be October 23, 2009
Posted by karenesther in Life, poem.Tags: cool, friendship, Life, Love, nice, poem, sincerity
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be cool
but dont forget
how easily you can turn cruel
be in
but dont forget
popularity is always shedding skin
it does not forgive!
but always remember to
be nice,
avoid saying lies,
look at them in the eyes,
and dont put on a disguise;
that really isnt nice!
“dont judge me…” October 23, 2009
Posted by karenesther in Christianity, Life.Tags: actions speak louder than words, Christianity, church, Life, serving
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Ok I’ll try not to but what am I supposed to think when:
you give a million excuses for not staying an extra hour when asked?
What am I supposed to think when you come to my house, have fun, make a mess and not lift a finger to help clean it?
Or when you see me struggling trying to get something done, but don’t offer your help. Sure, I shouldve asked but many times I don’t just to see who’ll offer themselves. Is that wrong of me to do? Sorry.
Actions speak louder than words, but lack of actions I think are the loudest.
For all you Christian artists… September 30, 2009
Posted by karenesther in Christianity, Jesus, art.Tags: art, Art and the Bible, art history, artists, book, Francis Schaeffer
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I recently finished reading “Art and the Bible” by Francis Schaeffer. My recurring thought as I read it: Oh how I wish I had read this two years ago!
It is a small book, composed of two essays; Art in the Bible is the first one, and Some Perspectives on Art is the other essay. They are a great resource to the Christian artist that surrounds himself with many many humanist ideologies about art and its purpose.
In the second essay, he lays out some perspectives on art from a Christian point of view. The first one is:
The Art Work As An Art Work:
The first is the most important: A work of art has a value in itself… Art is not something we merely analyze or value for its intellectual content. It is something to be enjoyed.
He goes on to point out that the reason our work of art has value is that since a work of art is a work of creativity, we are reflecting a part of God’s nature; He is God the Creator. Isn’t that a freeing thought? God is pleased when we create art.
I see the fine balance that should exist between creating art that is well crafted , and art that delivers a message. He suggests an artist should dedicate himself to making a body of work and that this body of work reflect his worldview (wiki definition:refers to the framework of ideas and beliefs through which an individual interprets the world and interacts with it).
And to that I’ll add that if I want my worldview to capture the viewer’s attention, then I ought to make sure that my worldview is being shown through good art.
> than my life July 21, 2009
Posted by karenesther in Christian Missions, Jesus, Life.Tags: Gospel, Love, managua, mission trip, nicaragua, revolution, sandinismo, sandinista, traveling
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I’m writing this blog from Managua, Nicaragua. It’s hot, humid, and I haven’t showered after a long day of manual labor and walking through dirt roads.
I’d like to ask you something. Have you ever participated in a big event, like a social cause, a protest, or perhaps a political campaign? Have you ever had that experience of being part of something that is larger than your life? I sure hope you have, atleast once in your life.
Yesterday was the Sandinista Revolution’s 30th Anniversary here in Nicaragua. We got to drive close to where thousands of people were celebrating this historical event. Disregarding my personal views and opinions, I was glad to be able to see such an event with my own eyes. It’s such a beautiful feeling, to be part of something bigger, something “revolutionary”.
I feel like that right now. Today we visited some houses in a rural village called Masaya. Warm, friendly people. Sweet, smily kids. We gave out some food provisions and and sat down in their small homes to talk.
Saturday afternoon we walked around “El Periodista” neighborhood where one of our host families live. We handed out tracts that explain the Gospel and talked with those that wanted to.
Did I lead a mass of armed people, did I scream out my ’cause’? Did I wave flags all over a city, trying to make people join me? No.
Here is what I did: I got over myself, got ahold of God’s courage which He promises those who want to do His will, and simply WENT. I went to this girl’s house and patiently talked with her and her friend, listening and reasoning with them. By the end of our conversation, we were praying together, glory to God.
Here’s what I also did: I allowed God’s message of grace and forgiveness to fill me in such a way that I cannot help but share what I have with others.
I am glad to be part of something larger than myself, something larger than life.
This Summer June 23, 2009
Posted by karenesther in Christian Missions, Christianity, Jesus, Uncategorized.add a comment
Something really exciting happening this summer… Mission Trip to Nicaragua! www.gccmmissions.wordpress.com is our Mission Team’s Blog. Go check it out. My friend Eric just posted about our most recent fundraising event.
Short Note May 26, 2009
Posted by karenesther in Christianity, Jesus, Life, Love.Tags: advice, Christianity, complaining, gratitude, harmony, Love, short note
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Love. Gratitude. Less complaining. More harmony. God is glorified.
A short explanation. When we experience God’s love towards us on a daily basis, we become more thankful and show gratitude. When we show gratitude (to God and to others), we’ll find ourselves complaining less. And think of how our environment would be if we ALL complained less! It doesn’t have to be a voiced-out complaint, but we usually know when we have ungrateful hearts. When complaining is eliminated from our lives, we tend to cooperate more with God’s plan and with others. That is harmony! harmony means working alongside others, not competing against them. Harmony among believers is a powerful testimony of God’s hand, and His name is glorified.
