Ok...so last night I started a reflective look into myself. I've never been one that's good with relationships - and realize I'm probably old enough now to get down to business & figure it out. Looking back into my past may prove to be a little unnerving - but I want to be a better person for my family - my husband, my children, my parents, my sister...all those whom I love.
So here goes...
I ran from relationships when I was little. I was constantly busy growing up - dance lessons, baton lessons, voice lessons, drama group, rehearsals...the list was exhaustive & endless. It was the best of times - it was the worst of times. (I will FOREVER be grateful to my wonderful parents who allowed me to do all the things i loved growing up. Heck, they carpooled me everywhere!) While I absolutely LOVED all the creative activities I was involved in...it also gave me a great opportunity to hide behind masks. This was something I became VERY good at. And I probably have some traces of this character flaw still buried deep within. I've also learned it was a way to hide any pain that I might be experiencing. Ok, I'll be transparent. Yes, there was pain within the four walls of my childhood home. (I'm not sure there's anyone out there who could honestly say there was no painful experiences in their homes while growing up.) I've decided there IS NO SUCH THING as a functional family. We are ALL dysfunctional - We have ALL SINNED and fall short of the glory of God. And better still - God loves us JUST THE WAY WE ARE. I heard something just this past weekend...it was a reminder of something I'd heard long ago...and God needed me to hear it again...let it seep into my bones deeply. God doesn't see the ugly, dirty, sin-filled 'me' when He looks upon me. HE sees the ONE who took my place (Jesus)...the PERFECT one, my REDEEMER. And this is all because Jesus took on my filth/sin at the cross & in exchange He freely gave me His unblemished record. Wow. Mind-boggling, isn't it?!
I will continue my investigation on yet another day...
FEAR NOT, FOR I(GOD) HAVE REDEEMED YOU(enter your name here); I(GOD) HAVE CALLED YOU BY YOUR NAME; YOU ARE MINE(GOD). (Isaiah 43:1)
keep the faith, dear friend.
~karen
Monday, September 27, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Welcoming the night...
Ahhhh...there's nothing quite like a long bath in the quiet of the evening! It's been a busy, but wonderful, weekend in the lives of the klumpps is kansas. There's been so much that has happened - I can't even remember Friday night! I know it involved baking & decorating cookies!!! (3 dozen 'crabbies' - no, not from the world of Sponge Bob - but for a good friend & fellow church member attending a fellowship of friends. Check out the pics on my facebook account.)
The TV is on and I'm half-way listening to a show about two outdoorsmen trying to survive the great outdoors. They're talking about being 'connected'...and it has me pondering...what about being connected? What is being connected? Connected to my Creator? Connected to my husband? Connected to my family? (children, parents, siblings) Wow...that's alot of connections. And to be truthful & transparent...I'm not very good with connections. In fact, I'm pretty disconnected when it comes to relationships. This has led me to begin an internal investigation on relationships and why I'm so bad with them. My investigation begins with thinking about my Creator. HE's the Author of relationships. HE's perfect with relationships...and He's going to help me understand 'me' and get better at it. I will trust HIM because HE loves me.
(Thank you, Stephen Fryrear - San Antonio, TX - and beautiful wife, Carleigh...for reminding me this weekend just how much "God Loves Me." I will forever be singing your song.)
FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD - HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON. THAT WHOSOEVER WOULD BELIEVE IN HIM WOULD NOT PERISH...BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE. (John 3:16)
keep the faith, dear friend.
~karen
The TV is on and I'm half-way listening to a show about two outdoorsmen trying to survive the great outdoors. They're talking about being 'connected'...and it has me pondering...what about being connected? What is being connected? Connected to my Creator? Connected to my husband? Connected to my family? (children, parents, siblings) Wow...that's alot of connections. And to be truthful & transparent...I'm not very good with connections. In fact, I'm pretty disconnected when it comes to relationships. This has led me to begin an internal investigation on relationships and why I'm so bad with them. My investigation begins with thinking about my Creator. HE's the Author of relationships. HE's perfect with relationships...and He's going to help me understand 'me' and get better at it. I will trust HIM because HE loves me.
(Thank you, Stephen Fryrear - San Antonio, TX - and beautiful wife, Carleigh...for reminding me this weekend just how much "God Loves Me." I will forever be singing your song.)
FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD - HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON. THAT WHOSOEVER WOULD BELIEVE IN HIM WOULD NOT PERISH...BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE. (John 3:16)
keep the faith, dear friend.
~karen
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Spiritual warfare!
It's real. Be strong & courageous. Be prepared. Put on the complete armor of God - and stand ready. Take no prisoners.
Michael heads up the Africa Mission Team that will leave in just a couple weeks. (October 4th to be exact). I know God plans to do mighty things with his MIGHTY HAND becuase satan's attack has continued to grow. Emotions are raw - communication is fried - and we all grow weary. "PLEASE, GOD, SEND IN THE TROOPS, THE BACK-UP. THANK YOU, FATHER."
We'll get through this because Our God is an Awesome, Mighty God who has already defeated the darkness & we already know the end of the story! We have nothing to fear when we realize God is on our side - and has our back.
The hard part for me is just hanging on...sometimes I feel my lifeline growing weak - and I think it'd be easier to just let go. But that's not in the plan, I know, so I pray and God brings about a peace in my existence that translates a calm...and reminder that He's in charge.
I remember hearing something (I think at a women's conference) once. It was a perfect visual for me. Here it is...picutre this...two hands and arms - up to the the elbow. In the first frame: both hands are tightly grasped holding on to each other's arms (one being the hand of Jesus - the other being, mine). Second frame: one hand loosing grasp & letting go (mine) while the other (Jesus') continues to hold tight - not letting go.
