Follow Jesus

Follow God's example in everything you do, because you are His dear children. Live a life filled with love for others, following the example of Christ, who loved you and gave Himself as a sacrifice to take away your sins.  And God was pleased, because that sacrifice was like sweet perfume to Him. Ephesians 5:1-2 NLT

We are almost one month into 2013 and it has passed quickly.  Our time is spent praying and seeking the Lord's direction for us and the ministry.   We know that we will be traveling but the Lord has not given us a leaving date.  We receive daily calls, texts and Facebook messages from people asking for prayer and sharing the deepest needs in their lives.  Many people are hurting and we have the words of life and hope for them.  We love sharing Father's Word and listening with attuned ears to the words they speak.  We are so thankful that Father has given us ears to hear and hearts to give much love.  During this new year the Lord is showing us afresh and new His amazing grace, love and favor.  We will have a new grandchild born in August and we will have another grandchild graduate from high school.  For over 13 years we have been following the Lord's directions through Christ's Kingdom Ministries and we look forward to more traveling, pastor encouragement and spending time with spiritually adopted family. 

The Lord has also given us His direction to Pursue Him and to Come Into His Presence.  In my devotional I have read many scriptures and comments to go along with both of these directives.  Father wants us to seek Him with our whole heart, Matthew 6:33 and He also wants us to spend much time IN HIS PRESENCE where there is Fullness of Joy (Psalm 16:11), and in Colossians 2:9 which says: For in Christ the fullness of God lives in a human body, and you are complete through your union with Christ.  He is the Lord over every ruler and authority in the universe. 

In this season we must study the Word so  that we know the truth and we can walk in the truth daily living our lives as a sweet aroma unto the Lord.  Be bold, be strong, for the Lord our God is with us! 

We love you,

Charley & Karen

chasnkt44@att.net

Father's Amazing Protection

“You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.” Selah Psalm 32:7

“And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.” Psalm 27:6

We began preparing for our next trip during the last few weeks of April.  Charley changed the oil in the car and I went about the house gathering items to pack. The Lord gave us direction to go to Kansas City May 3-8 for the college graduation of the young man who is to marry our goddaughter and for their wedding. Father gave us very special visits with some of the family and then we had many divine opportunities to speak life into many of their friends.  It was an exciting weekend! We love keeping Father’s appointments and watching Him do His miraculous work.  All we have to do is be obedient to speak what He tells us and see how the Holy Spirit works in people’s lives. The graduation was so special! It was the culmination of much prayer, study and perseverance.  Much healing has taken place in this young man’s life and his focus is on Jesus.  The wedding was absolutely beautiful!  Not just the decorations and planning, but it honored the Lord and included so many of the couple’s friends as attendants and in the audience. The couple had asked us to pray a blessing over them during the ceremony. Our time with them was precious and as we held hands on the stage, our hearts were rejoicing in this union brought about by the Lord and we knew that His healing had happened in both of their lives.  Our God heals and restores!! So glad He does! After some wonderful times of sharing with the couple and seeing them joined together in the Lord, we headed home.  

We were home only a couple weeks when Father sent us to Northern Colorado.  This trip was from May 18-June 1.  We hadn’t a clue all that the Lord had planned.  So often now He gives us part of the journey and then tells us as we go.  I often think this happens as we are obedient then Father reveals more of His plans.  We have to take the first step.  We arrived safely on May 19 in Northern Colorado. We see the hand of the Lord in our surroundings, it is lovely, weather is so good and our time of ministry intense and so covered by Father. The enemy tried to take us out again on both trips while driving. In Kansas City we were following some people in downtown and were almost hit by a bus and another car.  Only Father’s angels protected us.  Then on the Colorado trip a driver came into our lane to pass an 18 wheeler but did not have the room to pass safely.  About 500 feet in front of us he moved to our shoulder and he passed us going about 70 miles an hour on our right, the semi passed us on the left and we threaded the needle between them.  Father told Charley to stay the course so he just held on to the wheel and praised the Lord for His protection. We know that we are following Father's direction on this trip. We have a team of prayer warriors covering us as we minister whether at home or on the road. We had the awesome privilege to spend time at a pregnancy resource center encouraging and loving on the staff.  Father gave us a message, a word, for each one of them.  We spent some very special time with dear friends and then on May 30, we headed home. The weather was good and our time together sharing so sweet.  Father gave Charley a neat divine appointment in Childress.  We stopped for a rest stop at Wal-Mart and he met a young man named William.  William is a Wal-Mart greeter who is in a wheelchair.  Charley introduced himself, shook William's hand and they began talking about our travels and about Jesus.  It was obvious that William knows Jesus and it was such a blessed visit.  Charley thanked William for being there to greet and help people.  

