Flourish and Redemption

FLOURISH

Flourish as a verb - to flourish. The definition is to grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way, especially as the result of a particularly favorable environment. 

That is absolutely the most beautiful thing I have ever read.

The image I get is of a person whom, given the opportunity to be in a favorable environment for growth, does just that - grows deeply and develops in a healthy way - which means they Flourish! 

I believe Jesus wants us to Flourish in every space He places us and brings us to on our journeys. But if we are being honest here, not every place on your journey is going to be the right temperament or temperature to be categorized as healthy. In order to flourish during those times, you must be keenly aware of your gifts - the very ones God gave you. When in the valley, be reminded of the gifts and the mountain top peaks you have experienced with the lover of your soul, and those days in the valleys can be met with life change and good fruit to bear.

God's Word. It's active and alive - sharper than any two edged sword - and it can cut through darkness and pain like a hot knife on butter...it can also wound deeply when taken out of context and used harshly. The Scriptures must be your measuring tool against all other words and flourishing in a dark space can happen when you study and proclaim His Word. 

Prayer. Communication with God is vital to staying connected to the vine and allow fruit to be produced in you. Dialogue about your day - He knows, He cares. Start with simple thoughts and praise to Him. Stay in constant communication with Him and He won't seem distant and far off - He sticks closer than a brother, because you have the Holy Spirit living IN you! Speak the lavish name of Jesus and know He is listening.

Focus. In order to flourish in something, we must be focused in the right direction. When I had the chicks, although I am focused on them and listening to their words and desires of their hearts, my main focus was not providing a service to them, my focus was providing Jesus. I wanted to fix their problems at times, or help them solve problems together, but ultimately my job was to serve them Jesus.  Not as an appetizer either...it needs to be full on eight course meal with all the trimmings! :) I am not trying to be insensitive by referring to Jesus as food...because let's be honest, he is soo soo sooooooo much more than that! If I am not offering them Jesus as an answer or anything biblical for that matter, then I might as well be serving him up with a side of chips and salsa, because at that point it doesn't much matter.  The focus is Jesus. Our eyes are on Him and He is getting all the glory for the circumstances, the gifts, the mess, and mundane.

Lean In. Ahhh...the dreaded words that often get lumped in with "tension." If you are in a space where the temperature and temperament are not good for flourishing, you will need to lean in to that tension. Jesus is still in that space, even if you are the only one seeking Him. When you lean in, your trust is in Him, not in you, and that leaning in allows your heart to relinquish all consequences of the obedience that He has called you to.  Leaning in is hard, not gonna mince those words, but it's also the only way to feel that Jesus is there and that on the other side of it comes freedom in flourishing in a healthy space.

REDEMPTION

Everyone has a chance for redemption when Jesus is involved. He can cleanse even the most vile of people or circumstances. When all has been stripped from you and you feel you have nothing left, that is often when God's redemptive story shines brightest.

This week I found myself smack in the middle of part of His redemption for my life. I had signed up to mentor women younger than me through a program called Flourish at our church. I was not hesitant at all--God has been preparing me for this moment for years! My heart for a mentor/mentee relationship was strong because I was mentored and poured into in my 20's and I still keep in touch with the wonderful woman whom I affectionately call my spiritual mom. I also have spent the last few years pouring into my sweet chicks...I deeply love them and miss them like crazy, but I trust God's plan is perfect for all of us, even when it feels terrible at times.
I had a questionnaire to fill out and then a short interview to go through...I had some nerves that day, but my interviewer was just the sweetest. I felt confident that God was already aligning hearts and guiding the leaders as they match women up.
As the meeting date approached I felt giddy, excited about the future of sharing Jesus over food and gatherings and coffee. Before I opened my folder I prayed:

Lord, you give and you take away. My heart has learned to trust you in that, even when it's hard and I am sad. Thank you for the past gifts and thank you for the present ones. May our hearts collide like only you have designed. 

