A Question

What does Holiness, and a life totally sold out to Christ, mean to you?

Engagement Pictures

Okay, here are some engagement pics!
Enjoy!





A lot of things have changed this past year! Last year this time I was in Chicago and I didn't know Jake at all. Know I will be getting married. I am so happy! I never knew I could be so happy and so in love. It is more than I ever thought it would be. To try to explain it is cheap, and word are not enough, and for those who know what I am talking about, know what I mean. I am so blessed to have a man like Jake!

God has been so good and so faithful!

The Lord has provided a temporary job for me so that is why I have been so busy. I miss being at home, but My work is good, and it is definitely a mission field.

Well God bless you all!

Karen

Laughter is good for the Soul!

Laughter is good for the Soul!

A friend sent me this and I thought funny and so true. Thanks Buba! I am sure you have heard at least one of these.

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXT6Hs113ZA

God is so Awesome. I have been reading in Song of Solomon and it gives me a small glimpse of how much I am loved by my Jesus. Why would He love someone like me?
He is so faithful.
To think that He would love us who are so unlovable!


Karen

I am Engaged!

Okay, so here is the story! On Sunday Jake and I made it a day of prayer and fasting, so we were going to go to the park to do some reading and praying, and hanging out. After that He told me He wanted to take me to a Winery near by. I was like, um... okay. We go there and we were told we could go through the vineyard for a self guided tour. It smelt so good. the grapes tasted great too. After a while of walking through the vineyard Jake drops down to one knee, and you know the rest. When we headed back to the main building there on a table was two glasses and the worker who was in on this came our with a bottle of pure grape sider with a custom designed label. After that we went out to a restaurant for supper and he had made reservations and asked for candles on the table! I love that guy! Here are some pictures! Now for planning the wedding! We are planning to get married in mid January. If you want an invitation please let me know soon! God bless you all! Karen

Autumnish Thoughts

Autumn Is one of my favorite seasons. The trees changing color, the cool mornings and evenings. I have started picking up the habit of drinking more tea, and Peppermint is on of my favorites. It is the time of year when you start bring out sweaters, but still nice enough to leave your window open for night to let the fresh air in. Ah, I love it.



One of the thoughts that has struck me lately is this. It is amazing how there is such beauty in death. As the leaves die everything that was green starts to turn beautiful shades of red, orange, yellow, brown, or several colors mixed together on one leaf.

Death brings with it heart ache and pain to those that are affected by it, and it definitely brings change. But there is a strange beauty and Joy that comes when it is for the Lord glory.

This past year someone who I knew for a little while and worked with for several months past away, and the father to some friends of mine past away as well. Our family just finished the biography of William Bordan, and the impact his life had even though he died at a young age.

I truly believe that the Lord was glorified through these deaths, and I know that each one of them were ready to meet the Lord.
William Bordan had a greater impact on this world, and God was more glorified through his death than in life.
The same with Jim Elliot.

Like I said before there is a strange beauty in death, but to know that when we allow God to control of our lives there is life beyond death and there is new life, and spring shall come again!
Autumn and Winter are necessary to have a beautiful Spring.

It is amazing to think that God knew what He was doing when He created the Cycle of life.

God bless you all!

Karen

Back to school daze! I love to back to school season! for one, I love the Autumn weather. The cool mornings and evenings, the trees changing colors, and almost everything that comes with it. For the second reason, as the stores bring out the new school supplies, I get thrilled and want to buy supplies just so I can have them even though I am done (it won't happen though). New paper. To me inspiration is a blank piece of lined paper and an empty notebook! The thrill of seeing unsharpened pencils and using a new on for the first time. My favorite is Dixon 2, because they write good and they usually have a good eraser at the end. Colored pencils, erasers, new glue (it has a good smell), and maybe a new binder. I enjoyed history, most writing assignments while in school, Health (or the "Medicine Resource" as we called it), and Law. It has been a while since I was in school, but I enjoy helping the other children for the most part now, or taking over the responsibilities in the house. Well gotta go. Enough Reminiscing for now! Karen

Family Vacation

Our family (minus Victor because he couldn't get time off) went to Manitoba to visit family, and spent a weekend in Alberta to visit friends.

Here are some of the two hundred and some odd pictures I took.

It was foggy when we left home at around 6:00 am
We stopped in the afternoon to stretch our legs. The rest stop had 231 stairs that led
to a beach, and yes we climbed all of them down and up.





During the whole trip My dear sister Melodie was my traveling buddy, and we had fun together.





We went through the USA because it was shorter, and it really brought back memories of my early childhood traveling to Manitoba.
I saw this Bilboard and liked it. What do you think?



Our first destination was at my Aunt Ann, and Uncle Ed's home in Winnipeg.
During our two and a half days there My uncle took us to the Royal Canadian Mint.





Friday evening we went to my Grandma's house for Supper and the next morning we went to a parade and I got to watch it with her, while my family sat somewhere else.



Young and old were there watching and taking part.











On Sunday my cousin took two of my sisters and I to a low German play. It was good, and funny. It was interesting to be in a city where the majority of the people were Mennonites, but nice to see fellow Mennonites again.



It was nice to hang out with cousins like Tom and Eva







It was also nice to visit with Aunts and Uncles.



Alberta's landscape was nice though it did not have as many trees as Ontario. where you saw trees it was probably by a homestead. A group of us came together Sunday evening, the majority of the group use to live in Ontario except for one couple.