We love to keep Father's appointments and we look forward to each day whether at home or on the road for those divine encounters.  We were protected on this trip in a mighty way, met many new people and had the blessing of spending time with family and dear friends.  The Lord is working in each life and we got to speak life into each person we met. The love of Jesus and His message goes on and on and on. We look forward to our next trip.  We do not know when that will be.  Since our arrival home, we are experiencing some attack of the enemy. It usually happens that we encounter this attack as the enemy wants to tear down what Father did in the lives of many people. We stand against any attack he brings in the name of Jesus our Savior and Lord!! We have the Victory! 

Charley & Karen

chasnkt44@att.net

A New Year

Can it truly be the middle of March? Where has this year gone? We know it has been busy because we are tired! Our winter here in Texas has been mild to say the least. We saw snow only once and it did not stick to the ground. We have had more rain than usual and lots more sunshine and warmer temps. I love watching the fruit trees bloom and my irises, oh my, they have been beautiful. The first white irises numbered 5. A friend told us that 5 means Grace. Yes, the Lord has given us much Grace this year. We began the year so excited about all He has planned and we are still excited! We have been at home for these 3 months but Father has kept us really busy with His work. We have adopted several new grandchildren and a new daughter. Of course her whole family came along with the adoption. One of our dear daughters traveled to Moldova for ministry and we were a part of her prayer team. Others, pastors and children, have called for prayer covering for immediate needs in their family.

We stay in communication with many folks over email and Facebook. We enjoy using the tools Father has given us to share His message of love and forgiveness. I continue to make my scripture cards and give them away at every available opportunity. The Word is alive! Jesus is Alive!! Praise God, He is using us for His honor and glory. We have both been going for medical exams to check our health and fitness for all the Lord has for us to do. He has sent us to do this because He wants us physically healthy for His work. We have not been as faithful to care for our bodies, His temple, as we should but that is changing. We want to be faithful to Him and His work by eating right and caring for His temple. He has much for us to do for the Kingdom. We know we will be traveling soon. He has given us some of our trip but no leaving date. Those who have followed this ministry for years are very much aware that we do not leave town until Father tells us. Then we are on His time schedule and following His plans. We continue to pray Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Those verses we live by daily trusting Him for all He has for us that day. Keeping His appointments and ministering where He chooses. It is an amazing way to live! It is so expedient that we listen closely to what the Lord tells us and stay focused on Him. He has awesome plans and we do not want to miss a single one of them. So many people today need a touch from the Master and He loves them enough to send us to them. We can give example after example of divine encounters. We look for them! We expect them! They happen daily! Praise God, He is working in our lives and using us to impact a lost world.

May the Lord be praised! Stay in touch with us during this year and we will take you along on our journey with Jesus! We love you all and appreciate your prayer covering!

Charley & Karen

chasnkt44@att.net

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

This has been a very eventful year! We had our 9 week trip early in the year and then the Lord has used us here in the area the rest of the year. We have traveled a little but mostly we have been touching lives over email, Facebook and phone. Of course that doesn’t take into account the MANY divine appointments we encounter in our daily life. I am sure all of you could say amen to that one statement. The Lord is ALWAYS busy about His business and He uses us when we are willing to be used. Each morning we praise Him for another terrific day and we pray Proverbs 3:5-6 and the Prayer of Jabez. Oh how He has enlarged our territory! We also pray the Lord’s Prayer each morning and then watch Father care for us bountifully throughout the day. There have been many in pain, turmoil and fear this year due to the circumstances they find themselves in at the moment. One day we walked into a store just to buy a few items and encountered a precious lady who helped me find what I needed and then we helped her focus on Jesus for a bit as she desires a fulfilling marriage. She is happily married but she wants it to be even better! We were so excited to encourage her. Then another time we went into a department store and met one of the checkers who needed an ear because she was hurting and concerned about her daughter. I got her name and the daughter’s name and we have been praying for them daily ever since. This past week we went into the store and she ran over to us to tell us that her daughter is doing SO MUCH BETTER and she wept for joy at the healing that is happening. Keeping Father’s divine appointments! These are only a few of the many opportunities we have to share our Lord Jesus, the Word of God and His love with those we meet daily. This year we want to say Thank You to all our wonderful prayer partners and friends who support, bless, pray for and encourage us. We are very thankful for our Lord and for those He has given us to pray for and touch. May He grant us His amazing strength, wisdom and peace as we finish this year and begin a new year with Him.

