Just A Note

As many of you know, I have two blogs.  The second one, Wongani's Hope, has a new post, the third installment of Beka's story.  I hope you'll take a few moments and visit it.  If it's your first time there, you can read the whole story to date by scrolling to the bottom of the page and working your way up.

I am praying that Beka's mission will touch your heart and that you will become a "Follower" of the blog.  Please leave a comment, too, so that Beka will be encouraged by your support.  She's an amazing young woman and the LORD is doing marvelous work through her.  We would also love it if you would share this blog with others so that others will pray for the children of Malawi.

Thanks for taking the time.  Beka and I both appreciate it and we know you won't be disappointed!

In Christ's and Beka's service,

Karen

Making the Best of My Time

I am learning about time management.  I've never been real good at it.  I can become easily distracted by other projects that appear to be more important than one I may be currently working on.  I'll set one aside and re-concentrate my focus onto something else and, all the while, the first project lies waiting to be completed.  Or, I'll try and juggle two or more at a time, then not be satisfied with the end results of either.  When I get in this funk, there's only one direction for me to turn:  God.

When I first started this blog, I had a stack of things I had written over the years that I figured would just go unread by others.  I would share them with family and maybe a few close friends, but that was as far as they would go.  So, when the blog needed its first posts to get it up and running, I had a good supply to draw from.  As time went on, inspiration kept coming at a pretty good rate and I was usually satisfied with what was being written.  But once again, the distractions of life and what appeared to be more important than keeping this blog fresh caused me to forget where the inspiration was coming from.  I would acknowledge that fact, put my focus back onto the reality that God started this blog for a reason, and all would be well...at least until I needed to be reminded, again.

That's where I find myself, today.  As many of you know, I have volunteered to create and administrate a new blog, Wongani's Hope, for a missionary to Malawi, Africa that I have grown to love and admire.   As I frantically work to catch its readers up to what's happening with her, in the back of my mind is a nagging voice telling me to also give this blog the attention it deserves, and that the LORD expects.  I believe in my heart that He wanted them both floating around in the ethernet so that others would benefit from them.  Both have importance.  Both are the work of His hands, as is evident when I look at my traffic counter's world map and the circles that indicate where my readers are from.  He has a purpose for both blogs and it's up to me to make sure that His purpose is met. 

A beloved Aunt once said, when I was fussing about getting housework done, "It'll be there tomorrow."  She was right then and if she was still with us, she would be right today.  The things we perceive to be of most importance in our everyday lives are actually the least important.  They are things that have the capacity to overpower the tasks God has set before us.  It goes without saying that we are expected to take care of the possessions and blessings He has given us, but sometimes they can be temporarily set aside for His bigger purpose.  After all, there's a world out there who has never heard of Him and His Son and the reason for this blog was to introduce Him and tell of His glorious works, plans, and will for mankind.

 "He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting." ~ Psalm 104:19

Just as the LORD set the seasons and established the heavens to mark time, He has also marked the time I will spend on both blogs.  When I feel as though I'm overwhelmed trying to juggle both of them, and while the need for housecleaning, laundry, meal preparation, and intimate times spent away from the computer with family and friends lie in the background, I need to remember this.  If I allow Him to be the Administrator of both blogs, as well as my life and all it entails, His purpose will be met.

 "I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.

I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him. That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away." ~ Ecclesiastes 3:10-15

That's the best time management advice I can think of so, from now on, I'm going to make the best of the time He's planned for me and, hopefully, both blogs will reflect that.

I hope you will also go out and make the best of the time the LORD has given you and that it will honor and glorify Him, as it should.

Until next time!

 

Remembering the Reason Behind 9/11

One of the most often asked questions following the tragedy of 9/11 was how God could allow it to happen.  This question drove Americans to fill church pews in record numbers the Sunday following the terrorist attack, hoping that an answer would be provided.  It goes without saying that if they had occupied the right church, they would have heard the right answer.

We find ourselves a decade after what is now seen as the most brutal attack on American soil, preparing to hold homage to those whose lives were cut short that day.  The saddest part, however, is that many have forgotten what they heard from those faithful men who stood behind the church pulpits, and the pews have emptied of those who sought solace there.

The  truth behind what brought this to our soil has been replaced by political correctness in its worst form: denial of the historical and Biblical facts surrounding those who carried out the attack and what God says must come next.

The following sermon was given by Pastor John MacArthur, Grace Community Church, in Sun Valley, California, on September 16, 2001.  It can be said with all sincerity that his congregation heard the truth that day and if they were listening and truly wanting to hear why God would allow the attack on 9/11, they would never forget it.

I hope you will take the time to listen to both parts of the sermon.  God's truth and His warnings are contained within it.  May it bless you.  But, more importantly, may it return your focus back onto Him, His nation Israel, and His desire for all men.

In Christ,

Karen

A New Project In the Making...

Hi, everyone!

Once again, I'm finding other things taking me away from posting on the blog.  But this time, the reason is a good one.

Last May, my husband and I were blessed to be able to hear a presentation given by Beka Feth, a missionary to Malawi, Africa.  Since then, the LORD has moved in amazing ways, demonstrating to us that the work she is doing is of His own making.  He's also encouraging me and others to become involved in that work.  Not in Malawi, but here in the States.  It's been a reminder of how gloriously long is His arm!

Without going into details right now, I just wanted you to know that I am creating a blog for Beka and will also be administrating it, too.   God has impressed upon me an urgency in getting it up and going, thus the reason this blog is temporarily suffering.  Once it's up and running, I am confident that He'll give me the words and the time to service both blogs.  Until then, however, posts here will be a tad bit infrequent.

There's plenty of stuff to read here.  As I encouraged you the last time I found myself without the time to keep the blog fresh, look over the archives and "Labels" because I'm sure you'll find things you've never read.

When all the finishing touches to Beka's blog have been made, I'll share it with you here on this blog.  As I said above, God is doing amazing things through her in that tiny nation, and I know you'll agree.  When you see and read about her journey, I hope you'll all become "Followers" of the blog as we watch Him transform the people in Malawi through Beka.

Until then, stay tuned into this blog!  I sincerely appreciate your visits and promise to keep it focused and centered on the LORD, praying that it edifies, encourages, and strengthens you until His glorious return.

For Christ's honor and glory,

Karen