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

40 Things about My Husband

Happy 40th Birthday to Jeremy!

In an effort to show much love and appreciation, I did the dishes, washed his clothes, and made the bed. Nah....just teasing...I do all those things normally (ha ha...well, not dishes...). Seriously though, he deserves so much, this year especially, and I hope these 40 things hit the spot. I love you....here's to 40 more years of celebrating the man God gave to me.

1. Jesus. Jesus is the center of his life. He loves Him deeply, he points to Him in all things, and he leads our family well in following Jesus. 
2. He cares for me and loves me well. He shows me love in all kinds of ways, but mostly with the dishes and the trash.
3. He cares for and loves our kids. He plays with them, takes an interest in them, and would lay down his life for them. 
4. He enjoys reading. He has read more books than anyone I know....he also owns a ton of books.
5. He graduated from Georgia Tech - so THWG! 
6. He enjoys grilling. He can grill out like the best of them. Those are the best presents I have bought for him. Chicken, Steak, Shrimp, Ribs, Pork....doesn't matter - He will grill it all.
7. He is the oldest son and he is one of 5 children.
8. He has blue eyes, and they are beautiful.
9. He has dark hair....although I would say it's more salt and pepper now. :) ha ha!
10. He is loyal.
11. He is a leader. He can lead a staff of people with Jesus at the forefront of his mind.
12. He is a prayerful man. He will take any matter to prayer before doing anything else.
13. He does not make irrational decisions. He doesn't rush a decision either. He would rather say "I'll get back to you" then make a dumb impromptu decision.
14. At a party/gathering/community group, he will have three very deep conversations and will say that is a successful night. 
15. He sees the best in people, even when they can't.
16. He uses illustrations and personal stories when he preaches - it creates connection with people and it's been life changing.
17. He normally takes stats at our son's baseball game...you know - PeeWee Baseball! ;)
18. This year he is on the field as the first base coach!
19. Baseball is his jam - that's what drew us together actually.
20. As a member of my family, he has seen the inside of the Braves Clubhouse and spent time on the field with my dad and granddad - not even I have done that!
21. He enjoys a good game of golf with his dad, and they don't do it nearly enough.
22. He eats broccoli because I make him.
23. He is a faithful Diet Coke drinker.
24. He is the most handy husband I know....I have considered renting him out...but my honey-do list never ends.
25. He does not do leftovers, unless it's made into something else. 
26. He can make Thanksgiving dressing like nobody's business.
27. He eagerly plans our trips to the ballparks every year.
28. He is a collector of coffee mugs from every place he has traveled to.
29. He enjoys coffee every day.
30. He likes to try new restaurants.
31. He does not like to shop for himself.
32. He wears glasses unless he is going to bed or just got out of bed.
33. He enjoys a good deal, whether it be at the grocery store or at the car dealer.
34. He is the biggest child on Christmas.
35. Last year he made a Festivus Pole for our family gift exchange. It was the highlight of the day!
36. He has strong hands and they are worn and tired from working hard.
37. He is my favorite mechanic.
38. He will kill any bug I ask.
39. He is a December kind of shopper.
40. He loves. He loves Jesus. He loves me. He loves our kids. He loves his family. His desire to follow Christ is huge and I am the grateful one that gets to walk beside him.

Thank you Lord for the gift of Jeremy.

--Karen

New School Year!

As we embark on a new school year tomorrow, I am reminded of how grown my children are. 7th and 3rd graders will leave my home tomorrow in a mad dash to get to school and take it all in with a brand new set of teachers. Thankful to not have had to move schools during this transition...just one less thing I got to have God's ear about....He had it all worked out and didn't need my input. HAHA.

This year I am going to embarking on a new season as well. I have long been the mom who left early in the AM and Jeremy tended to the morning duties of making lunches and getting kids to school. He will still drive and help, but I will be there in the mornings to wake my babies....it has been two years and I have missed them. I also got together with two other ladies in my neighborhood and we setup a carpool. I am thinking I am going to enjoy this carpooling bit.

Here's to a great school year!

--Karen

My People

Allow me to introduce you to some of my tribe:

Me, Mitzi, Roni, Rebecca, Heidi

These rockin' girls are my co-workers. THE BEST co-workers anyone will find. 

Hands down.

We have laughed ourselves silly, overshared much of our lives, cried over the mess and mundane and over the big and serious stuff. There is not a place I would rather be, even when it's down right insane crazy busy...

These ladies rally in times of grief and heartache. They love and support like the best made undergarments. They aren't afraid to push the comfort zone in conversations. They come with love in all things and I never doubt where I stand with any of them. My life would be so boring without each of them and I am thankful to God each week when I can gather around the table with them (and the boys in our office) and lift up the name of Jesus in prayer. 

So thankful for these women in my life. They are a blessing to me! 

-Karen