Sunday, April 6

Leadership & a Kidney Donation

At church in Greeneville a couple of Sundays ago, a woman stood up, clearly emotional, and explained that her husband, a 40ish year old dad & staple of the community, has needed a kidney transplant for quite some time. Several routes had been explored, a brother willing but unable to donate, much hope found with disappointment right on its heels time & time again. Can you imagine? The husband you've loved, poured yourself into, made countless memories with... the father, role model, best friend of your child... the pillar of your house, your life. With kidneys that just aren't functioning like they need to, and not a thing you or he can do about it.

A little background of that home church of mine...you know those "little country churches"? New Lebanon has always fit that stereotypical picture perfectly. Generation after generation raised there... friends that feel like family encouraging and praying over you week after week. Growing up, my youth Sunday school class was lucky to have five of us in there. A big Sunday, maybe 70 in the pews. It was truly one big family... sickness met with laying hands and lots of prayer, loss rippling through each heart, a pregnancy announcement or acceptance letter celebrated with applause, hugs, & curious questions. 

About this time last year, a new preacher came, different than the ones before... much younger & more rambunctious than what we'd always had. The church members knew, though this would be different, it was a necessary change. We needed an awakening...not the same ol' same ol'. And awaken we did. You're lucky to find a seat now, & Sunday after Sunday, he stands & pierces straight to our hearts, with truth of the gospel & ways the Lord is growing him even now. He demands we get up &be active, that the world is not sleeping & we, as Christ's disciples, cannot afford to be either. He pushes us to look more closely at our lives, to see the ways we are falling short or misrepresenting the name of Christ. He is real, transparent. So many complain about how Christians put on a good face all the time... that we seem to have it all together & struggle with very little. I would dare to say no one could or would be tempted to say that about this man. He leads by example in every facet of his life & our church. 


So, on that Sunday a couple of weeks ago, I can't say I was surprised to hear what she said after giving us the background story. Nonetheless, it rocked me to the core & has affected me each day since. It turns out that our pastor, the one who rarely fails to lead by example, will be donating a kidney to her husband. That they'd already done all the preliminary testing & it was a go.


Being a living donor is a big deal. He will be cautioned to not play any higher risk or heavy contact sports. He will need to keep his weight and blood pressure in check, so to not cause any problems to the one kidney he'll have left. There are many risks our pastor is willingly and happily taking on to essentially give new life to this member of our church, a man he barely even knew just a few months ago. 


She told us that he was torn about even telling us, insisting that he didn't want any of the glory or praise. In the weeks since we first found out, praise he has gotten, but he always, always redirects it. He insists that the Lord made it clear that this is what he's to do, and that he is simply walking in obedience. 


And as I sat in the pew, stunned and amazed at the selflessness and the faith of this leader of our church, my mind of course went straight to 1 John 3:16... "By this we know love, that He laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers..." 


I thought how good of a message I've always known that verse to give. Lay down my life for my brothers & sisters... put aside my wants & desires, consider myself last. But to give a kidney?? Woah. That's a whole different kind of "lay down our lives". Then, of course, I thought of his wife. And decided that I might be up for doing something that extreme... but being on board for Gavin doing it? Yeah right. Take my kidney, but leave his. How brave & trusting his wife also is, to knowingly allow her husband to put himself at risk for future problems. But then, the truth of that verse sunk in... Jesus Christ literally laid down His life for us, willingly, humbly, painfully. What a testimony, as an imitator of Christ, to be willing to do the same. 


1 John 3:18, a couple verses later, says "Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth." That's what our pastor is doing, loving in deed & truth. He is shining a light for the world to see... one that cannot be ignored or brushed over. What he's doing will impact all who hear, and isn't that the point of each Christian's life? "But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth" Exodus 9:16. 


With all these thoughts in my head, all I keep going back to is this: my God is HUGE. And powerful. And every time I step back a second & think of all He's done, awe doesn't even begin to describe it. And if my pastor can take such a step of faith in donating an organ, what's my excuse?  


"A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, & shows the way." John Maxwell. 


It's late & I'm SO tired, but I've been meaning to share this story since I first heard & was so touched, and I couldn't exactly put it off any longer. The surgeries are at Duke tomorrow morning, 7:30 for the donor, 9:15 for the recipient. Please be in prayer for both families. 

Friday, April 6

one or the other...

"And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left." 


Three men at Calvary. Two were criminals. They were answering for wrongdoings. But the third one? Not Him. He was no criminal. The highest authorities had found no fault in Him. 


"Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do..."