We love you,

Charley & Karen

DELIVER the Message

Dear Prayer Warriors! Wow! This has been a fast couple of weeks. Since our arrival home on June 9 from our 9 week ministry trip, we have had lots of computer work to do entering all the new folks Father added to our prayer list and our ministry list. Many of our local spiritual family needed some Mama and Papa hugs also. We want to give a report of what the Lord did as we traveled. It is so hard to take hundreds of stories and condense them for you but here goes.

We have said over and over that this was an amazing trip and it was! We saw the hand of the Lord guiding our every step, He protected us physically from the weather issues (tornadoes, floods, rains) and He placed us exactly where He wanted us for even a 5 minute window of opportunity to touch someone's life. We left on March 31 for the East Coast stopping in East Texas to spend the night with family (always a great blessing) and then on to Alabama. We were in Alabama two weeks before the devastating tornado struck. Even at that time they were experiencing some serious rains and hail. We prayed asking for Father's protection over the pastor's home where we stayed and we rebuked the enemy and told him to dissipate the hail and damaging winds. We saw on the radar that 10 miles west of the house the cells of hail disappeared and the rains came but no hail or damaging winds. Then 10 miles east of the house the cells of hail reappeared and continued on their way. Wow!

We traveled on to Florida where we spent the weekend with a dear friend and met a new pastor and his wife after services on Sunday morning. We were able to encourage and bless this couple going through some trials in their church. We have since heard from them over email. Then the following Sunday Charley preached the morning message at another church in Tallahassee. It was so neat to find out that Charley's message dove-tailed with the pastor's message the week before on forgiveness. May the Lord be praised! We spent the week with a precious family and enjoyed the time together as we are mama and papa to this family.

From Florida we went to South Carolina and were blessed to spend time with family and with a pastor and wife. They desire to see revival take place in their church and community but have been a bit discouraged. We spent 3 hours in a restaurant sharing hearts and lives. We received a note from them after we arrived home and they were encouraged by our visit. That is why Father sends us and it is always exciting to hear His plans were accomplished.

Then on to North Carolina where we spoke at a Bible school class for several hours and the Lord opened the door for us to spiritually adopt the whole class, men and women. What a powerful evening and we know the Lord worked deeply in these hearts and lives! These folks minister to others and tonight Father ministered to them. Praise His Holy Name!

We had sent prayer requests several months ago for a precious young woman involved in a car accident named Angelica. We got to spend time with Angelica, her mom and sister and see Father's healing touch on her in person. It was such a sweet time and she continues to praise the Lord for saving her life and she is committed to Him for her daily needs and her future.

Father sent us back to Tuscaloosa after the devastating tornado to see first-hand what had happened. We were in awe of the destruction! Never have we seen this kind of damage. We praise the Lord for the lives saved and for the healing that is happening. We saw a town that rallied together to help their own and within a week they had done so much restoration and it is still happening. Please continue to pray for the people of Tuscaloosa as well as the people in Joplin. The pastor's home where we stayed and their whole little suburb was spared any damage. Praise the Lord!

Then we traveled to Nashville to spend time with a precious couple who we had met over email but not personally. We had the best time sharing our lives walking with Jesus. They are people of prayer and we connected big time as we are people of prayer.

Father sent us north to Louisville, Kentucky in order to go west to cross the Mississippi River because Memphis was flooding as was eastern Arkansas. We traveled on dry roads all the way, crossing the River in St. Louis and traveling on to Kansas City. Thank You Lord for Your protection! In Kansas City we spent time with a single mom and her precious daughter. She is dating a young man who loves the Lord and both of them are seeking Father's plans for their life. Great time of sharing and hugs! Then on to Springfield to spend time with another single mom also seeking Father's perfect will in her life as she is dating a man who also loves the Lord. It is so encouraging to come along side these couples and to bless their efforts to do things God's way.

The middle of May we headed for Colorado. Father had many appointments there with adopted family, pastors and friends. We saw His hand daily leading and guiding us to motels, restaurants and even meetings. He had appointments and connections for us in every place we went. We met a young man named Luke in a restaurant. He was our server and it was during off hours, around 3:30 in the afternoon. He sat with us at our table and we talked about the Lord and what Father wants to do in Luke's life. He was so open and receptive. I gave away many scripture cards (I use the pictures I have taken and place them on business card stock and Father gives me a scripture to go with the picture). This has opened many doors for sharing everywhere we go. Thank You Lord!

This in no way gives all the encounters we experienced but hopefully you will be able to see how Father put Proverbs 3:5-6 into operation in our lives as we traveled by His direction, stayed where He said, spoke to those He brought to us and how He blessed each moment of each day as we were obedient to Him. This too can be your life of service, obedience and faith. He may not have you travel over 7000 miles but He may have someone today for you to speak the name of Jesus, hold, hug, encourage and bless.

