Archive for June, 2009

Today my Dad had a Dr. appt in Seattle and my girls and I decided to tag along and also help drive and although I miss my hubby so badly, I feel so blessed have a day away.

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 

So I’m noticing blogging is extremely therapeutic!  

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!

I already know what you’re thinking and no I am not a cowgirl and just because I live in a somewhat rural town, ok I have seen a girl with a chew in her lip at the local walmart but that doesn’t make everyone in Yakima cowgirls! 

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