In one week — from this moment — we will be in route — flying over the Atlantic.

WOW…  I am not sure what to say.

Well to catch up, we had a wonderful Christmas, celebrating our LORD’s birth and the redemption story that began to unfold that starry night.

With extended family through out the day, our parents, siblings, cousins, nieces & nephews and of course our kids and grand kids…  we stuffed ourselves and exhausted ourselves, and then stuffed some more.

Everyone has moved in and filled each room, toys for both the big and small are scattered around the house, the kitchen is overflowing and the chaos is the most precious gift…  now, I confess, I have already had to go to my room and remind myself of that ;;))).

Dinners are a highlight with very specific and special meals that were selected months ago.  Feta Bacon Burgers, French onion soup, Beer Cheese Soup, Grilled Chops w Wht BBQ sauce, Mojo Pork and  Pepper Steak w Orzo.  I know there are a couple other things but I can’t remember.

Last night was the official start, and Johnny, who helped with the schedule, started our devotion rotation.

God says that there is NO OTHER JOY than to see your children walk in Truth.  Oh how true that is.  Last night I sat at the dinner table as my 7 year old grandson shared “what God has been teaching him”.  Then he read from Psalm 139 and talked about how God always thinks about us and knows everything about us and what we do and where we go and that even one hour before He knew we would all be around the table reading those verses….    Oh Lord — keep revealing Yourself in great and marvelous ways!!!!

So – here we are — we have lots of packing to do yet and we are saying goodbyes.  God is stirring an excitement that comes straight from HIS HEART!!!!  And we are leaning into HIS arms with an anticipation of HIS GREAT PLAN!!!

Our sweet church family is having a “SEND OFF” this Sunday, the 30th, at Calvary Chapel Palm Harbor – following the second service.  Please join us if you are in the area, if not, please keep us in prayer as we worship and praise our LORD, share in a pot luck lunch and say goodbye to our family.

Please be sure to check on this post, our website and our FB page to keep up to date with this journey.  Continue to pray for us and for our family as we go through this transition.  And if you want to be a part of our team through prayer be sure to sign up on the link below and we will keep you updated on the prayer needs.

PRAYER PARTNER LINK

We are still in need of both “set up” and “monthly” support.  If you want to be apart of that support – please hit the link below…

FINANCIAL SUPPORT LINK

Whoa – that’s pretty close!

With a million things to do – Randy and I found ourselves sitting here on the couch – alone in the house that we AND our family refer as “home”.  We are days from Christmas and the beginning of our SAULGOOD Staycation.  We are all pretty excited about that!  Just hanging home and together.  No real plans – other than to finish getting ready and packed, very specific menus, time for prayer together, playing with Christmas toys, laughing and enjoying the incredible gift of family God has blessed us with.

For a number of years our staff at church consisted of Pastor Brett, Pastor Jim and myself.  God has since added some wonderful people but for a long time it was just us – and together with our spouses – we had lots of opportunities to draw close.  Last night we had dinner together and I have to say — I so love these people.  They really have no idea how much they have touched and encouraged and spurred us on in our walk with Christ!  I pray for them much — that God will continue to pour out His Spirit and to use them much!

Tonight we have dinner with some special sweet friends and tomorrow will be our last night out with friends turned family and these times are more special than ever as we think about just how faithful and good our Father is.

We are taking in each moment and finding that the Lord is pulling back the curtain ever so slightly and stirring our anticipation of the next season that is fast approaching.

Our excitement has been mixed some today with painful news as close family friends find themselves facing a heartache and challenge as their new grandbaby – due in the Spring – has been diagnosed with Spina Bifida.  Please keep them in prayer.  Here’s their blog which already shouts — WE TRUST JESUS!!!!

http://diehlingwithlife.weebly.com/2/post/2012/12/sweet-baby-diehl.html?

It is my heart’s deepest prayer that each one reading this KNOWS my God and has tasted just how good HE IS!!!  If you do not have that assurance…  can I just strongly encourage you to not delay.  Call me if you have questions – I may not know all the answers but I know the ONE who does!!!

For those who DO KNOW HIM — while we are enjoying this house and family these upcoming days — and then anticipating placing our feet in Africa for a while — we are ABUNDANTLY aware that neither of these places are HOME — and that one day soon — our Lord will come with a SHOUT and will be leading us HOME and we will be with HIM forever…  does that just race your heart????  Oh it does mine!

Be blessed all!

WILL BE IN TOUCH….

HEY — DON”T FORGET —

1) Follow our Blog (hover in the lower right corner and then click on the link and enter your email

2) Check out our website  www.AbideinTruth.org

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Thanks – we appreciate your help in sharing our mission with the invitation of getting others to join in to be a part!

