OK so It’s 12:03 am on Dec 26th – My kids are playing the new Wii we bought them and I have given them 5 more minutes to get one more game of baseball in before they have to be in bed. I am just sitting here reflecting on such a wonderful Christmas we had (just a few hours ago.) We had a big old fashioned Christmas this year it was wonderful. We have had deaths in our family and “close calls” so we had nothing but joy in our hearts for our family, especially this year as we know how precious life and family really are.

It is Dec 26th and I do not feel sad about the “let down” this Christmas as many years I do. I mean we plan and prepare and shop and bake months in advance all for 2 days and then just like that its gone and we are left with a few extra pounds to the old waist line, and then just like that the tree comes down, outside Christmas lights are no longer a welcomed thing by your neighbors, and your bank account is a dry well. hmm….ok So not to be a downer but this is how I feel so many years, except this year.

I am so excited and ready for January 1st 2010. I do not see this as a opportunity to escape a bad year and hop into a new one with my fingers crossed,  I see this as an opportunity for people everywhere to really truly start fresh and really for once let the past be in the past and walk into this 2010 with the mindset of a new person, that we would truly the person God made us to be and not only to see it but to believe it and then to walk in it. I am excited because the harvest is ready and I believe the workers will rise up this year. I see activation of a dormant people,  I see a mission field flooded with believers that are so passionate about soul winning that the churches cannot contain the people. Thats what the rain of revival smells like, can you smell the rain? 

I see a now days spirit of Nehemiah coming to our city that we will take care of the walls in our city and the people in our neighborhoods. That love for people will burn so much in our spirits that it hurts until we get off our couches, step out of our cubicles or get out of our cars and love and take care of those around us. 

I see a year of spiritual impartation, motivation and acceleration- Meaning God imparts the vision inside of us and we are motivated to walk it out and pray and fast to see it come to pass and then God will accelerate us to the next level. (a quick process)

I pray for the faint of heart that a new vision will burn to the depths of your bones! Everyone, lets pull up our boot straps, roll up our sleeves and buckle up because I believe if we all get out of ourselves and our own agenda’s we could see a history making year!  So this is my eye brow raising statement are you ready…. NO MORE EXCUSES! Excuses are lame and boring they are like noses everyone has one (A math teacher once told me that- haha) I know Noah had a few for sure and he was mocked by everyone around him,  Moses was insecure about his calling, David was a snot nosed kid, and hello Paul was a murderer and couldve given in to major shame that could’ve crippledhis ministry which wouldve affected me for sure!  C’mon I know you can do it!  Whatever has been your stumbling block then kick it out of the way and just keep moving and healing while your working through it-It Reminds me of a song from the 90’s-  ”KEEP ON MOVING, Keep on moving don’t stop, no” 

If you are battling addictions or shame if you feel insignificant or maybe so wounded you cant see anything beyond your circumstance then  I encourage you to fast and pray in January and be determined this is your year, I encourage you to get out of YOU and get in your word, devour it and stand on it!  When you are struggling know that the God who made the moon, stars and every creature in it is so passionate about you and he is your biggest cheerleader! Just start walking and I know God will meet you half way!

God Bless you- I love you, Kari

Watch out 2010 HERE WE COME!

Now we get to the restaurant and I see it is a greasy diner and no valet, no candles or ambiance, just the sound of the dishwasher smashing dishes in the sink and people talking really loud.  Instead of candles filling the air, it was a smell of stale cigarettes. Now even if it was the best, most exquisite food in town I think there would be an element of disappointment, I think there would be a missing element in the “date night.” That environment is not conducive to romance. Don’t get me wrong, I am all about diners and dives and I love trying new interesting places but this is not ”the night” I imagined. Honestly I do not want to sit in that atmosphere for hours having a romantic evening!