Thank you for your prayer covering and support for this ministry! Hopefully you can see through this report how Father answered your prayers and blessed this trip tremendously.

We love you all,

Charley & Karen

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." Matthew 6:33

God's Connections

Dear Ministry Family, can you believe a new year is here! So much happened last year that there is no way to adequately share with you but here are a few highlights. In the spring the Lord sent us on a journey to the East Coast to encourage pastors and leaders. We have noticed a sense of dread in many lives this past year due to our country’s economy and the political situations around the world. We have been sent by our Lord to help people FOCUS on Him and not on the circumstances. In my kitchen I have a picture of Garfield the Cat. On one side of the page is Garfield with his hair frizzed and looking like he put his finger in a light socket and on the other side a very happy, calm Garfield the Cat looking at you with peaceful eyes. Can you guess which one has to do with looking at your circumstances and allowing them to control your life? That is probably pretty easy to figure out. I keep that on my wall where not only others can see it and be encouraged, but we can see it too. We just need to be reminded that our Father, our Heavenly Father, is in charge no matter what others say. Our role in this world right now is to be lights in the darkness, Father’s messengers of hope and love where turmoil and fear abound and to walk in such amazing peace that all who see us marvel at how we can be so calm. We are calm! We are peaceful because we FOCUS on Jesus and not on our circumstances. One of my favorite scriptures is Philippians 4:4-8 which says “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things.”

Then in the fall the Lord took us to Colorado, all the way to South Dakota, Missouri, Alabama and South Carolina. What an amazing time keeping Father’s divine appointments and making the CONNECTIONS that He desired for us. The Lord sent us home the weekend before Thanksgiving and then on Thanksgiving Day Karen’s dad passed away. Some people thought that would be a difficult time but Father gave Karen amazing peace knowing that her dad is with Him now. What blessed assurance that was! We were here for the services and family time and then the Lord took us away for a rest and refreshing time with Him. Oh it was such a special sweet time! During Christmas and New Year’s we enjoyed a time with our daughter and her family! Our grandchildren are growing so quickly with the 3 boys being teenagers and our little granddaughter is 7. Precious memories we made this Christmas season. We have seen our son and his wife several times this past year and were so blessed by our time together. Then after Christmas Charley’s nephew was killed in a hunting accident and again we were thrust into more divine connections with so many people whose lives had been touched by our nephew, John. He was a pastor with a wife and young children. All of this has helped us do what Father had asked us to do at the beginning of last year and that is FOCUS on Him. This year our word for the year from the Lord is CONNECTION. Already we are seeing Father’s connections happening for His purposes and plans to be accomplished. Father has told us we will be leaving soon and that we will be traveling more than before so we stay ready to go.

Thank you for your prayers, support and love for us and this ministry! We rejoice in all the Lord has planned for 2011.

We love you,

Charley & Karen

Praise God! 11 Years of Ministry

Joshua 24:24 And the people said to Joshua, “The Lord our God we will serve, and His voice we will obey!”

Could it have been that long? September 15 marked 11 years since Christ’s Kingdom Ministries began. What amazing and full years they have been! We have traveled around 200,000 miles in this country and to Mexico and El Salvador. We have met and continually visited with hundreds of pastors and the Lord has also given us hundreds of spiritually adopted children. Just this week we spent 3 mornings in ministry with some of our adopted children. What a joy not only to share Father’s love with all these folks but also to see the hand of the Lord in each person’s life leading and guiding them into His truth. Lives have been changed by the power of the Holy Spirit of God and we have had the privilege to watch it happen. Father regularly sends us back to visit with pastors and leaders to encourage them in their walk with Him and in the ministry He has called them to do. We have added many new leaders to our list in the areas of youth, children, and singles ministry. Our lives are forever impacted by the friendships we have made and love we have shared and received. We must thank each one of you who have prayed for us, supported us through encouragement and also through finances. Our Lord has been our provider and continues to provide for our every need. The joy of the Lord is our strength. The peace that passes understanding fills us and the Holy Spirit of God empowers us to do the work of ministry around the world. We are very excited as we anticipate this new ministry year and all that the Lord has planned. Father has told us we are in a new season. We will do some of what we have done in the past but He also has some new assignments for us. And we say, Yes, Lord, Yes, to Your will and to Your way!! We ask you as our wonderful prayer family to continue praying for us to hear Father’s voice and be obedient to all He has for us to do. May the Lord bless each one of you richly with all spiritual blessings and may He meet all of your physical, emotional and mental needs according to His perfect will. He is our rock and our fortress, the GREAT I AM!