As I peeked in my folder and saw the goodness that awaits - tons of information, a book, and material to peruse...I saw their names....I read their bios, and all the questions they answered. I began counting- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
FIVE?
FIVE, LORD?
It was my tears that started first...I could barely speak.
Thank you Lord! Thank you for the five you are entrusting me with.

And just like that.

God brought redemption. Everything that was snatched, stolen, lost...in one fail swoop He redeemed it all. The girl in front of me was my connect group leader. She knew. She knew about my chicks, she knew all we had come through. She smiled and we hugged and we said thanks and amen together.

Flourish and Redemption.
May Jesus be ever close to you regardless of where you are in the redemption story...but know this - your heart can flourish because of a Savior who loves you dear one - regardless of circumstance. Find Him in all things.

With love,

Karen

Thanksgiving

Shelley Giglio has the coolest friends! Monday night at the GROVE she shared more of them with us! Ann Voskamp was in the house and her words were a gift to my soul.  I have read parts of One Thousand Gifts and the other three ladies I was with had never heard of it. Basically it was a dare from a friend for her to find a thousand things to be thankful for...but it ended up turning in to something so much more. A life filled with God's good grace pouring out each and every day...a life reflecting the Son and His glory...and searching for Jesus imprints every where you turn.

She challenged us to Give Thanks...

In the everyday

That's easy...My husband for sure. He is absolutely top notch.
My two boys - why yes. They are two of the best gifts ever.

In the good stuff

My office - oh yes.
My besties - for sure.
My chicks, why of course!
All the good things....

But then she asked us to Give Thanks for the not so good.
Wait.
What?
I heard what she said, but Lord, surely she didn't mean that?

And Jesus, like He does in my life, nudges that deep part of me. That part I want hidden...even from Him. It brings the tears and the darkness to the front and shines a big ole spotlight on it.
I felt God asking me if I am going to give Him thanks for the bad.

It was so very clear to me that I have given thanks to Him for so much this year...but it was about thanking Him for even the stuff that was horrible and painful and hurtful that He allowed us to walk through.
I knew He was and still is working all things together for the good of those who love Him.
I knew He provided an open door in a way like only He could. 
The timeline wasn't news to Him, and we knew He could work it out, even as tight and constrained as we were feeling.
My tears were flowing...and I couldn't write it down.

I kept saying....But, the pain...

But, the hurt...

But, the lost friendships...

And even into the next night as I went to bed, my tears were still flowing.
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As I awoke Tuesday, my thoughts were of immediate gratitude for the day. I spent the morning in a blissful state of thanksgiving....and it didn't take long for that nudging to appear again. God is relentless in His pursuit of us! And praise the Lord for that! 
We don't deserve it, and He doesn't need us....but He desires for us to be an active participant for HIs plans and purposes...and He doesn't want us staying in a pit.
Story after story in the scriptures you will find people who chose to give thanks in the midst of turmoil and tragedy. Their faith was placed in a God who sustains their soul, a loving Father and a Good Shepherd, a just God that gives and takes away, but also a God who is about restoration, a forgiving God who loved them enough to send HIs only Son to pay the penalty of sin, so that we could have LIFE. 

Jesus wants that for me. He also wants that for you.

Just being real here:
Thanking Him for the pain means more than acknowledging what He allowed through His hands. It's the trust factor that was missing, and this night tied it all together for me. For several weeks we would sing a song in worship that said these words:

We trust you.We trust you.Your ways are higher than our own.

Every.Single.Time. I would well up with tears and not be able to speak those words. It was like this inner battle each time and it left me gripped with fear that the day would ever come where those words would be true. In my mind I knew those words were truth! Of course we trust you Lord! Of course your ways are higher! But speaking them in worship and being unhindered or free was a difficult space I was navigating. 

Ahh...but the Thanksgiving piece (or peace) was the missing component. Putting it all together, wrapping it up in a nice little bow, and allowing me the freedom in the searching - well, it was just another reminder of how much He loves me. 