And His reaction to being killed, in such a shameful, painful way? Concern. Thoughts of the people around Him, who I imagine to be, unfortunately, a lot like me, and every generation after. He knew. This verse alone shows perpetual mercy, a selfless willingness, an unimaginable love. He knew, yet He asked for our pardon. Never can anyone argue that they've done "too much" for God's forgiveness, for His acceptance. We've been pardoned, in words and in action. 


"Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us."


This dude blasphemed Him. Mocked Him. Spit on Him. Treated Him as though He was of no importance. 


"But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not ever fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds, but this Man has done nothing wrong." 


He recognized. His eyes were open. He understood the seriousness of what he was witnessing, the gravity of this death. He chose faith and belief. While everyone around him was rebuking this Man who was hung under a sign reading "King of the Jews", this criminal focused on the one thing of upmost importance.



"Then, he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." And Jesus said to him, "assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.""






Tonight, as my sweet fiance was reading to me from Luke, chapter 23, a mountain of emotions welled up inside of my finite little brain. Whyyyy? What was wrong with those people yelling "crucify Him!"? Why wouldn't Pilate OR Herod go against the crowd and refuse to kill an innocent man? Wasn't He so angry about being condemned for absolutely nothing? 


My heart breaks. Because He was killed? Not really. It had to happen. That was God's ultimate display of mercy. I get that. It breaks because I read that, and I see my face in that crowd, demanding His death and watching as He hangs. 


And the criminals... two completely opposite reactions to this Man between them. Is it just me, or do they sound way too familiar? 


How often do we, do I, offend Him? How often do I look at Him and simply choose a different direction? How often do I see His sacrifice, yet respond with only apathy? I mock Him; I rebuke Him. Those people did that day, and we've done it everyday thereafter. 


On the other hand, sometimes, I get it. Occasionally, I look around me at this world's false promises and genuinely want nothing to do with it... every once in a while, I will look to Christ and my eyes will stay fixed there, seeing the big picture, His ultimate promise. 


So, which criminal am I? Has to be one or the other. Man, I pray I resemble the second one, being counted as blameless by the God I serve. But, if I don't? If I fall into the snares all around me and get a bit too involved... He STILL died for my shortfalls, asked forgiveness for my actions. 


Because, ultimately, "...the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." 


In that, truly I find comfort, humility, acceptance, grace. 


Good Friday happened so that a perfect God could have relationships with imperfect humans. But it doesn't stop there... oh, no, no, no. See ya Sunday!


*Sidenote: lots of these thoughts were spoken from Gavin as we talked about all of this... he read this post and said "So, um, did you write this or did I?"-- smart aleck :)

Wednesday, January 11

what if...

Every single day, I am thankful.

I was raised in a Christian home by amazing, supportive parents and a tight-knit extended family. 

Papaw's 91st birthday party (claimed he was taking back over the farm :)

Throughout my life, I have been given phenomenal friends, walking before me and alongside me (so blown away by this. all. the. time.)

celebrating with my favorite CN girls!! 

The most incredible man I've ever known asked me to marry him and experience life and ministry with him every day for the rest of our lives. 

practicing for our big day at someone else's :)

My soon-to-be in-laws are unbelievable and treat me just like one of the fam.

nothing like tree pickin' when you have a whole farm to choose from
what girl wouldn't want three sisters?!
I have gotten to travel to exotic (albeit some not so exotic) places, experience once-in-a-lifetime things, and meet the greatest people.
volcano hiking in Costa Rica
Republica Dominicana
Lighthouse Beach in the Bahamas

I have never known hunger or thirst.  I have clothes (too many!), a car, a house (and apartment), and a fridge full of food. I'm four months away from graduating college, five months away from becoming Gavin's wife, and (hopefully!) seven months away from starting med school. 

So, what if thankfulness was so authentic it was expressed in all I do?
 "...giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." 
Ephesians 5:20
what if it flowed so deeply I didn't even notice the day-to-day nuisances?
 "Take heart; I have overcome the world."
John 16:33
what if even on my worst day, I still lifted my hands in praise and gratitude?  
"Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you shall glorify Me."
Psalm 50:15

What if you woke up today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday? 


Every single day, I am thankful. But am I that thankful?

Here's to spending all day, every day... thankful.

Monday, December 5

all because of a video...

it's my last week of classes for the semester. tomorrow, I have three papers due and one final to take. So, why in the world am I blogging when the practical, good student thing to do (and we all know i'm a GREAT student... or procrastination's best friend. whichever, i guess.) would be read, write, pull out my hair, drink some hot chocolate, and then repeat that process? 