We love you all!

Charley & Karen chasnkt44@att.net

James 1:5-8 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

His Workmanship

Ephesians 2:10 NKJV

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

NLT

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

On Saturday evenings we gather with our house church to eat a delicious meal and enjoy a time of worship, praise, fellowship and study. We never know for sure what Father has planned because the only agenda we have is HIS agenda. Yes, it is our desire that the Holy Spirit lead, guide and direct our times together. We are truly a family, a community of believers, always open for new people to come and join in all that Father does. Our study has been led by the Holy Spirit to Ephesians. Most Saturdays will find us deep in the Word seeking Father’s wisdom to know what He is saying to us through the scripture. As we have read and shared insights, one word has stood out to me and that is workmanship. Praying and asking Father what to share on this blog has brought this word to my heart. We are His, our Father’s workmanship. Another word for workmanship is masterpiece. A definition also would be a product, a design produced by an artisan. Who is the artisan, our Father! Who or what is the masterpiece or product or design, US! WE are HIS workmanship, His masterpiece and His Design! I don’t know about you but that thrills my heart to know that He created me according to His good pleasure. He will use my life for His honor and glory and for His perfect purposes. My study also showed me that we are God’s poem, His work of art. We are His song and His precious child. That just blesses me big time! I love my Lord and to know He loves me that much and He has put so much time into my life, brings great joy. That is something that each of us needs to absorb into our mind and hearts, and let it become a part of who we are. We talk with so many people who have such a low view of themselves. They see no value in their lives. It can be from failures or from curses that others have spoken over them. That is ‘stinking thinking’ to me. Listen to what the Word says in Psalm 139:13-18 NLT:

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God! They are innumerable! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up in the morning, you are still with me!

This is one of my favorite scriptures. Let the Lord bathe you with His Word and bring His unconditional love into your heart, mind and soul so that you will know to know that YOU are HIS WORKMANSHIP, HIS MASTERPIECE, HIS DESIGN, HIS SON OR DAUGHTER, and HIS JOY!

We love you,

Charley & Karen

Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year

Luke 2:17-20

Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

John 12:26

If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

This time of year it is not difficult to focus on Jesus. We see nativity scenes in front of churches, we see special television shows about the birth of Christ and we hear messages that tell us again the very familiar story of Christ’s birth. What about the rest of the year? Do we focus on Jesus as a daily lifestyle? Is He the most important person we know and is He sufficient for our every need? Now this may take you off guard a bit just thinking about these questions. I have written many Christmas messages over the years and all of them share the Good News of Christ’s birth but this year is different. Our world has changed much where Christmas is concerned. Many people want to take the Christ out of Christmas but they can’t. He is the Reason for the Season. So where do you stand? We enjoy the festivities, the parties, the beautiful decorations and the Christmas carols. For many it has become so commonplace to hear the songs that we do not listen to the words. We do not celebrate the Christ of Christmas like we used to do in this country. That is so sad. Well, we will celebrate Jesus as the Reason for this very special season. At our house church Saturday the theme of our time together was focusing on Jesus. When we focus on Jesus that means we read the Word and we read His instructions to us. We abide by those instructions and we walk each day in obedience to Christ. John 12:26 is pretty clear. Take time this year to reflect on your life and see if you focus on Jesus. If we look at our circumstances and not the truth of the Word then we will live in fear, anxiety, worry and dread. But if we focus on Jesus, on the promises of the Word and His love for us, then the circumstances of our life will take a back seat to the joy of serving a Risen Christ and our lives will take on new meaning and purpose.

This year has been a busy one for us. We made 3 trips. One trip was to Colorado and Missouri for 5 weeks, another to San Antonio for 2 weeks and then a 7 week trip to the East Coast. I have written in earlier blogs about those times of ministry. We just returned from San Antonio after spending Thanksgiving week with our daughter and family. Oh the joy of being where Father wants you to be. Focusing on Jesus our Savior and walking in obedience to our Father’s plans and purposes for us.

May each of you experience the truth of Christmas this year, Jesus Christ the Hope of Glory! Listen closely to the Christmas songs, greet those you meet with a Merry Christmas and love with God’s love the people He brings into your life. It will truly change your life.

We love each one of you and thank you for praying for Christ’s Kingdom Ministries and for us personally. We look so forward to the New Year with all the opportunities to focus on Jesus.