I sat down this week to give Thanks...in the everyday, in the good, and even in the bad and hurtful times - and with that came tears of joy and a deeper trust in the One who lavishly loves me.

Giving thanks,

Karen

Community Group

I want you to see my cute little Connect Group in my Community Group:

Are they all not precious?
So starting with me and moving right, it's Lisa, Janel, Heidi, Quiana, Sarah, and Jaime. These ladies are my tribe through December. We are praying for one another, learning the Bible together, memorizing scripture, and pushing each other toward Jesus. I so love them and am thankful for a place where community is key and vulnerability is necessary to do life.

Thanks Passion City Church!

-Karen

#Gwinsome #CommunityGroup 

Last Braves Game

We were in attendance for the last game at Turner Field last weekend! What a joy to be there, although I think I cried like FIVE TIMES! I so love my Braves, and seeing all my faves on the field again, well, there just wasn't anything like it. When they rolled the video, and they said Milwaukee, my granddad's picture came up and it was a very special moment to see his face on the big screen. I miss him.

I ended up with a screen shot from Facebook! That's a great picture of him!

 We enjoyed one last trip to the Chop House!

What a beautiful day!

The Group

                        

Last picture on the bench in the Museum

Confetti Party!

Thanks Turner Field for being the place of many fun memories - but none will be sweeter than the day in 2001 where you inducted my grandfather into the Braves Hall of Fame. It was my actual 24th Birthday and nothing could have been sweeter. The next few years we were able to spend with my granddad at least once a year when he would visit, and even David enjoyed some time there with him. We look forward to all the new memories we will make at SunTrust Park. Go Braves!

Thy Will

One day I need to post all the songs that got me through the tough times earlier this year, but this song, this song sums up all my feely feels. My fave line is 

I know your good...but this don't feel good. 

Yes. That. All that. I know God is good - I trust that, but it didn't take away the pain that I was feeling. A broken spirit and contrite heart though...that is all God needs sometimes to do something amazing.

This song though. I remember it being so hard to sing when I first heard it. It was so raw and said all I wanted to say, even though our experiences weren't the same, God has used this song to draw me close and keep my eyes and perspective on Him.

-Karen

Fall Retreat

For the past few years over Labor Day weekend I have participated in Fall Retreat. It has always been a special time spent with other youth and other leaders and I always leave there with more insight and love for our students.

Last year was different though. 
I knew it.
Laura Lynn knew it. 
But neither of us could point to one thing that was driving our thought process as to why it was different. We saw Jesus move in ways that only He could, and we remarked, like we often do, "that's Jesus!". Her and I felt closer and our chicks felt closer, but there was just something hanging out there in the air that I couldn't shake. I could not stop tearing up most of the weekend. I was sure it was because I was thinking about my chicks. 

But right before we got in the truck to leave the chapel area, I felt the Lord speak to my heart and say:

This is goodbye.

I was struck because in my heart I was thinking of how next year (this current year) our class would be seniors, so I was certain that it just meant we wouldn't be returning to this retreat place and that we would be going elsewhere - all things we talked about around this time....

But in my heart. Way down deep. I knew. 

I couldn't share it with Laura Lynn, because she would freak out. 
But I knew deep down in there I knew it would be the last time I would set foot there and the treasured time with my class was slowly coming to an end. I felt confident that I would be able to serve out my time with them, but as the next month played out, it became evident that that may not come to pass. 

God speaks to our hearts in all kinds of ways, and his peace and wisdom is a gift He will bestow if your heart is open and ready for it. This weekend, as my chicks and the boys sit in retreat for the first time in 5 years without me, my heart is thinking of them. In order to let them know I am thinking of them...I made them a video! :) Last night, the youth minister played the video for them before the Senior prayer time. 

