Okay, I am so excited....I haven't written a blog in several years but I have decided to start again. My thoughts tonight are on walking closer to God this year. I was just chatting with a friend about when you clean your heart and your spirit breaths deeper. That is where I am this week. We have been in a time of prayer and fasting for the new year. It has been so refreshing. I feel such energy. We had a great Monday more service last night. I think many were touched and ministered to. We have a revival services in two weeks with Robbie Mitchell and I believe God is going to use him to really minister to us, if we want to hear from God.

It is late and I need to be up early for work and the boss doesn't want me to sleep at the desk and so, till tomorrow.

Karen

Peace for 2009

Happy New Year!! I am trying to make some resolutions and be better organized this year. I am declaring "Peace" for my life and our church family. I declare a year of restoration and refreshing. As with every year there will be change and it is up to us how we adapt to that change. I know good things are ahead for us.

I have new opportunities this year to make a difference in this world. I am going to make some changes this year and when I sit here at this computer at the close of 2009, I want to feel that I lived everyday to its fullest.

God bless you and may this year be the best yet!!!

Karen

Hey, I haven't written anything is so long. There have been a lot of changes in my life this summer. I am in a new season of life all of the sudden and it hasn't been an easy transition. I just wanted to write my thoughts down this evening.

I have been in Little Rock today shopping for a special dress for our 25Th Wedding Anniversary Celebration. I am blessed because I am married to a great looking guy, who loves God with all his heart, who loves me, and that is a chore, he is a wonderful dad and awesome pastor. I am blessed.

I always enjoy being with my friend, Allison. She has such a positive look on everything. I like being with a person like that. She tells me that I am SO skinny. Hey, that alone explains it. We had fun, or I did. We picked a pretty dress, I hope you like it. I am going to wear it Sunday night.

We are going to leave on our 2ND honeymoon in one week. I will post pictures.

Have a great day and put God first in all you do.

P. S. Alan will be home tomorrow!

The Christian Yada Yada Girls

Day 1

I just have to let you in on a little get together we had the other night. A few of us decided to get together and have some fun and food while pastor was away. We had some wonderful food and we talked and shared for quite some time. I think everyone was encouraged and refreshed when they left even though everyone left the next day, if you know what I mean, I think we all felt that it was worth being a little tired that day at work or wherever.

Day 2

We all agreed that we feel that something good is about to happen around us and in us. This past Sunday, Pastor and I were gone, but there was a move of God and many have spoken this week of how they felt God was working in their lives. Remember the week prior was Prayer and Fasting Week. Many were there three times a day praying and asking for God to guide us and direct us.

Day 3

I have spent weeks on this same post. I write and think I will get back to it but don't. It is 3:25a.m. I have had too much caffeine and can't sleep for one but God is using this time to speak something to me. Wasn't it a wonderful day at First Assembly? Even if he is my husband, our pastor shared a great word with us and if you doubt it was from his heart, I will tell you that it was from his heart. We had a great crowd and as we drove over to Dermott yesterday, we talked about how we believe that we are about to see some awesome things in our churches!! We had a great service at Dermott yesterday. There was a word given from the Lord in the service at Dermott that I can't stop thinking about. We, the church, have been given the fresh oil and we need to spill or pour it out. I was pondering that and thinking about the oil in my kitchen. If I don't use it, it will began to have a bad odor and sometimes become a little sticky. It needs to be used in order for it to be fresh. If I use old oil, it makes the food taste different and can even upset your stomach. Think about that. We received from God Sunday, now who are you going to spill/pour it on?

I feel God saying this to me, if I send you new people, are you ready for them? I feel like He is going to give us several youth and I am asking, Pastor John and youth sponsors and youth, are you ready? I encourage all our young people to go out and invite as many of your peers as you can to the All State Choir Concert on July 11th. I believe this morning that God is telling me this. I believe He wants to use this tool to reach some youth in Monticello. This is what I was feeling. Get out your cell phones and spread the word. Tell all your friends to come and then tell them to tell all their friends to come. I am excited about what can happen. There will be at least 50 young people from the choir ready to pray and minister to your friends. What a kick off for school this fall. I have been hearing some things and I believe the key people are in place to make Monticello High School a very talked about school because of the move of God throughout the school.

I am about to write too much for one post because I want you to read it and if it is too long, you may give up. LOL I feel there is a battle going on and we have to press in and God is going to show up and show out if He sees that we are ready and that we really want it.

God cover you today, friends.

Karen

The Water's Are Stirring

Hello, I know a very long time since I have had a post. What have I been doing you say? It has been a busy six weeks. Getting out of school, I haven't been feeling too great, much better now, thank you, you name it and it has happened around here. I have turned another year older. It is hard getting old.

I just wanted to say that good things are coming soon. I do believe that once again the waters are being stirred and we need to jump in. If you are not able, then ask someone to throw you in. hehehe A wonderful day Sunday! I personally think that the sermon was one of my favorites. I have heard many say that it spoke to them. A few of the young people even got a copy. How about that, so proud of our young people. I love the way they come to the front during praise and worship. If only you could get a view of what the choir is seeing. You know I am going to talk to Rick about that because I'll bet he could give you a view ever once in a while. It is great to see them with hands lifted and singing for God and to Him.

I told those in service Sunday night about the miracles that had taken place in Hot Springs this past weekend. Many testified that they were healed. I just believe that there is much more to come.

I am looking forward to getting with you more often. Thank you for taking the time to stop by.

I love you very much,

Karen

Congratulations to Kraig and Melissa, a beautiful wedding.

2008 Staff Retreat

Helen is tied to bridge, afraid of heights. We love you, Helen!

Staff Retreat 2008

Hello, I haven't had a new post in a few days but I am working on one that I felt the Lord dropped in my heart Sunday morning. Maybe tonight I can write it.

I just got back off of a retreat with the staff here at First Assembly. They are a fun group to hang out with. We had a few laughs and enjoyed a time of refreshing and getting to know each other better. Some too well, we were next door to the musical cook and his wife and the walls were pretty thin. I'm not trying to start anything, I'm just saying...

By the way, Laura and her accomplices, thank you for the special gift you gave us.

We were blessed with a little surprise picnic in Heber Springs. Pastor(what a good looking guy), ask Rick and Cathy to surprise the staff with a picnic. They went all out. It was great. They had a fire going, tables decorated with flowers, fried potatoes, chicken, peas and homemade cookies from Virginia!! We were feasting. The staff felt loved and appreciated. Thank you for being such great support and friends to some of God's choice servants.

When we first arrived at the Bed and Breakfast we were staying at, I think we had a little panic going on. There was no cell service and no T.V. in the rooms. I personally thought it was wonderful but some have a different opinion of that. We had to TALK to each other! I loved it. I plan to go there again.

We enjoyed a tour of the Caverns. I have never been and that was very interesting. We also had a nice meal and was encouraged by our District Superintendent, Reverend Larry Moore. He took the time to come and fellowship with us and share words of encouragement.

We walked around town. They had some local things going on. I have a new discovery, the staff blessed us with a basket of goodies and inside the basket were some chocolate covered coffee beans. They are very good. If you haven't tried them and you like coffee, you have to give them a try. Maybe Pastor John will stock these in our Coffee Shop at church. Maybe if you ask him...

Thank you, church family, for treating your staff and letting them have a time away together to refresh. We love you and you are a great church. What does pastor always say? You are the greatest church in the world!!! Keep on keeping on...

Your servant,

Karen

I hope to post a picture soon