Charley & Karen

Christ’s Kingdom Ministries Matthew 6:33

chasnkt44@att.net

Let Everything That Has Breath Praise the Lord. Praise The Lord! Psalm 150:6

Psalm 8

Dear Prayer Partners! Praise God from whom all blessings flow! We just returned from a 7 week trip to the East Coast of the United States. What a beautiful country we have and what amazing people we met! From Alabama, to Florida, from South Carolina to Georgia, from North Carolina to Virginia to Tennessee, our Heavenly Father led us to keep His divine appointments. Each step of this journey was planned and the preparation had been made. Charley was blessed to preach in several churches and both of us spoke in a house church. The response was wonderful as we shared the message the Lord had been giving us for months in preparation for this trip. Earlier in the summer we had the privilege to help some dear friends move to Colorado and then for 5 weeks we spent time with many we knew in different leadership roles in churches and ministries. Then for a couple weeks in the summer we visited in our daughter’s home and spent time with one of our grandsons. Father continued to share with us that this next trip was coming and the middle of July He began to bring it all together. We had the opportunity to add several new pastors to our prayer list, to visit with an adopted daughter we had never met and to encourage missionaries on furlough. These are only a few of the many appointments Father had for us. During the 7 weeks our air bed developed a hole and after several attempts to patch it, we had to discard it. It had served us well for 6 years. Then our laptop computer crashed. This was not just a glitch but apparently the hard drive completely died. It had served us well for 7 years. We truly believe that satan tried his best to stop us but it didn’t work. Praise God!! Our Father cared so bountifully for us as we walked the path He had for us. A precious family we were visiting provided us another air bed even better than the one we had. Father told us to buy a new computer and after much input from several knowledgeable people, including our son in law, we purchased a new laptop. Father said He would provide the money as we had not planned to have this need when we began this trip. Sure enough within two weeks of our purchasing the computer, we had the money to cover the cost. We had the computer shipped to South Carolina where we had precious family to receive it for us. It has been an amazing journey these past 7 weeks. We saw the power of God in people’s lives! We saw lives changed and relationships restored! We saw joy where there was sorrow and peace where there was struggle. We spoke the Word of God into people’s lives and they responded when confronted with the truth. There is no way to tell all the wonderful stories from this time of ministry but please know that your prayer support, financial support and love covered us as we traveled over 5600 miles in obedience to our precious Lord. He gave us strength, courage, the words to speak, arms to hold and peace. He gave us healing from allergies that attacked us and He gave us rest when needed for the journey ahead. Thank you for walking this season of our lives with us! Thank you for your faithfulness to our Lord. May the Lord bless you bountifully as you seek Him with your whole heart!

Charley & Karen Tackett

Christ’s Kingdom Ministries Matthew 6:33

http://www.welovepastors.org/ chasnkt44@att.net

Tell The Good News

In Romans 10:14-15 we read:
"How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!”

During April and May we had the privilege to help a couple we know move to Colorado. What a blessed time we had! We saw this as Father’s divine appointment for us and we knew that it was His plan. I could go into detail about all the preparations and how Father moved miraculously in this whole situation but the main point here is obedience. We were obedient to go where Father sent us and do what He told us to do. During that time of helping them, Father also sent us for ministry to many in the Colorado area who He had introduced us to years ago. Father gave us a list of those He wanted us to visit. He also told us He would add to the list as we were about His business. We shared and encouraged these folks as Father gave direction. Each one had a need in their life and the Lord sent us to speak His words of blessing. His divine appointments and timing were totally evident. Most people see this scripture above as only referring to preachers, pastors, missionaries who are called to go into the world and preach the gospel. But do you see this as pertaining to you? You may say: You are not a preacher! You are not a teacher! You are not a missionary!! Oh but dear friend YOU ARE ALL OF THOSE THINGS!! As you go into the world you are to teach, preach and share Jesus!! That is what Father desires of His kids! Speak His name! Love with His love!! Give His hugs! We are His arms and legs, His mouth and His eyes. Do you know how many times people have noticed our eyes or our smile and made a comment? Doors open through the power of the Holy Spirit and lives are changed by that power. He abides in us and we abide in Him. That means He dwells within us. Let Him out to the world around you!!

So dear saint of God as you go about your daily tasks, walk out Matthew 28:19-20:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen

Thank you dear prayer partners for your love, prayers and financial support as we go into to all the world and share Jesus!! Our 5 week Colorado and Missouri trip was the first extended trip in several years but Father has already told us to stay ready to go again soon. Thank You Lord!! It is our desire to follow You to the ends of the earth!!

Love to all,

Charley & Karen
chasnkt44@att.net

Stand! Be Brave! Be Strong!

