A New Adventure
Posted on 09/10/11 08:42pm GMT-6
Tags: blog, Walking 1,
Dave and I have embarked on a journey. It is not one that requires a suitcase and passport (unfortunately J), but it will be eye opening and life changing. After 15 years in the same church, God has called us away. We will be joining a VERY small congregation that has a VERY big mission’s heart! We started this journey several months ago, but had no idea where it was going to end. In fact, we thought we were just taking a ministry break and would be back worshipping in our same pew by the end of the summer.
We spent the summer visiting the churches of friends and random ones that we were interested in. Most all of them were meaningful in some form or fashion, but none ‘drew’ us. Then we visited the last church and the rest as they say is history.
Over the past few years we have come to realize that God has been drawing us to ‘minister to the ministers’. He has opened door after door to allow us the privilege of walking beside and encouraging those who are on the ‘front lines’. We will definitely have this privilege at our new church. The pastor and his wife need folks to walk beside them. The congregation is mostly young in age and many in spiritual maturity as well. We officially fall in to the category of ‘old folks’.
We don’t know exactly what it is all going to look like or where it will eventually lead, but for now we are headed out allowing Him to weave the tapestry one stitch at a time. I love how this has happened as I am teaching the first semester of “Walking Through the Stories” because this is just one more story in HIS story.
The tapestry God is weaving may seem a mystery, but HE knows exactly how it will look in the end.  It's about Compassion
Posted on 08/28/11 08:56pm GMT-6
Tags: blog, Compassion International,
Not sure why blogging is so far down on my list of priorities, but in spite of my best intentions it seems to not get done. Oh well!
Over the summer, Dave and I took a step back from ministry and spent some time slowing down and really seeking God’s best for us and future ministry. God showed us several things and one of the ones we are the most excited about is partnering with Compassion International.
We had heard of Compassion before, but it wasn’t until Tucker’s involvement through Student Life that we began to see what an incredible ministry it was. We love the way they seek to ‘release children from poverty in Jesus’ name.’ They are above reproach in their handling of finances and in spite of the size of the organization it very much operates like a close knit family!
Tucker and his girlfriend Morgan began to sponsor a young girl and we decided that if 2 college kids could do it then so could we! J We ventured out by beginning to sponsor Samir in Colombia. At about the same time I began following Shaun Groves’ blog as he led blogging tours for Compassion. We were MOVED by the stories that were written as these bloggers experienced personal encounters with poverty and God who is intimately aware. Reading their accounts drew us in deeper and deeper.
In June after meeting with a Compassion volunteer we knew that God was calling us to join this ministry. (We also decided to sponsor another child and this time we selected an older girl from Burkina Faso. Her name is Faosia.)
Since then we have participated in the training required to become Child Advocates. Our role is to help promote Compassion and the different programs they support: Sponsorship, Child Survival Program and their newest program Clean Water. (OH, and we have also started sponsoring Popi from Pakistan! J)
All of this is to tell you that Shaun Groves is kicking off a blogging tour to promote his incredible new album “Third World Symphony”. The goal of the album is to bring awareness to the problem of poverty! The music is deep and powerful and will stay with you long after the last track has finished! If you are interested, check out his ‘blogging stops’ and follow along!
While you’re at it check out Compassion International too! I would be embarrassed, but...
Posted on 07/25/11 08:54pm GMT-6
Tags: blog, new study,
I would be embarrassed about the fact that I have not blogged in 2 years, but decided not to waste time making excuses and apologizing. :-)
Instead I will just get to the heart of the matter. We will be kicking off a new study in just a few weeks...3 to be exact. "Walking Through the Stories: Starting with Genesis" will begin on August 17th. It is going to be a time of slowly going through the stories and seeing what they teach us about God and the tapestry HE is weaving. I cannot wait!!!!
God has been doing some cool things in our lives during this summer break. We knew ahead of time that He was calling us to a time of rest -- a sabbatical. We have spent the last 8 weeks really stepping back from ministry and even visiting other churches, just for the sake of visiting. We have gotten to experience some great and fresh times of worship. We are SO thankful!
I can't wait to start opening His word with you again. It is going to be an amazing time of discovery.
Know that I am already praying for you!
Karen
Ps 119:1-5 Wise Women study kicking off
Posted on 08/18/09 02:33pm GMT-6
Tags: blog,
Oh my goodness! Seems like I fell off the blogging wagon all summer in spite of my best intentions. See???? Good intentions are worth nothing unless accompanied by action. Ok…that is going to be the topic for another blog.
