just put God in charge

We had a sweet gathering of old friends here tonight.
Yesterday afternoon I texted my dear friend Dawn,
Thought it might be nice to get a few people together.
I didn't know how many would be available on 24 hour notice but my friend who has big faith just texted a prayer back, asking God to put things together if it was meant to be.  I texted Amen.

God arranged a perfect combination of friends on a winter's night
Gathering around a table of food, Christmas lights shining on the tree and around the windows and the advent wreath lit.
The grandkids came too - last year they were coming out of a place of trauma due to some crazy events they were going through.  This year they were settled and it was obvious that healing had taken place.
We coloured together and Sara came in and swept them into a world of fun and creativity.

It's a precious thing to gather around the One who drew us all together in the first place.
I'm grateful to God who cares about little details.
And important things like maintaining friendships.


Oh, and today another miracle took place.
A lovely Chiropracter/Masseuse came and gave me about a 2 hour treatment.
My neck and shoulder have been giving me lots of pain at night and I am full of contractors, but she works with God and together they are untangling this mess my body is in.
Hallelujah.

Oh, and speaking of miracles!!
Patrice was turned down for YWAM so we had to let go of that, trusting God and then "all of a sudden"….
There's an opening! References are in, her phone call interview done
And she's booked to come to Hawaii for the same three months I will be there.
OH MY WORD!
God's great kindness.
So fun to plan and get excited with her.
It's doubling my pleasure and I feel such anticipation for both of us.
God's just really great that way.
Exponential goodness.
And delightful surprises!

Advent Retreat

Bathe us with the brilliance of your light…

This was one of the opening lines of this years Advent Retreat and truly this is what I experienced by the time I made my way home a few hours later...

The time of guided contemplation was beautiful and my time of quiet meditation while reading through Luke 1 and 2 was full of revelation and insight.

Reading about Elizabeth and Zachariah just going about their everyday activities in their community, "leading lives of righteousness" and "in the fullness of time" - at just the right time God broke in and changed everything.  In their small story everything changed dramatically, but in the bigger scheme of God's great rescue mission everything was forever altered for EVERYONE!

And so, my small story and how I live my live life is important in the bigger scheme - my life is touching and affecting the lives of others.  I want to be one of those who choses righteousness and makes way for His presence to move on me, in me and through me, despite my failings and lack of faith.

I was encouraged that even though Zachariah blew it on one level by not believing what the angel said - he was just silenced until God's purpose was fulfilled.  I was challenged that perhaps the words that were spoken over me in the hospital way back in February 1987 have been "lost to me" in that I questioned them and have found it hard to hold onto them in the ensuing 26 years of paralysis.  However, I will not thwart the purposes of God, just like Zachariah was not able to stop what God was about.  Because I am clinging to God's word from Luke 1:20b that says "…my Words which WILL BE fulfilled in their proper time."

"I believe dear Jesus, but please help my unbelief…" and "behold the bondslave of the Lord - let it be done unto me according to your good pleasure."

And this rhema word as well!!

"Do not be afraid (Karen) for your petition has been heard:  Luke 1:13  I thought of the scripture that I have been praying on and off for years now that says "for my inheritance give me the lost.'   Oh Jesus YES!  "…to make ready a people prepared for the Lord".  1:17b

It was almost laughable how I was receiving and receiving on so many levels as I read through the two chapters.  As if God thought He would pour in as much as possible while I was finally still and listening because I'm so flighty and distracted in my normal time of devotional Bible reading.

There was so much more that was imparted and I felt rich in the Word - Emmanuel came and spent time with us.  In this dark season there was suddenly so much light. I pray that I will continue to meditate upon what I received so that it will bear fruit.

I so much appreciate the women who put these events on as I can feel the peace in the gathering can feel the prayers that have bathed this time creating a space in which it is so easy to meet God and hear Him.  

Kinda Sweet

A while ago I was sitting with a sweet little grade 2 student and for some reason we were talking about heaven.

Kids are so delightful… trusting and eager for good things.
I work with an amazing bunch of them this year.  It's hard to believe I get paid for doing something that is so life-giving and so very fulfilling.  And fun.  The jelly bean reward getting pooped out of the little rein-dog never gets old.

Anyways...
I told this little gal that we would have a date up in heaven where we would hang out with animals and do fun stuff together. Maybe ride horses, go on a picnic.  It was fun to talk about, as heaven usually is.  But then it was back to the vowels, imprinting, and reading words.

A tiny little interaction.

Some days later I was in the office signing out and this gal's mom told me that as she was putting her to bed the night before she said,  "Mrs. Engel and I are going to play together in heaven and she isn't going to be in a wheelchair!"

I don't even know if the wheelchair had come up in our conversation, but I love that she had contemplated the whole idea of us seeing each other up there and hanging out together and that it made her happy.

I love that I can talk about Jesus, pray for the kids and encourage them about the big plans He has for them.
I work at a really great school.
I'm so grateful for God arranging this whole wonderful set-up for this season in my life.

His ways are perfect.

Just Love Me

I've been struggling with the voices in my head.
Accusing me, accusing God.
That old ugly perfectionist part of me that rises up and tells me insistently that I am not doing enough or am not doing things well enough.
It is exhausting and very discouraging.
And it keeps me from communing from God when it's bad.
And it's been pretty bad as of late.