Atmosphere is everything!  It is the same thing when we set the spiritual climate in our homes. We can set an atmosphere full of peace, love and healing and full of the fragrance of heaven.   The way to create that atmosphere is with our worship. We go to so much time to decorate our home, buy all the perfect pictures; we get the perfect candles and perfect furniture, yet one thing, the most important thing that adds the finishing touch is something we often forget about. This is the one element that adds the most amount of peace to our homes.  It changes the atmosphere so much so that people can walk in your home from bad situations and maybe even feel unloved and hopeless they will instantly feel peace, security and the love of God. This is your “Calgon take me” away experience! 

The more of His presence you allow around you, the more of His presence will flow through you. We have the answer that unsaved people are looking for.   The unsaved will literally walk into your home and with just the right atmosphere their spirit will respond to the peace of the Holy Spirit. People will tell me “your house is so peaceful,” and it is because we make sure our atmosphere, our environment has been climatized by the Holy Spirit!

Why is right environment so critical? Keep in mind right things are birthed in the right climate-

Why do Apples grow in Yakima? Right Climate

Why do Oranges grow in Florida? Right Climate

Why do Polar Bears live in Alaska? Right Climate

The climate you allow determines the product you produce! When you allow a worship climate of the Holy Spirit around you, you produce him!

I encourage you to always keep worship music playing in your house, even when you’re not there. Climatize your car, your office and every place you go for periods of time and then when you walk in your office or even the grocery store you can fill that place with the fragrance of heaven that came from your worship experience and who knows what could happen!

So Hm mm  How do I gage my husbands beauty  and compare it or  qualify it? They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it could be difficult for me to prove he is actually the hottest man on the face of the earth. I think he is but I’m pretty sure every wife thinks their husband is also. I could send his picture to a committee of experts at Harvard and they could measure and analyze his face and then send a report with their findings….. I think if they sent back a report and validated my belief and said “yes he is the hottest man alive” I would then do what? Maybe get an award and stick it to his nose and tell everyone everywhere we go? Maybe,  it would be fun conversation at a party!  He could be a party trick, the hot guy with a certificate stuck to the end of his nose that says “I am hot” signed by Harvard!

I believe a person’s hotness is found within their heart, actions and character and then if every things in order in those areas then I think they qualify as a beautiful person. If the most beautiful person on earth has bad character and treats people badly and is not a man or women of honor, then I think that makes a very ugly individual.

So here you go … My husband is a man who is after God’s heart, he leads our home with love, compassion, conviction, and  purity, he is a wonderful father, a wonderful husband and is very thoughtful and he totally took care of me while I was sick today so that to me is hotness at it’s finest – USDA prime, BABY- And have you seen him? He is so easy on my eyes!

 I have to say when my husband is preaching with anointing- I think he is a vision! WOWIE!

As I looked out at the crowd today I reflected on the greatness of God and how much I love His people. As soon as Brian and I became Pastors of Breakthrough we prayed “God send us the people you want to serve by our sides.”  Every person He has sent to us is such an incredible blessing. This morning we had people there at the crack of dawn setting up the sound system, decorating, making trips back and forth, cooking, setting up tents, volleyball nets, and preparing enough paint to paint every face there. I did not hear one complaint just people running around joking, singing, talking with one another and sweating (Did I mention it was hot)

 I just love every person who said “Yes” to the call. Breakthrough is filled with people and families who are there to make a difference in lives and in a city that is hurting. I am the most blessed person on the face of the earth as far as I’m concerned. It feels amazing to be in the middle of the will of God and I get the honor to be in that place with the most encouraging, hardest working people, with the best attitudes of any place that I know of!  We get to do life together, that’s awesome!

One of my favorite points of the afternoon was when Denise drug a bunch of us girls (older girls) in the Buzz Lightyear “KIDS” jumper and we jumped, laughed and got so carried away we almost knocked the jumper over! OK note to self 4 moms should be the limit in a jumper at one time! haha! Gosh I love those girls!

