am ready for Christmas, and have been for over 4 years. See for me, this Christmas is something more personal. It isn't a happy holiday. It is the day God expressed His extreme love for me in that His Son chose to leave His glorious kingdom and become a human like me- for me. Born in humility and to die in humility. Because of what He did, not because of who I am. The Bible tells of His virgin birth, His sacrifice of death because of our sin, and His resurrection from the dead. If it weren't for the sin of man (yours and mine) there would be no NEED for Christmas. Do you get that?

Satan uses something fun and good (sharing gifts) to divert the real meaning of Christmas. Have you ever seen a cat staring at a bright and shiny christmas bulb or ribbon? Their eyes are so transfixed! They don't even blink. Satan has done the same thing. He has tricked us into staring at the shiny thing instead of the Saving thing..The Word! Jesus! The shiny bulb on the tree isn't bad...but it can be when that's what we fix our focus on the stuff.

Jesus' holy spirit put on flesh that day, Christmas Day. Why would He leave glory and splendor and come to Earth knowing His path would end at the cross, covered in my sin, seperated from His Father for the first time? To offer a gift so utterly unbelievable. Are you ready for this? He became like me, flesh, so I could become like Him. I asked forgiveness of my sin and asked Him to be my Lord. See, I accepted the greatest gift of all.

So, sorry if I hesitate when you ask, "Hey Karen, are you ready for christmas?". My heart's desire is to ask you...Are you ready? If you don't have evidence in your life that Jesus transformed you..completely rocked your world and made you NEW, then you're not ready. His word is very clear on this. Jesus came once and He promised to come again for His own.

So Iask with all sincerity, Are you ready for Christmas?

December 7, 1941: The Day of Infamy

http://switchboard.real.com/player/email.html?PV=6.0.12&&title=National%20Geographic%20Channel%20Pearl%20Harbor%20special&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nationalgeographic.com%2Fngm%2F0106%2Fav%2Ff5m1.ram

http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq66-3b.htm

December 7, 1941. The day the Japanese military attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, crippling the Pacific fleet and causing military and civilian casualties to reach a toll of 2388 dead and 1178 wounded. Even for those not present, the events of that day would forever change the lives of most americans.

Being a nurse, I have tried to imagine being on duty on that Sunday morning at the base hospital in Hawaii. In 1941 I'd be wearing a fresh starched white nurse's uniform complete with cap and stockings. If it were quiet at 0755, I'd have already completed shift change and would begin rounds on my patients. Within a hour that very uniform would be unrecognizable now being covered with battleships and plane fuel that covered my patients, but more so covered with the flesh and blood of servicemen who were burned and wounded. I wouldn't have near enough medication to quell their cries of pain and suffering. The injuried would just keep coming and coming. I'd hear the panic screams of "Nurse, over hear! Help!".

Sorry of its a bit graphic, but I think at times we forget the reality of an event, thereby not giving true appreciation to those who were there and were involved. Not only on Dec 7 but in all of WW II.

Please take the time to view and hear the recollection of men who survived the attack and the FDR speech. The second link is to a written interview with Lieutenant Ruth Erickson, NC, USN a nurse who reported to the hospital the day of the attack.

To all war veterans...thank you.