So yesterday in church we were encouraged to ask God about one thing that we could do… I'm not even sure anymore what the rest of the sentence was, but right there I was COMPLETELY OVERWHELMED.
Because I couldn't imagine trying to DO ONE MORE THING.  It wasn't a discouraging message in any way - actually VERY encouraging, but those words were a trigger for me and I was just frozen with fear to even ask.
But somehow God's sweet words managed to squeeze past the gigantic fear monster sitting in my head and He said,

"just love me"

OH WOW.  Ok - I can do that.
I don't know if I do it very well, but how can I not love God?
I do love Him and I can keep loving Him.

Cause the other part - loving others - will come and be a natural result if I love God well.

So, that's what I'm doing and what I will keep on doing.
Shut up is what I say to the stupid voices in my head and Yes to God's sweet invitation.

Right now all I can handle is just the basics.
Wash my mind daily with His word, and stay connected to Him.
(And stay AWAY from the news…)

Exceptional

The BUTTERFLIES reconvened today!

We landed at Mon Thong after nearly a year of not connecting and the wings were fluttering with force - in other words many words were forthcoming and we were most delighted to be together!!

This group has met for many years now and we know each others stories.
No need for much intro - we're straight into the thick of things and sharing our sadness and joy with great gusto.
We celebrate birthdays too in a general sort of way - this year all on one day so gifts and cards were passed around by those who had the energy to put something together before meeting.

These women are absolutely exceptional.
I feel so privileged to be a part of this group and to know the stories and to feel the love.
Each one is so unique and intense it's almost laughable, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
Most of us are full of many words so we have to be careful to give "the floor" to each one so that there is not a collision of catastrophic proportions. We have learned to listen quite well and there is so much collective wisdom that is given without hesitation and with great love.

I love the vibrancy and life that is exuded in such a variety of ways - they are women of excellence and I highly respect and admire them.  (Being the baby of the group is quite a nice deviation from the norm and I can look up to them as older, wiser sisters.)

So anyways, that happened today and in the midst of this cold snap, on this wintery feeling day it was almost a Christmasy event. I felt cozy and tucked in sitting at that round table, eating delicious Thai food and hearing stories that reflected the faithfulness of God in the midst of transition, pain, busyness, disappointment, and satisfaction.  We are all in different places and there was deep sadness expressed along with great joy.  Those parallel tracks of life that we run along - increasing with intensity as we age.  Deeper joys of grandchildren for some and deeper pains of lost spouses and repeated lost opportunities for others.

But oh the beauty of Jesus in these ones.
We just keep digging deeper into Him as the years pass and He is becoming more relevant and central.
We're slowly figuring out the importance of that ONE THING…

Passing Through

Meditating on John 17.
Kind of relieved to read this bit,

"I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth."

Not like I'm feeling hated or anything. And that should probably concern me more than it does, come to think of it.  It just feels so awkward to live in this world, in the midst of so much pain and heartache with messages of tragedy coming in from all sides. Clearly I have not been obedient in staying away from news and it is telling on me.


I don't handle it very well and feel bogged down with the weight of all the craziness that is abounding in our not yet redeemed world.


So I need to stay off the news sites.
And get sanctified by His Word.
Seriously.

Cause it's really craaazy out there, but my God is more than able to redeem and save.


“Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”


And it's my job just to stay in Him so that I will know the Father and be all full of that love that is happening in the Holy Amazing Trinity. So that the world may know....


Off to a leadership meeting tonight to continue to hear the Father concerning our present state of "transition". I have complete confidence that He will look after us if we stick really close to Him and get the unity thing happening.

Falling Gently

A grey misty day
Lowslung clouds and rain
and I lay tucked under my cozy blanket.

There are still so many leaves on the trees but gradually they are thinning
Middle of November and still so much color.
I see the golden wisps gently falling as the slightest breeze moves by
How lovely to have the fall move over the land so very slowly...
Entire orchards blaze into orange red  glory,
Drop their leaves and the next one is torched into gold
and so it goes until there are only colourful carpets beneath the branches.

Outside my window is a beautiful yellow glow from the maple tree and I lay here, warm and content.
Thankful for the opportunities to read, listen and visit and of course,
Prayer
Thoughts drop gently into my mind I am able to respond with prayers
Your Kingdom Come...
Your will be done
...Fill them with the knowledge of your will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding
...I pray that their love would abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight so they will be able to discern what is best.
And so on, releasing His glory and divine intervention.

At times it feels so small
These little words these little prayers.
But I have nothing else and no one else but Him
And this is what I know to do
And by this I please Him so I will continue.

Small story.
At church a woman shared with me a picture she had of me being struck in the chest by a large prehistoric  dinosaur kind of dragon with spikes - thinking this would have been the accident.  I concur.  But the dragon has a long tail with barbs and with this he torments me - flicking it at me now and again.  Yes.  With the AD and resulting high blood pressure episodes, spasms, deformity, migraines etc. it has felt like that at times.

She said I am boldly out front in prayer and I need to be covered.
Oh yes, I would like to be covered!

 So at Wednesday night prayer I waited till near the end and then dared to put my needs out there and the little group gathered round.

One man saw a picture of me juggling small sticks - seeming not to be very significant or spectacular but I was enjoying doing this.

Then the picture changed and the sticks became like fire brands which I juggled and there was like a Hawaiian war dance going on with a big army behind me.  The idea being that it is intense warfare and it is powerful.  As small and insignificant as it can seems, it is not.

One woman proclaimed the barbs and tail cut off the dragon which sounded good to me.

Another reminded me in prayer from Romans 8 that if God is for me who can be against me?

This is my truth and my shield.
God.
Always God,
And I will continue to pray as long as He gives me breath.