Micca's Story

Hi Y'all!

There is so much I wish I could share with you right now.  But, I have the wonderful honor of serving alongside the staff of Premier Christian Cruises for the next few days on the Girls Getaway Cruise.  And we are about to set sail out of Fort Lauderdale! We sail back in Monday morning and I can't wait to catch up with you then.

Joining us on the Girls Getaway Cruise are several speakers from Proverbs 31 Ministries!  I am looking forward to a wonderful time of worship and hearing these women share from God's Word.

I really wish my friend Micca Campbell were joining us this weekend!  I met Micca a couple of years ago through Proverbs 31 Ministries and she has been a tremendous encouragement to me. Last year I was blessed to have Micca as my speaker coach at the She Speaks Conference.   If you haven't had a a chance to hear Micca's story I encourage you to visit the following devotional from Proverbs 31 Ministries:  

Micca Campbell, Learning to Trust Again

God's story, through Micca, will bless you as she shares her journey of faith.  It is a beautiful story of faith and trusting God.  He is our hope, our joy and our peace.
  
May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.  Romans 15:13

Love and blessings,

Karen

Happy New Year! Arise and Courage!

Happy New Year!

I have missed you.  Life got busy and I fell away from blogging.  Maybe you can relate?  But, the good thing about falling away is you can always come back!

Today I have been blessed with the gift of a personal day!  I have enjoyed the sweet gift of this day and the gift of silence in my house this morning.  That is such a funny thing for me to say because I never use to think of silence as a gift.  But, I am coming off a busy and intense year and I've come to appreciate the silence.  Today has been a wonderful time of sitting in the presence of the Lord and allowing him to wash over me and his voice to speak to me.

As I remember God's activity in my life over the last year I find myself smiling a lot, crying a little and praising Him!   I regret not taking the time to sit down and share the journey with you!  I can tell you this, time and time again, He showed me his sovereignty, his faithfulness, his love, and no matter the circumstances his grace was always more than sufficient.

I'm excited for 2012!  God has given me precious gifts of wonderful family, friends, and an amazing job.  Yet, a few months ago he began to, once again, start calling me out of my comfort zone.

Do you ever feel that just as you are getting comfortable where you are at in life, then, God gives you a new assignment?  That's where I am at in this season!  We're not moving, I'm not changing jobs.  But, God is calling me to more.  And, that's okay.  Because, I know when the assignment is from the Lord,  I can trust him to see it through.

My two words for this year are Arise and Courage!  Here is the Scripture that the Lord is using to direct, encourage and strengthen me with in this new season...

“Arise [Karen] for we have seen the land, and behold, it is very good. And will you do nothing? Do not be slow to go, to enter in and possess the land."  
Judges 18:9

Arise! For this matter is your responsibility, but we will be with you; be courageous [Karen] and act.” 
Ezra 10:4 NASB

This is going to be an amazing year.  Looking forward to all God has in store for you and for me.  


Feel free to leave a comment and let me know what God is pressing on your heart!  Has He given you a Scripture....a word or two?  If not, maybe it's time for you to get alone in his presence, let him speak to you and then...Arise, choose Courage, and Act.

Blessings,
Karen

Celebration!

Last Sunday was a beautiful day of praising God and celebrating Christ as we baptized five young women, ages 11 to 18, from our church!

 I thank God for pursuing these women, stirring in their hearts and choosing them for His Kingdom!  All praise to God that Rachel, Bun, Katie, Devon Joy and Davie were listening and trusted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior!   And, I celebrate with these young ladies as they take the next steps on their journey as Christ followers! 

My Scripture memory verse is Isaiah 12:2 which happens to be Rachel's favorite verse.  Rachel is a beautiful and precious young woman who loves the Lord and is following hard after Jesus Christ.

"Surely God is my salvation;
   I will trust and not be afraid.
The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense;
   he has become my salvation.”  
Isaiah 12:2
NIV

As I talk to God I ask that he continue to overwhelm these precious young women with his love, mercy and grace. I pray that Rachel, Bun, Katie, Devon Joy and Davie will look to Him for their strength, their significance and their identity.  Their is no need to be afraid for God is their Keeper, their sure foundation and their salvation.  Thanking God for these new sisters in Christ!!

Would love to hear YOUR Scripture!