Because of a video.


There I was, 100% committed to finishin' my 10-pager (maybe not quite 100%), when my dear, sweet, not-good-at-helping-me-focus roommate told me to check it out. reluctantly gladly opening myself to another distraction, I did just that...

And I was inspired

Not in the life-altering, I-want-to-go-knock-on-every-neighbor's-door kind of way... but in a soft, gentle way that happens when I am undeniably touched by Truth.

And I am, for the hundredth time today, so, so very thankful. for my God. for our purity. and for my devilishly handsome, leader of a fiance.


have I mentioned how blessed I am?!

This guy is gifted, to say the least... and I would feel totally confident setting him up with any of my not-yet-swept-away friends (unsure why I'm on a let's-hyphenate-everything-kick, but it's working for me). it's called "sexual healing", and he's addressing our society's problem of sex as recreation. watch it, soak it in. this is truth, by gosh.  


 

Like I said, gifted, right? 

Leaving you with a quote from Elisabeth Elliot...

"There is dullness, monotony, sheer boredom in all of life when purity is no longer protected and prized. By trying to grab fulfillment everywhere, we find it nowhere."

with love and gratefulness, 
Kara soon-to-be Lankford

(that sounds sooo good...)

Monday, November 21

this should be fun...

Let's be honest, there is no good time to start a blog. 

It's always a bit inconvenient too involved awkward.

I tried once... when I spent six weeks doing missions in the Bahamas (yes, it's still considered mission work even if it's in a tropical paradise :). I wanted to remember the stories, the culture, and most of all, the people (and I didn't want to repeat hundreds of stories to so many different people). 



So, what happened? After two entries (full of hilarious Bahamian phrases and a few incredible pictures), a message pops up where my blog should've been. It said something along the lines of "we're sorry. your blog has encountered an error, blah, blah, blah... it no longer exists". Well, okay, then. Point taken. No blog for me. 

This is officially effort #2. Here's to hoping it lasts longer than two entries!

On to the point: I'm gettin' hitched in 208 days. To this guy: 



Blessed or what?

That means 208 days left:
  • To be a Woolsey. Weird thought? I think so. I will have spent 22 years being Kara Woolsey, and after a few words and the signing of a certificate, that will change forever. But, if I had to pick another name, I would undoubtedly choose Lankford. I am a big fan of him, his family, and an added bonus: my kids won't be doomed to the back of every classroom like I was (thank you, alphabetic order).
  • To sleep in a bed by myself. Not only is this the typical transition of woman alone to woman+man, but he is 6'5. six foot five inches takes up a LOT of space, but that is an adjustment that i am absolutely thrilled to make.
  • To live off PB&J and chicken noodle soup. For some reason, when you're a wife, that seems to be less acceptable than when you're just a college student.
  • UNTIL MY WEDDING DAY! That once-in-a-lifetime, whatever-the-heck-you-want, you'll-plan-for-months-and-the-day-will-fly-by day. The one day in our entire lives when everyone we love will be together, praising God and celebrating our love. Sounds pretty fabulous to me, even apart from all the pretty dresses, delicious food, and brilliant dancing :)
  • Until I get to live with my very best friend, confidant, encourager, admirer, and challenger. and to fall even MORE in love with him (possible? they tell me so.)
  • Until we get to become one, in the blessed institution created by the God who brought us to this point, redeemed and in freedom. This=the most exciting part. We will get to:
    1. Know each other in completely new ways (maybe that's where the tiny bit of terrified comes in :). In living together and in our hearts and souls being joined. In triumphs and in trials. In love and in pain. Game on. 
    2. See completely different sides and depths of the God we have served and will always serve so spiritedly. Marriage is such an incredible picture of Christ and His Bride, the only picture that even can touch on that, and His love, grace, forgiveness, tenderness, and devotion will become so much clearer when we experience that firsthand. How freakin' exciting.
    3. Show this picture of Christ and the Church to the whole world. Marriage is such a simple and straightforward tool to show His love to everyone we encounter, through our actions, the way we interact with each other, as well as the way God will remain the absolute center of our lives (even when I have such a good-lookin' guy next to me). We will be given the opportunity to show to the world what His deep, crazy intimate love and boundless grace looks like. 
So, all this to say... I want to keep a journal (of sorts) of this precious time in our lives, so that I will refuse to let each moment absolutely rush by. But even more, I want to share this journey with you, the people who have been so precious to us, in hopes that the Lord will receive the glory that He alone deserves. Past the wedding day, into our marriage. The excitement, the mishaps, and best of all, the growth. This should be fun!