For now, I just wanted to let you know that we are kicking of a new Study. It is “Wise Women…” Each week we will complete the sentence with a different characteristic. The first lecture will be on line tomorrow!
I cannot wait to study God’s word with you. Please let me know how I can serve and pray for you!
Karen
Zeph 3:17 a MEMORABLE service
Posted on 06/10/09 08:57am GMT-6
Tags: blog,
I had an experience today that has made me laugh and giggle ALL day so I figured I might as well share it with you and allow you to laugh at me….I mean WITH me!
Let me set the stage…I went to a memorial service this afternoon and sat on the 4th row, next to a couple of good friends. Across the aisle, but up on the first 2 rows were the family. Most people had programs in hand, but by the time I entered there were none left.
Promptly at 2 pm, Jeff (our minister of music) moved up to the platform and the pianist began playing The Old Rugged Cross. I LOVE that hymn because it has great harmony and I began to sing along with gusto. I noticed that family members on the second row turned and glanced at me, but I did not think anything of it. BIG MISTAKE!
After happily (and loudly) singing along for quite some time, I realized that the only voices I could hear were Jeff’s and my own. I began to glance around and saw that no other mouths were moving. I quickly became silent and leaned over to Chris and asked why no one else was singing. She grinned and shrugged. LeAnn who was sitting next to her reached over to someone else and grabbed a program. To my total mortification, the family had requested that Jeff sing that hymn as a solo! :-)
Chris, LeAnn and I became VERY tickled. Poor Jeff was up on stage trying to stay composed and not look at us. Then to graciously help cover my faux pas he asked everyone to join him on the last verse.
At the close of the service, the comments were never ending. My voice was apparently heard even to the back row and folks were wondering who was singing. Someone else told me that they had not seen my name in the program. Still others thought it was planned. BUT trust me, I will NEVER live this down.
Thankfully, I am sure that Miss Betty enjoyed it and got a good laugh out of it!
AND, I am SO thankful for that extra serving of grace as is promised in James 4:6!:-)
Til we sing again,
Karen The Good Life?
Posted on 05/14/09 07:50pm GMT-6
Tags: blog,
In my last post I talked about how blessed I am to get to teach and shepherd women. The blessing continues to multiply as God allows me to do that overseas as well. I just returned from a 2 week trip where He created so many incredible divine moments.
I never come home from these trips the same. There are always experiences that mark and shape me. In this one, it is the eyes of a 5 year old girl that continue to permeate my thoughts and mind. She sells trinkets to tourists at the temples of Angkor Wat. Her english is limited to “Five for one dollar”. I could not resist and made a purchase. It was the eyes…sweet, gentle and innocent…that drew me in.
As I walked away pondering the insignificant difference my $1 would make, I was suddenly overcome with pity. I began to ask questions like:
*What chance of success does she have?
*What kind of life will she lead?
*What educational opportunities will she ever enjoy?
As the questions rolled on and on, I found myself wanting to weep for her…for the life she would never have.
I went before the Lord later that morning and journaled about our encounter. I poured out my questions and heart before Him. Then in the quiet, I heard His still small voice suggesting that maybe, just maybe I was the one who was to be pitied. That all these things I thought she was ‘missing’, had become but distractions in my life. MY GREAT LIFE…was maybe not so great after all from an eternal perspective.
Maybe those luxuries and those things that the world defines as proof of the good life were just distractions from the true contentment and simplicity He longs for me to have. It was a gentle yet firm reminder that there is much contentment to be found in a life lived outside of what I consider to be the ‘good life’.
I am seeing my life differently these days. Am I blessed to have been born a woman in America? NO DOUBT. However, the life I live every day is something I need to always be looking at. Is it the life HE would have me live? He has a plan for me. He has a plan for her. Into both of our lives He has declared “a future and a hope”.
Karen
Jeremiah 29:11-12 A Wonderful Job
Posted on 04/9/09 03:02pm GMT-6
Tags: blog,
What an incredible job I have! I don’t mean a paying job. I am talking about the job that God has given me to teach and shepherd women.
Last week a visitor joined our study and she enjoyed it so much that she came back again. Today’s topic was about being saved by grace. That God has offered us this incredible gift and all we have to do is receive it.
After class was over, this precious lady approached and asked if we could talk for a few minutes. We found a quiet room and after a few seconds of tears she just said, “I am lost!” Not wanting to assume anything, I asked her to clarify. She took a couple of deep breaths and told me that she did not think she was saved, in spite of the fact that she had been attending church and had even been baptized. She did not know what to do.