My love for them has not changed, nor will it. 
Father, please meet them right where they are this year as they make the next steps and plans in their future - may they turn to you to see guidance and wisdom and will you please grant it and blow their minds when you do? Be with them, comfort them, grant peace, guide them, sustain them, draw them close to you and use any means necessary to get their attention, even if it means pain. They are knowledgeable of you Lord, but I want them to trust you with every fiber of their being - I want them to see you show up in all kinds of crazy cool ways and I want you to grab their hearts and never let go. Thankful Lord that you never let go.

-Karen

Path and Plan

One of my favorite songs is When I think About the Lord by Starla Harbin.  I first heard Starla at First Baptist Church Atlanta and I am fairly certain I was pregnant with David, so maybe 2003-2004. She sang several songs, but I so deeply loved that one...I remember giving her a standing ovation after she sang it, it was just that amazing. 

So when I think about the Lord I often get lost in all that He has done for me - and to think there are probably a ton of things He has spared me from that I don't even realize. And then the other times I think....ummm, Lord....have you forgotten me? us? those people? Why is this circumstance happening?  Where are you in the middle of chaos? 

The Lord is everywhere and he knows everything. He isn't surprised in the slightest bit when tragedy strikes. He doesn't sleep, so He is fully aware of all the goings on. He knows you and He knows your heart. He is God. He also allows things in your life to draw you close to Him. He wants and desires us to turn to Him in all things and He is about His glory. 

Love this verse:

Isaiah 42:8 (NASB)

“I am the Lord, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, Nor My praise to graven images."

HE IS THE LORD. It's His name - psst...that means it's not YOUR NAME. It's HIS NAME! He will not give His glory to another nor His praise to idols. He can't be Lord of your life if you don't ever acknowledge that He is there actively working in your life. He wants the best for you because He loves you. He is after the most glory in your life too! Have you figured out that your best and His best are sometimes different? YEAH? Me too.

That's why I love Jesus. 
Jesus knew before the foundation of the world what the plan was because He is fully God. When He left heaven and came to earth, He knew the plan set before Him. He knew that the road He traveled on was day by day getting closer to the cross. The night He was betrayed He asked the Father to "remove this cup from Him" - to take this next step away, if there was any other way - but ultimately He said: 
Thy Will Be Done. 
Your will, Lord. 
Your way, Father. 
Jesus knew the blood sacrifice had to be made so that every person could have access to the Father - GOD - any time. 
Jesus also knew that He would rise again after 3 days - the resurrection would be the greatest story ever told. Redemption comes and any one willing to admit they are a sinner gets LIFE! Life abundant! Life Full! Eternal Life! 

A few weeks ago I was sitting in a sermon where we were looking at the early church and how it started. When the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, and Peter was explaining to the people in Jerusalem of what Joel said in the Old Testament, he proclaimed to them this:

verse 22: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God's deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.

and then my favorite:

verse 24: BUT GOD raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

I had read these verses numerous times before, but as our pastor was explaining, it was so clear even more that it was God's deliberate plan to have Jesus go to the cross, but the part that struck me even more was the part where Peter called out the people - you, with the help of wicked men - put him to death. See, there was still actions by wicked people, and those actions involved betrayal, disappointment, and bad choices (all sin). Those people did what they pleased, what they wanted, what they thought up, and God took those decisions and made good out of them. 
That's what HE DOES!!! 
He takes the mess and makes it beautiful. 

Just another reminder that the path and plan are not our own - their HIS! He allows the messy in our lives - either by our own bringing of it, or by the enemy's scheme - and He makes something beautiful out of it. When you lean in during the hard times, particularly in other people's lives, you get to walk through the messy with them, but you also get to enjoy the beauty afterwards - a perfect picture of community.

Lord, thank you for loving me enough to refine me by the fire - when it's raging hot I know you are molding and making me to reflect your love and grace. May I say that I don't like it? It doesn't hurt your feelings, right? If I say I want to be more like you, then I don't want to back down from whatever you have in my path. Your plans have never failed me (us) yet.

Love,
Karen