To My Christian Friends April 29, 2009
Posted by karenesther in Christianity, Life, Love, Uncategorized.Tags: acts, Bible, Christianity, church, God, Jesus, Love, new believer
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Yesterday I was talking with a friend of mine who recently accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior. We were talking about the church and why she should meet with the rest of the Body of Christ more often. At one point I compared “church people” to regular people you meet in school or elsewhere; I told her that in the church she can find people who genuinely care about her. Outside the church, it can be hard to tell who wants to be your friend and who wants something from you. She agreed with me that there are people like that. Then after we finished that conversation, I couldn’t help but play back my own words in my head. Will she really find people in the church who genuinely care about her? Do I genuinely care about my friends all the time, or is there still some selfishness in me?
She and I also discussed why the chuch is SO important. We were both looking at Acts 20:28 that says “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”
We both concluded that it is important because the concept of Church is God’s idea, not ours! So then, if it’s God’s will that the church be what represents Him, how important is it that we strive and desire to be like Him who purchased us with His blood? So I ask myself, and I ask you, my brother or sister in Christ, do you care about how you are representing Christ today? Can an unbeliever see your life and say you are different? Not different in how you look, but different in that you LOVE.
A good day to do what is right March 12, 2009
Posted by karenesther in Christianity, Life.Tags: car accident, do unto others
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As I was driving into a parking space today a few hours ago, I accidentally hit the bumper of another parked car. <Groan> great timing, Karen.
As I back off and park in correctly, I immediately get out of my car to assess the damage. Some of the paint in my car is now on that blue Kia. I also see a few scratches. I get back into my car to start writing a note. Then I stop, and start to really think about it. How much could it cost? Are they gonna get picky or try to take advantage of the situation? It ocurred to me afterwards that I could’ve just parked in a different spot and they would’ve never found out who did it. You can barely tell anyways.
But I know there is a right and wrong thing to do. I also know to do unto others as I would want them to do unto me. So I call my mom and see what she has to say. She tells me to finish that note. So I do. I said something like this:
To the owner of: Blue Kia (plate number)
Sorry! I accidentally hit the bottom left side of the back of your car. Call me at (my cellphone).
-Karen Guerra
About an hour later, I go back to my car and I notice that the blue Kia has left. I also found a note placed on my windshield.
I have to say I feel inspired right now. Inspired to keep doing what’s right. No matter the cost. We have a Perfect Father taking care of us. We’ll be fine 
the note
Resolutions, Goals, and Promises (Part 1) January 8, 2009
Posted by karenesther in Uncategorized.Tags: emotional experience, failed resolutions, goals, God, new year, new years resolutions, promises, resolutions, spiritual experience
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During the first few weeks of January we usually find ourselves thinking about the goals we’d like to set for the new year. We have resolutions of things we’d like to change from the previous one. Many times we also make promises to ourselves; in essence we want to accomplish.
I’ve been thinking alot about the promises that we make concerning our Christian journey. For example, we say that we want to become more involved in a particular ministry; our devotional times will now be one hour long; we will pray more; we will help others more; we will memorize verses. The list really does go on.
Here is my experience with those kinds of desires:
It usually begins with a prayer. I tell God what I am feeling. I tell Him I really want to grow in this area, etc. Now, a side note here. This is when I am actually serious about something. I am not talking about those purely emotional experiences that we go through sometimes. They can happen after reading a biography or listening to a sermon that we say to ourselves (not even to God sometimes), “I will share the Gospel every day starting today!” Things like that. I give myself two or three days and before I know it, I even forgot what I had resoluted to do (I recently discovered that “resolute”is not a verb; I hope my message still gets across). But going back to my experience. After I have prayed, as sincere as I know how to be, I ask God for his help to be more of this or do more of that. I start thinking of practical ways to accomplish my goal. I find some things to be harder than others. I start accepting the fact that I will probably fail many times before I start succeeding.
Here is what jumps out at me most during these times though. Life gets harder. If you wanted to start reading the Bible more, not only will find yourself busier than ever, but you’re gonna feel less motivated. On some days you’ll have the time but will simply choose not to read.
And I ask myself why that happens. Im in the process of figuring that out now. I have an idea, based on my experience. But I want to organize my thoughts so they make sense (it is difficult for me sometimes to do that hehe).
But what do you think?
2009 January 1, 2009
Posted by karenesther in Uncategorized.Tags: 2008, 2009, Christianity, goals, God, Jesus, new year, resolutions
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Goal: Greatness
Formula: selflessness+hard/smart work
Verse: Matthew 23:11
11“But the greatest among you shall be your servant.”
2008 was a very intense year for me. It was intense because I know my relationship with God and my walk with Christ saw and experienced much more than the previous years. Little choices I made early in 2008 made significant impact for the rest of the year. Little choices allowed for God to intervene more and I pray these little choices will become more frequent in 2009.