Through it all Betsy, the GPS that friends of ours let us use (praise the Lord), was wonderful. It took a lot of the stress of traveling out of the trip.



This is just a brief over view of our trip out west.
In Winkler, we spent a lot of time visiting and eating, and visiting and eating sme more.

It was a good trip and to see all the people, but it felt really good to come home!

May the Lord bless you all!

Karen

More Pic's

Here are some random pictures that I have taken.










Tell me what you think.

Karen

Great is Thy Faithfulness!

I stand amazed at the goodness of the Lord! Just seeing His work in my life and in the lives of others.
Yesterday I was talking with my mom, and while I was talking with her the Lord showed me an amazing truth!

Often we struggle with the acceptance of others and the approval of others even within your own family. That is what I had been struggling with but The Lord showed me that even though we may not get the acceptance or approval of others, God accepts us for who we are and Loves us the way we are!
It seems like such an old truth but, God has a way of making them new and fresh to us.
When we stumble and fall he picks us up and cleans us off and helps us back on our feet, just like a parent with their child!

He is so faithful!

The courtship is going good. I am still amazed that I could (through Christ) love someone so much and be loved so much!
Our prayer is that we would be a blessing to those around us, and that we would be an example to others.



Here is some of my Photography. If you have any tips or comments feel free to send them my way!





There will be more to come.

God bless you all!

Karen

The Blessings of the Lord

I can't begin to tell you all that the Lord has been doing in my life and how He is in the process of fulfilling a life long dream for me!
I am courting! Something I never dreamed would happen this soon.
I stand amazed at His working in this whole relationship. God has had this all planned since before time began, and how it is now coming to pass.

It is very different than how I always dreamed it would be, not in the way I expected, and and someone who I never really expected.
We are looking forward to see how God will work this all out. Our main prayer is that God will be glorified and honored in this relationship.
We are blessed to have the blessings of o ur family members and our church family.
God is so good!

Karen

2 Corinthians. 6:16-18, 7:1

"And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
"And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

"Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."

Karen

Here is the lily picture I drew for Easter. When I saw the lily plants at Church I really wanted to draw them, but I don't really have the time to do it while at Church. A lady from Church bought our family one, so the Lord worked every thing out so I could!
I have caught a glimpse of what Christ did for us, on the cross, in a new way this past Easter. I can only stand in awe and praise His name!

More Art!

Here is some more art for you all to see.





I am currently working on a picture of a lily, but I never knew how complicated it would be.

Karen

ART!

Here is some artwork I did while I was in Chicago last year.









May the Lord Bless you all!

Karen

"THE CHURCH THAT WOULD NOT SUFFER!"

This is a newsletter I receive monthly from www.sermonindex.net. I found it very powerful and thought I would let you read it as well.

IT IS QUITE disheartening to read any Christian magazine or news item these days. They are full of sex scandals, financial fruads, comprimising christians, powerless pastors and man-made movements. Where is God in it all? Is God purifying His Church? God is preparing Himself a "glorious Church" that is "denying ungodliness and wordly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world." God is speaking loud and clear to our generation, "I know your works!" Oh may every pastor and layperson that reads this newsletter realize that "God knows!" It is time to stop playing games with Church and get right with God and be the Church Militant on earth once again. God is looking for a people to show Himself strong on behalf of! "Let no man decieve you." God's word stands firm, we will all approach His judgement seat with the same Bibles and same opportunities. "Be zealous therefore and repent."

"The great battles, the battles that decide our destiny and the destiny of generations yet unborn, are not fought on public platforms, but in the lonely hours of the night." -Samuel Logan Brengle

God bless you all.
Karen

A Gift from my Jesus!

My precious Jesus gave me a gift today. The temperatures out side is 20 above zero!!!!!!! What a beautiful day. He blesses us with gifts we don't deserve. We don't have to do anything to earn His favor. What a wonderful thought to think He loves us for who we are.

Psalms 27:4 "One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple."

Karen

Revial among God's Church

"If revival is being withheld from us it is because some idol remains still enthroned; because we still insist in placing our reliance in human schemes; because we still refuse to face the unchangeable truth that 'It is not by might, but by My Spirit." -Jonathan Goforth-

Psalms 139:23-24
"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

Psalm 80:3, 14
"Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved."
"Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine;"

John 15:4
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me."

Karen

First Things First

Luke 1:46a-47
"...My soul doth magnify the Lord,
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour."

My name is Karen(thats me on the far right!). I am the second oldest of 8 children, a PK, and a home school Graduate. I became a Christian at the age of 9, and I love Christ with all my heart.

I love to sing and have ever since I was a little girl. I enjoy fellowshipping with fellow believers, reading, serving, working at home, and, studying on Interior Decorating.
I am currently working at home, which includes laundry, cooking, cleaning , and working with children.
I work with the younger youth (10-14) at our church, am a Church Librarian, and Sunday school teacher (I have not taught in a while but will be doing it again next month).

The Lord has been teaching me a lot lately. one of the things is Learning about Him. In the past I would read my Bible with the mindset of "What applies to me", "What can I get out of it"? The Lord has been showing me that I need to focus on learning about Him.
When reading an email or letter we don't see what applies to us, but what we can learn about the other person, and getting to know the person. That is how it is with Christ. It is not wrong, to have things apply to you or getting something out of it, but that should not be our main focus.

John 17:3 "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."

What do you think? Feel free to send feedback.

Karen