This time last year we had just experienced Father’s protective covering over our home. We had a flash fire in our yard from a downed electric line and as pictures would show, the fire only went so far and no more. Our home, shop and property were kept safe with only the grass being burned. This was an awesome testimony of God’s ever present care of His children. This year nothing as dramatic has happened yet we know even more that He is caring for us. Our needs continue to be met and He also keeps telling us that He loves us.

Dear ones, what Father does for us daily can also be yours. Our scripture for the ministry is Matthew 6:33. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” This is no magic formula. This is a lifestyle. It is how we live each day in victory! Also Father has told us to pray the prayer of Jabez each morning before we rise for the day. 1 Chronicles 4:10 says: And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested. As we have prayed this prayer for the past several years we have seen each one of the requests answered. Father has truly blessed us! He has cared for us spiritually, physically, emotionally and financially. He has enlarged our territory. We have many more adopted children and we have seen our influence for Him grow bountifully. We have taken back ground that the enemy has stolen through prayer and the Word spoken into life and death situations. His hand has been with us every step we have taken.

Father also has told us to pray the Lord’s Prayer each morning before beginning our day. Matthew 6:9-13 says, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” We praise You Lord!! We want our day to be totally under Father’s control. We do not want our own agenda but Father’s plans! He is our sufficiency and provider. Our daily needs are in His hands. Keep us safe from satan’s devices. Your Kingdom rule and reign in our lives with power and glory forevermore!! Amen and Amen! This is how we begin our every day! We also pray Proverbs 3:5-6 which says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Now we consider these verses our life verses. We desire to walk in divine healing, divine purpose, divine protection, divine calling and divine assurance that our Father is with us every step of this journey. If this is not your desire, then something very important is missing from your life. During these days there is much attack on our faith. We must pray fervently for our country, our leaders, our pastors and our people, brothers and sisters in Christ. God is on His throne!! His Word is true! We must stand together in faith and trust in Jesus, our Lord.

Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Charley & Karen

chasnkt44@att.net

Christmas 2008

Dear Family & Friends,
We thought we would put together a little yearly letter to let everyone know what an eventful year this has been. We had a wonderful Christmas and New Year with our daughter, Tamara, and family after the first of the year as they were in Pensacola with her husband’s folks for Christmas. It was fun spending that time with them and watching everyone receive their gifts. Tim and Caleb, our oldest grandsons, were in Alaska and we missed them but they had a fun Christmas with lots of snow and COLD!!

In February we were at our favorite restaurant for breakfast when we received a call from our neighbor informing us that our yard was on fire. We hurriedly returned home to find the fire out and 40% of our yard burned. None of our dwellings or property was burned. We praise the Lord for wonderful neighbors who called the fire department and picked up hoses to help fight the fire. The firemen arrived speedily and made quick work of stopping the blaze. We took lots of pictures to show how our home was protected. Even the fireman said that our home was protected by Father. In the spring we had a beautiful green lawn and no sign that a fire had ever happened. The cause was a downed power line that caught the dry winter grass on fire. We praise God for our home and His protection!

In the Spring Tim and Caleb returned to Texas with their dad and his family. We were so glad to see them! They had been gone to the cold northwest for 9 months and needless to say they had LOTS of stories. They had experiences that most children only dream about (chopping wood, snowmobiling, 60 below weather and Moose soup). Just get them started and they will talk your ear off!

Another change happened in our family when my mom had to go into a nursing home due to some health issues and passed away the end of July. It was hard to let go of mom but we knew that she was with Jesus. It was good to see many of our extended family at the services. It had been quite a while since we had visited. We used to have reunions but it has been a while since we have done that. The pastor who preached the message at her service gave an awesome word about our Lord. What a testimony of Father’s love! My mom was very instrumental in my coming to know Jesus as Savior and Lord.

Tamara (our daughter), her husband, Daniel, grandchildren, Gabbi and Zech plus Tom and Chelle, our son and his wife, came to visit the middle of October. They spent some time with my dad and just hanging out with us and each other. It had been several years since we had all been together. It was so much fun! We played games, ate and ate some more! Tom had to have his Texas barbecue fix so we all got to enjoy that! This was a very special time for our family!

We are so excited about the holidays! We spent Thanksgiving with Tamara and family in San Antonio and in December we plan to go to Tam’s for Christmas. Tim and Caleb are supposed to join us for Christmas. We would request that you pray for Tamara as she is experiencing some severe back pain due to two herniated discs in her low back. We pray healing over her back in Jesus name daily. Please pray wisdom for her and for Daniel. Tom and Chelle will stay in Alexandria, VA where they now live. They both work in the Washington D.C. area.