Love, Kari

Well, we continue the countdown… Now at 18 days…. 

As our nation mourns the tragedy of outright evil, I am reminded of how very much our world needs Jesus.  And as we busy ourselves with the hustle of this season, I am going to bed tonight praying that the proclamations of Jesus as Lord that is heard in every store, on every station, oh Lord, unveil the very TRUTH of those words in the hearts of mankind.  We need a Savior and a Deliverer from this madness.  YOU are that One!! As we celebrate Your birth, may we know that You came to save us from our sins.  You are no longer in that manger….  You are no longer on the cross, but You sit at the right hand of God Almighty and that You hear the cries of those children who faced evil, himself, and that You are only waiting so that whosoever might believe on You, might be saved.  Your patience must be so nearly spent, how long oh LORD, how long?

My friend, do you know Him?  Do not delay, our redemption draws near.

It is true – we leave 4 weeks from YESTERDAY!  How how how is that possible?

God has graciously stirred an excitement in my spirit that I will admit I struggled to grasp onto.  I don’t know what all the Lord has in store for us but I am blessed beyond measure to be a small part of HIS plan and to KNOW that it WILL be more than I can think OR imagine!!!!

The list is getting shorter!!!  I am no longer adding faster than I am crossing off — THAT’s a good thing!

I have just a few more hours in the office and that — is by force.  The force — is limiting it to a few.  Didn’t really expect it to be so hard to leave that little cube!  I want to touch on that heartache some – but will wait for another post.  It’s been a while and I want to catch up some.

On a scale of 1-10, I was limited to a 4 for level of decorating for Christmas.  hmmm – only 1 tree, I didn’t change out pictures on the wall, decor on the shelves or even the dishes in the dining room…  so — I guess I followed the instructions.  Not sure how I feel about it.

I had some mama time with my boys the other night.  Is it just me or do you NEVER stop pointing your finger and saying, “now, don’t forget…. and be sure you…. and take care of….  and and and”.  I mean – they ARE 26 and 30 years old for goodness sake.  But – they graciously sat and listened…  of course… they were getting a pretty nice dinner out of it.

Boy – I am grateful.  I am literally filled with a joy that is indescribable.  I am so thankful to God for His faithfulness to hold fast to the hearts of my little boys and to raise them up to be men – real men of God.  I will ever pray and intercede for them – but oh – what joy that fills my soul!!!!  Ryan & Cory – you make your mama so very very proud!!!

Now – the girls want to know why I left them out.  Lots of remarks and suggestions – but somehow a motherly nod lets them know that it was MUCH to their advantage.

Have I mentioned how very much I thank God for the daughters He gave – to come up beside my boys????  Rachel and Elizabeth are so very much the little girls I began praying for some 27 years ago.  And I think the way they joined this family without skipping a beat is due to the fact that they have really ALWAYS been a part of the family that I would talk to Jesus about — day after day, month after month and year after year.

Now — my baby girl.  Kasi is doing good.  She started her new job today and is still praying very very much about a venture it would appear God is leading and directing steps for.  Kasi is my very best girlfriend in all the world.  I highly recommend raising your own.  She has become the very woman I pray to be like with I grow up!  I love her heart, I love her smile, I love her laughter, I love her compassion and gentleness, I love everything about her…  but I especially love that she is this amazing woman of God, trusting and following hard after HIM.

Kasi will be rooming with a good friend and will hold down the fort.  Please keep her in prayer as she follows closely the steps of her Lord!

We are excited about this coming month.  We have some SAULGOOD time planned and that NEVER disappoints.  A staycation on the agenda, Birthday parties, Christmas Parties, Dinner Parties, Family Game nights and a slew of dinners with friends.  It will be a great month, albeit a bit tearful.  We will remind one another that our LORD is good and faithful.  We will remind each other that HE has a perfect plan that will bring HIM great glory and honor and He is letting us all be a part!!!

ABIDEinTRUTH.org is just about done – thanks to Elizabeth!!!  She is finishing it up now.

Our home church – Calvary Chapel Palm Harbor – will be having a send off on December 30th after services.  You can check the website in the next week for more details.

Yep — it’s getting close.  Please continue to keep us in prayer.  I will be updating lots over the next month….  please check back!!!  You can choose to “FOLLOW” us and you will be notified of updates!

OH — we are still needing to raise support – both one time gifts (for getting over there and set up and for school) as well as monthly support.  For now you can give through CCPH and just mark it MISSIONS – KENYA.

Thanks for checking in and keeping us in your prayers!!!  

Keeping my eyes on HIM,  Kari