Thanks to everyone who worked so hard this week to make today a wonderful afternoon!

Good Night  -

Pastor Kari

I live in a city that is void of decent shopping and that is why my thought of the day is so deep, so profound, such a thought you will want to pass this to all your friends and it will change their lives. It is 2 letters…..”H & M.” its a fun trendy place to shop and yet so affordable.

OK so there ’s nothing like the water front in Seattle “The Emerald city” on a sunny day. I have been  pampered by my personal chefs at the Cheesecake factory (yummay) who made us a wonderful dinner and a big thank you to  H&M who custom made all my clothes (couture) OK not couture, I have had my favorite treat pink berry and  I have walked until I have blisters on my feet,  Ahh (smile) what a day!

You may be sitting in your house, and may be bored in your city and surrounded by your everyday reality and it may all feel a bit mundane, however there is always room for a get away, even if it’s in your mind for 15 minutes. So here’s my suggestion…go get an ice tea, put some jazz music on your Ipod and take a break- You deserve it!

God is amazing, life is good, and thank God I wasn’t born in the 1800’s!  No malls or good restaraunts 

My thoughts today are just reflective on the people in my life. My life is filled with amazing, positive, life giving people that bless me on a daily basis! Life is too short and there too many people to love and too much territory to be taken, to have my life filled with people that are poisonous. You will never reach your potential if your best friends are “downer Debs” (sorry again Debbie, its just a saying)  If the people closest to you are basement thinkers and always tell you why you shouldn’t do something, or why it can’t be done or just speaking death and not life they are withdrawing something from you. you may want to take an evaluation and start replacing your circle with people who deposit life and love into your bank. (even if it is just cookies with a note on someones door step, thanks Jess)

I have asked God to help place people in my life that are life giving, that I can trust, that fill my life with the fruits of the spirit, and of course I would love to be able to laugh often with them (sense of humor), and God has been so faithful with my request and honestly I can say I am so blessed and my bank is so full and I’m so rich with friends and amazing people in my life! 

There are two people in life “basement thinkers” or “attic thinkers” One will always think of every reason it can’t be done, or  feel stupid for even dreaming it, these people always put you on their negative playground. These people are never satisfied or rarely truly happy, they always see the glass half empty, with no hope the glass will ever be filled and if it is filled it won’t be right or taste right (basement thinker)

The other  person always thinks of the possibilities and how things can be worked out and how things will get better and how the glass is half full (attic thinker) So…..Which one are you or which one represents those closest to you? If you are a basement thinker, it doesn’t mean your a “bad person” is just a bad habit or a pattern set, then get on the stairs and climb up to the attic! Its a matter of making the decision and then filling your life with attic people!  OK, Breaking it down… its a matter of asking God to fill you or your basement friends with his fruits (kindness, gentleness, meekness, joy, peace, love…etc) and literally putting a filter on the ‘ol trap!

With that being said, Years ago something interesting happened in our culture and I’m  calling it the Garth Brooks revolution, it was a time where the rock and rollers, old time country singers and yes even some r&b artists and fans all came together and chanted the song “Friends in low places” as they held their arms high with pride and flickered their lighters (that was before using a cell phone as your light at a concert) So as it was the big deal with music it also set a new clothing trend. I remember I walked into Nordstrom and my goal was to find a “hot” pair of shoes when I saw a bright light over a pair of red cowboy boots, the angels were singing and hovering over this very beautiful outstanding pair of boots. I smelled this glorious piece of shoe art and the leather was soft and amazing to my fingers. I was truly in love. I thought of every outfit I would need to purchase to make my new fall look perfect. They were about $150 over my budget, I began to work so hard to for this piece of perfection. I visited my angels once a week and touched them, said hello and as the weeks got longer in between visits and as style changed (almost before they arrived)  I settled for a pair of clearanced brown half boots and after time I forgot about the boots completely.  