I led her over to the white board and walked her through the ‘bridge illustration’ and after being sure she understood, we knelt there in that empty classroom and she asked Jesus to be Lord of her life. What a gift!!! There is nothing sweeter than getting to be there as someone makes life’s most important decision.
There is no job I would rather be doing. There is no income I would rather be earning because NOTHING could be more rewarding than shepherding women into a relationship with Christ…and I have been privileged to participate in that twice this semester.
Know that as I teach each week, I long to shepherd each of you in person…wherever you are and whatever your needs. I am eternally grateful for this modern technology, and I hope you know, should you need me, I am just an email away.
Grateful for the privilege,
Karen Lessons learned from the puppy
Posted on 03/23/09 08:54pm GMT-6
Tags: blog,
We have added yet another girl to our clan. A couple of weeks ago we had the bright idea to go “LOOK” at some puppies, and of course we could not come home empty handed. We came home with a precious female lab mix that we named Annabelle. I had forgotten how exhausting it is to have a ‘baby’ in the house. (At 8 weeks she already weighed in at 18lbs!)
Thankfully we have a 10 year old lab who has helped tremendously with the training and supervision. Although we have discovered that Maggie is NOT a morning dog and has very little tolerance for Annabelle before about 9:00 a.m. :-)
I have been thinking today about the similarities in my relationship with Annie and God’s relationship with me. Annie’s heart is good. But she is always busy and wanting to be involved in everything. She is running here and there and often sticking her nose..and sometimes her entire body….where it doesn’t belong! However, there is not much I enjoy more than when she will sit and be still at my feet. I love having her quietly in my presence.
Are you seeing the parallel?
It is so much like me and maybe you. My heart is good…desiring to do the right things. But I am often busy and wanting to be involved in everything. I am running around and sometimes sticking my nose…and sometimes my whole self…into situations where I have no business being. God just wants me to be still and to be with Him! To sit quietly at His feet and enjoy His presence.
You may think it is a stretch, but today, as I have watched Annie, I have been continually reminded of Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God….
Until next time,
Karen A New Arena
Posted on 03/1/09 09:35pm GMT-6
Tags: blog,
Do you remember the girl that my oldest son spent Thanksgiving with? She is now officially joining our family. Erin and Gerrit got engaged last weekend. I am thrilled about finally having a real daughter, but not quite sure about assuming the title of mother-in-law!
I am one of the fortunate ones….having had a great relationship with my mother-in-law for the past 23 years! It is a relationship that I want to duplicate and even improve upon as I delve in to this arena myself. One thing has become quite clear….it is up to me! At first glance that statement may make it appear that she is unwilling, but that is not at all what I mean.
I am the one who raised the man she is marrying…and therefore think I have the expertise needed to continue his progress. I am the one who now wears the ‘label’ that our society holds in much contempt. I am the one with the strong personality. So, you see, in my mind all of these things put the ball in my court…and God has confirmed it.
I love the way He is in ALL the details. Last week I taught on being a servant and God’s lesson to me was VERY clear. The way I can have the relationship I long to have with Erin is to serve her…..truly serve her out of love! That is what I mean by ‘it’s up to me’.
So, as I pray to be an awesome mother-in-law, would you join me? Pray that I would be “quick to listen, slow to speak and full of love” and pray also that I would serve her following the example of Jesus serving the disciples in John 13….as an act of love and being willing to do what needs doing, regardless.
Becoming all He wants me to be,
Karen
Phil 1:6 New Study Begins
Posted on 01/7/09 02:42pm GMT-6
Tags: blog,
We are beginning our new study today...."Who is this Jesus?" I am so thankful you will be joining us.Feel free to share the site! My desire is to make bible studies available to any woman who desires to listen. May He speak to you! A Merry Heart
Posted on 12/8/08 09:12pm GMT-6
Tags: blog,
I am the mother of 3 boys – Gerrit (20), Tucker (18) and Philip (13). If you have raised boys, or are raising them, you know that they are a breed unto themselves. Grunts, groans and wrestling are just a part of everyday life.
I long ago gave up any form of wrestling because they were so much stronger. Instead I learned to rely on more subtle forms of attack! Tonight I scored a HUGE victory. It was haircut night and Tucker was the last one in the chair. He headed upstairs to shower and as I cleaned up, I held in my hand the squirt bottle that had been used to wet his hair.