Desperate Beggar

Hello again! Karen has given me another opportunity to 'guest blog' so I just thought I would share what has been on my heart. Being away on vacation has given me an opportunity to pursue God without distractions. I have been attending a bible study up here in St. Louis called "He Speaks To Me" by Priscilla Shirer. This past week Priscilla used the story of Bartimaeus, the blind beggar, calling out for Jesus for mercy. "Son of David, have mercy on me!" He cried. The crowd shushed him and he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" Jesus stopped and commanded Bartimaeus be brought to Him. Jesus asked him "What do you want Me to do for you?" And Bartimaues said that he wanted to see.

Bartimaeus was desperate. He was physically desperate, socially desperate and economically desperate. Desperation draws us near to Him, doesn't it. Bartimaeus didn't let the irritated crowd stop him from shouting out to Jesus. He didn't let embarrassment stop him; he kept right on shouting "Son of David, have mercy on me!" until Jesus stopped. Do you think if we were to boldly cry out to Jesus when we are desperate, or even when we are not, He would stop and call us to Him?

I believe Jesus is looking for those desperate people; the one who doesn't care what anyone thinks when she drop to her knees and cries out because the kids are driving her nuts. The woman who drops to her knees and weeps because she has just been told she has cancer. Her heart surrendered, unashamedly crying out...glorifying His name. The man who cries out to God because he and his wife are arguing and cannot seem to get it resolved. Are you desperate? I am. I need to be like Bartimaeus...the desperate beggar.

This was one of my favorite quotes this week from the study. "We don't feel strong desire until God puts us in a position of desperate need. Maybe that is why He refuses to just show up whenever we call. As we seek God's presence, He may allow us to get extremely thirsty. That thirst will drive us to the Living Water." ~ Priscilla Shirer

After much contemplation I jotted down "Be my delight O God" in my journal. The rest of the words were penned at another time...I wanted to share it with you.

Desperate Beggar

Be my delight, O God

Allow me to love You more than these

You, only, my God, my craving is to please

Be my desire, O God

As I humbly heed Your call

Making You my All in All

Be my delight, O God

This battle is not mine You say

My life is Yours, have Your way

Be my desire, O God

In You my trust I will put

As I place my own will underfoot

Be my delight, O God

Giving You only the glory

You the theme of my life’s story

Be my desire, O God

Set apart in passionate praise

May I please You all my days.

Are you thirsty? Are you desperate? Come with me and let's shout out to Jesus for the Living Water.

Many Blessings to you,

Teresa Hemmer

2 Timothy 1:6-7

⁶ For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷ For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

2 Timothy 1:6-7
NIV

Mosquito netted bed...

One of the things I love about going to Uganda is when the electricity goes out in the middle of the night.  This happens often, thank God, and you find yourself lying in a mosquito netted bed with nothing but a flashlight and your Bible.  

I love how God meets me in that place.  

We certainly don’t have to go to Uganda to hear from God but I just love how He meets me there.  A little over a week ago I was on my knees, in a mosquito netted bed, before the Lord and confessing my sins including doubt and fear.   The Lord was so wonderful to me and gave me Scripture from 2 Timothy 1:1-6. As I allowed His Word to pour over me, as I met Him face to face, His grace washed over me, my conscience was cleared and I worshiped our Most High God!  

Today the Lord has given me Isaiah 30:18 and it has been a fresh Word and full of promises!  In areas where I had started to doubt and move in to unbelief the Lord reminded me, once again, He’s not finished!   Here’s Isaiah 30:18 from The Message:

But God's not finished. He's waiting around to be gracious to you.   He's gathering strength to show mercy to you.  God takes the time to do everything right—everything.  Those who wait around for him are the lucky ones.

Today I find myself in a place of not only loving Him but also trusting, waiting and resting in Him.   

Trusting, waiting and resting because of...  

who He is...

His love for me and  

His plans for me.   

Plans that will honor and glorify Him!  

July 1st - Scripture Memory!

On June 25, 2011, I met an elderly man in the village of Nabukalu, Uganda.

He had the kindest eyes and asked me if I was a Christian.   When I responded yes, he asked if I was born again.  I smiled and again responded yes, and he then smiled and nodded his head. 

We stood for a few seconds just smiling at each other.  I then asked him if he knew Jesus.  With bright eyes and a big smile he assured me he definitely knew Jesus.   I pulled my Bible from my bag and handed it to him.  Without hesitation he flipped to Psalm 50:15 and shared his life verse.

"Call on Me in a day of trouble; I will rescue you, and you will honor Me."
Psalm 50:15  Holman Christian Standard Bible 

I am overwhelmed by what God taught me and how He blessed me in Uganda.  And I am thankful that God placed an elderly man in my path to share Psalm 50:15.  It's my memory verse...

I would love to hear your Scripture...what is God saying to you?

Love,
Karen