It was Christmas time and there was a very precious couple in my life who had a gift for me, they had no idea of my obsession for the glorious boots, and what do you know…. Yes its true it was in fact the red boots in a box wrapped beautifully from Nordstrom. I was in shock and I went right home and put the boots on and the 1st 10 min was wonderful but the following 15 minutes to the next 2 hours I was in excruciating  pain, they were the most horrible things Franco Sarto has ever made. Suddenly I the “angels, Love of my life” was a sad aweful experience, I mean my calves alone have no business being squeezed into a boot, what was I thinking? ( I ended up returning them for a simple pair of shoes and pocketed the rest of the cash)

So tonight (14 years later) my hubby and I were out for an evening walk, and we were talking about raising up young leaders  and I had this profound revelation….. When you save when you plan and spend your life on something it means so much to you rather than just getting something for nothing. Ok follow me I am going somewhere with this….. So there are alot of people that are wanting to be used in ministry, they are amazing people, they are precious souls,  and a lot of times they come in right away wanting the red cowboy boots they attend services consistently, they are saving, they hostess when their on the schedule and will maybe even teach childrens church if you beg them to. As we all know ministry is not always glamorous and there are seasons when the styles change and many times people get bored with the process. They want the boots – but if the boots (ministry) are free and handed to them as a reward for coming to church faithfully then what good are we doing for that potentially amazing leader.   The Bible speaks clearly about counting the cost and you definitely see why that was even brought out for us to read and why even discuss. If you 1st consider the cost and then work hard and pay the price then you will cherish everything God gives you because you have put sweat blood and tears into it. If we as Pastors have “Christmas” every time we spot a potential leader and give them the gift of their very “own ministry” before they have paid some hard benjamin$, deniro, cashola then they are a temporary fix.  If we rush the process  then we have done this person a sad disservice, and they will probably get disillusioned and burned out before they come to flourishment, or you as a leader will be let down in 6 months as they walk away from their post- that must be why they say- “easy come easy go!” No more easy come and go! C’mon lets do life together! If we teach these amazing people, mentor them, and walk them through the process and if they serve with you and have your DNA then I have a feeling we will see huge fruit and their red cowboy boots will be a good fit and they will not get returned and just cashed out (leave)!

Why should we settle for clearance priced ankle brown boots for when we can sport the real deal and dance this amazing dance in our hot red cowboy boots!  We cannot be driven by fear and worried we will lose them if we don’t use them right away.

I think if I wouldve paid for those boots I would still have them!  The best things in life are not always free whoever said that obviously didn’t do ministry!

Ok there you go that’s all I have for tonight, I’m tired and off to bed.

God Bless and Peace Out, Kari

Well I was on my way to Seattle the other day with Jen and she was thrilled to have a solid 2 1/2 hours alone with me to finally “get things done” Well in one of our many conversations of infrastructure and church growth ideas I really felt the need to have a blog. I just felt in that moment if Brian and I had a blog our church would triple over night…I know triple! So we came home from our eventful trip and what do you know Jen has set me up with the ability to blog. You may thank her…or… not…. I will thank her because now I have somewhere to file my many, many thoughts, as far as the church tripling… maybe not quite yet and I’m sure not because of a blog, but as far as a very interesting read for people who can’t sleep I think I can help you out!

A quick “this is who I am” My husband, the hottest man ever, and I Pastor my favorite church in the world. I have two amazing girls who I love dearly and they love Jesus with their whole hearts. I have a toy poodle named Max and he somehow brings me joy everyday?

We had a wonderful service today at Breakthrough Christian Center and it reminded me once again why I do what I do. I get the honor of helping people achieve their goals, I see every day the goodness of God working in my friends lives! I get to hang out with the most amazing passionate people on this earth and I feel honored that God chose me to live the life I now live!

Life is always interesting and if it isn’t you are doing something wrong!My advice for today…Laugh as much as possible, even if its at yourself! Buckle up and enjoy the ride-