It only took a fraction of a second to make the decision and as quickly as possible, I headed up too. What ensued was a wonderful surprise attack! I was definitely on the winning side because I had the squirt bottle and he was totally unprepared. The result was the slamming of several doors and PEALS of laughter (mine of course) as I bolted for cover.
As I lay on my bed protected by a locked door I laughed until I could hardly breathe, while Tucker paced on the other side! WHEW it was fun…though I will have to be looking over my shoulder until he retaliates.
As I relished the victory and the laughter I was reminded of a verse “Uncle Pete” had me memorize. Proverbs 17:22 “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones” (KJV).
So, if you are in need of a good laugh, may I suggest arming yourself with a squirt bottle?
Laughing with you,
Karen Thanksgiving as the seasons change...
Posted on 11/23/08 07:57pm GMT-6
Tags: blog,
The seasons are changing. Summer suddenly became fall and winter is fast on its heels. I am acutely aware that not only is the weather changing, but my life is changing as well. I am entering a new season and it is approaching as quickly as winter.
For many years our family has headed to Kentucky for Thanksgiving to join the Burke clan. This year will be the same….except for that change I mentioned. Our oldest son will not be with us. He is going to Florida with a very special girl. I find myself a bit torn. I love this girl and that really has nothing to do with it. It has more to do with the passage of time.
This boy that used to scream whenever I left him with a baby sitter is now only all too happy to separate from his mother and follow this sweet girl. He is no longer a boy, but is quickly becoming a man...the very thing we raised him to be. He has changed just like the seasons are changing and it is sort of happening too quickly for me.
However, as I have watched the leaves go from green to brown and then fall to the ground and watched my boy cut one more string on the apron, I have been reminded that Jesus never changes (Hebrews 13:8). He will be the same when winter shifts again to spring and when my 2 other boys themselves find those special girls. He promises it and THAT is something that will never change and I find myself filled with Thanksgiving.
Praying for you this Thanksgiving season…
Karen Finishing one study....starting another!
Posted on 07/29/08 04:05pm GMT-6
Tags: blog,
Tonight we will finish up the 8 week study on prayer. On August the 13th, I will begin teaching through Hebrews 11. I would love to have you join us. The ladies here would LOVE to be able to pray for you by name. Would you let me know if will be studying along with us? After Meeting You
Posted on 07/4/08 12:59pm GMT-6
Tags: blog,
I met you!!!! God placed you on my heart back in January, but I did not know your names or your faces. Then last week, I had the great joy of meeting some of you. It was SUCH a pleasure to sit, talk and get to pray together. My life has been enriched because of it!
I am more passionate than ever to teach and put it on the web for you to access. It is my heart’s desire to serve and encourage you, so I hope that you will contact me and let me know how I can best do that.
I confess to struggling a bit being back in ‘my world’, because I left my heart in yours. But I am reminded frequently of the words of a friend – “Wherever you are….BE THERE!” So, every day I am going to get up and be ready for what God has in store for me here and I pray you will be ready wherever you are.
Stay the course, my sisters! Make it a priority to spend time with Him each and every day! It is after seeking first His kingdom that the other things are added unto you!
Thanking God for you,
Karen The First Chapter
Posted on 03/25/08 07:07pm GMT-6
Tags: blog,
Some times the journey is so clear, and at other times we arrive at a destination and have no idea how it happened. It is only as we look back that we can see His hand so clearly. That is where I find myself today as I sit looking at this website. I am here, but it is only in looking back that I can see how I arrived. Not even a week ago, could I have envisioned it.
My sweet husband was the one who began pointing out the pieces of the big picture, showing me that indeed God has clearly been leading me to THIS place and time….and He had been doing it since my first breath.
I was born overseas…grew up in Venezuela and Colombia. I have known about God since, well….since forever it seems. But 9 years ago I had a radical life changing encounter with Him. I began longing to know Him…not just know about Him. As I began to put down roots, I became passionate about helping others put down roots as well. He led me to begin teaching.
He also placed in me a desire to “go” and reach the world. It is through this that He started knitting my heart to workers in other places. He has shown me that the workers are longing…needing… to be filled.
It is impossible to share all the details, but as only He can do, these two passions have been brought together. He has provided the support, resources and know-how to put His teaching on the web. The material you will find on this site belongs to God alone. May He use it in your life to fill and renew and restore you….where ever you happen to live.
I am praying that “you will be recklessly abandoned, totally surrendered, and separated by God – 4 one purpose – to proclaim the gospel of God.”
On the journey with you,
Karen
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