That's one facet of who Jesus is for me - the One who's not going to let go of me...no matter what.
THE LORD IS MY LIGHT AND MY SALVATION; WHOM SHALL I FEAR? THE LORD IS THE STRENGTH OF MY LIFE; OF WHOM SHALL I BE AFRAID? (Psalm 27:1)
keep the faith, dear friend.
~love, karen
Michael heads up the Africa Mission Team that will leave in just a couple weeks. (October 4th to be exact). I know God plans to do mighty things with his MIGHTY HAND becuase satan's attack has continued to grow. Emotions are raw - communication is fried - and we all grow weary. "PLEASE, GOD, SEND IN THE TROOPS, THE BACK-UP. THANK YOU, FATHER."
We'll get through this because Our God is an Awesome, Mighty God who has already defeated the darkness & we already know the end of the story! We have nothing to fear when we realize God is on our side - and has our back.
The hard part for me is just hanging on...sometimes I feel my lifeline growing weak - and I think it'd be easier to just let go. But that's not in the plan, I know, so I pray and God brings about a peace in my existence that translates a calm...and reminder that He's in charge.
I remember hearing something (I think at a women's conference) once. It was a perfect visual for me. Here it is...picutre this...two hands and arms - up to the the elbow. In the first frame: both hands are tightly grasped holding on to each other's arms (one being the hand of Jesus - the other being, mine). Second frame: one hand loosing grasp & letting go (mine) while the other (Jesus') continues to hold tight - not letting go.
That's one facet of who Jesus is for me - the One who's not going to let go of me...no matter what.
THE LORD IS MY LIGHT AND MY SALVATION; WHOM SHALL I FEAR? THE LORD IS THE STRENGTH OF MY LIFE; OF WHOM SHALL I BE AFRAID? (Psalm 27:1)
keep the faith, dear friend.
~love, karen
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Tired...
Goodness, gracious! Has it been this long since my last 'confession' (aka: blog)?? Guess life has been SO busy since. Let me think...hmmm...school started...girl scouts is starting...Crusader Kid club (after-school program at our church)...cookie baking & decorating...hubby preparing for Kenya mission trip (in Oct)...walking 6 mornings a week/3 miles each day with good girl-friends...and of course, work. Yep, I'm busy.
Ok, now about that title "Tired..." I'm finding that if I slow down for even just a minute - I'm more tired than if I'd not slowed at all. Why do you suppose that is? Maybe I'm on that circular wheel, like the hamster we used to have...round & round...never ceasing...until the very breath is choked out and I lay motionless on the cage floor. (Yikes!)
But all these are 'good, worthwhile' things in my life! How do I decipher which ones to weed out & which to keep? I think I know the answer - take it to 'the Man Upstairs.'
As much as I have been LOVING the cookie baking/decorating - I keep asking/praying - O God, is this of me? Or is this of You? Help me to know. I want nothing that isn't glorifying You. Then I guess I need to ask myself the question...is it adding to or taking away from my family? Ask my husband and the answer has been different on any given day. While I know in my heart he is trying to be supportive ~ I also see with my eyes that sometimes he feels neglected, that my emphasis (and time) is being spent in the kitchen and not with him. (Ouch) So I take my concerns (you guessed it)...back to my Father...because "HE Knows Best." (And I try to carve out a little time for my wonderful husband...like when I stopped baking to rub his tired, hurting feet with some really good eucalyptus oil we have).
Where I've found peace is knowing He is in complete control of me (and my surroundings)...and His timing is Perfect. He loves me beyond understanding and will guide my very steps ~ all I have to do is listen to His Voice (be still and know...), do what He says do (be obedient to ONLY Him), and TRUST.
"Thank you, Abba...Father...Daddy"
Now all I need is my pillow, blanket & a good 'chick-flick'...
"COME TO ME, ALL YOU WHO ARE WEARY AND BURDENED, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST. (Matthew 11:28)
keep the faith, dear friend.
~love, karen
Ok, now about that title "Tired..." I'm finding that if I slow down for even just a minute - I'm more tired than if I'd not slowed at all. Why do you suppose that is? Maybe I'm on that circular wheel, like the hamster we used to have...round & round...never ceasing...until the very breath is choked out and I lay motionless on the cage floor. (Yikes!)
But all these are 'good, worthwhile' things in my life! How do I decipher which ones to weed out & which to keep? I think I know the answer - take it to 'the Man Upstairs.'
As much as I have been LOVING the cookie baking/decorating - I keep asking/praying - O God, is this of me? Or is this of You? Help me to know. I want nothing that isn't glorifying You. Then I guess I need to ask myself the question...is it adding to or taking away from my family? Ask my husband and the answer has been different on any given day. While I know in my heart he is trying to be supportive ~ I also see with my eyes that sometimes he feels neglected, that my emphasis (and time) is being spent in the kitchen and not with him. (Ouch) So I take my concerns (you guessed it)...back to my Father...because "HE Knows Best." (And I try to carve out a little time for my wonderful husband...like when I stopped baking to rub his tired, hurting feet with some really good eucalyptus oil we have).
Where I've found peace is knowing He is in complete control of me (and my surroundings)...and His timing is Perfect. He loves me beyond understanding and will guide my very steps ~ all I have to do is listen to His Voice (be still and know...), do what He says do (be obedient to ONLY Him), and TRUST.
"Thank you, Abba...Father...Daddy"
Now all I need is my pillow, blanket & a good 'chick-flick'...
"COME TO ME, ALL YOU WHO ARE WEARY AND BURDENED, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST. (Matthew 11:28)
keep the faith, dear friend.
~love, karen
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