This has been a very busy year for Christ’s Kingdom Ministries also! Even though we have not made any long trips, we have made several short trips to East Texas to visit with friends and fellow servants for encouragement and blessing. Father is using us greatly in our home church to minister to our adoptive children plus pastors and leaders. Also we receive numerous calls and emails from around the world for prayer and encouragement. We continue to pray daily for many missionaries around the world in very dangerous areas and also pastors and leaders around the country who need a word of encouragement and a reminder of God’s Word.

We thank all of you for your prayers for us and for the ministry that Father has given us! Our Lord continues to give us direction that we will soon be traveling extensively so we stay ready for His purposes to be accomplished. Thank you to all who support financially this work and there is no way to adequately tell you what your giving has meant to us over these 9 years.

“For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign to you: You will find the Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” Luke 2:11-14

We wish all of you a very Merry Christmas! Remember that Jesus is the Reason for the Season! We love you!

Charley & Karen

Christ’s Kingdom Ministries Matthew 6:33
Charley & Karen Tackett
P. O. Box 822101
Ft. Worth, Texas 76182-2101
E-mail: chasnkt44@att.net
http://www.welovepastors.org/

Weathering the Storms

Dear Prayer Partners,
Those of us who live in Texas just experienced a hurricane of great proportions hitting Galveston Island. There was quite a bit of destruction in that area and some destruction south of Houston and in Houston. During the summer months this is a common occurrence to have hurricanes coming through the Gulf hitting land in different areas. We had the privilege to host 9 members of our family during this storm as they fled to safety in our home. What a joy to welcome them and wrap our arms about them! Storms come in the natural realm and can bring fear and destruction. I am often reminded of the storm on the sea written about in the Word of God.

In Matthew 8:23-27 it says: Now when He (Jesus) got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”

What is Jesus telling us here? That when we trust and believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior that no matter what storms come in our life (and they will) we can have NO FEAR and TOTAL CONFIDENCE in Him that He will take care of us. He has already provided all we need to weather the storms of life. Our family who came to stay with us knew they would be safe in our home but they also knew that their homes were in the hands of a loving Lord. All of their property was protected. When they arrived home they had trees and brush in their yards and power lines down but nothing was destroyed. We praise the Lord for His protection! How are you handling the storms in your life? Hopefully you are handling them with the Word of God which is truth and a total faith and trust in the Lord Jesus as your healer, provider, protector and Savior.

“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26

Love and blessings,

Charley & Karen

chasnkt44@att.net

His Eye Is On Us

Dear Prayer Partners,

This has been a very busy month. So much has happened and we are so thankful that the Lord knows all that is going on in our lives and gives us His Word to keep us still and trusting in Him. Going through my mind are the words, ‘His eye is on the sparrow and I know He loves me’. That is so comforting right now. Father has given us many to hold, love, encourage, exhort (hold accountable) and help with preparing for each new day. That is an awesome responsibility and we very well know it. That is why we stay on our face before the Lord and seek His face daily. We want only to be used by Him for His good work! My mom’s health deteriorated during July. A little over a week ago she went home to be with Jesus. Her service was awesome and many friends and family came to celebrate her life. She lived many productive years and only in the last few was she unable to do the things she had done all her life. She remained always happy and with a beautiful smile and a thank you for coming to see her. We rejoice in her home going but are saddened at her absence with us. As we reflect on her life this scripture comes to mind along with the words I mentioned above.

Matthew 6:25-34
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life; what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toll nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

We have so much that Father has told us about the days ahead and the work He has for us to do. We choose to rest in Him and trust Him. We choose to speak Proverbs 3:5-6 every morning and allow the Lord to direct our steps. We choose to know that Jesus is Lord and that He will lead and guide us into His truth and His purposes and plans.

We love and appreciate each one of you. Thank you for your prayers, support and love! May the joy of the Lord be your strength today!

Charley & Karen
chasnkt44@att.net

Exciting News

Hello Dear Prayer Partners, our last article shared how awesome is the restoration power of our God. The picture displayed the grass that grew back where the fire we experienced earlier this year had burned part of our yard. May we share that our back yard looks beautiful! In 1 Corinthians 3:12-17 we read “Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay and straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.” Those works that are not done under the power and presence of the Holy Spirit of God are burned up at the judgment seat of Christ as wood, hay and stubble. We, the children of God, will be purified by fire. In Malachi 3:3 it says, “He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness.” Well, it is a joy to share with all of you that we continue in that purifying or refining fire of the Lord that is bringing the impurities in our life to the top so they can be removed and the pure undefiled metal will remain. It is a bit painful to be in the fire as all of you know but it is also liberating to be clean and pure for our Father to use in His daily work. Oh How We Love Jesus!!

These past few months have been very busy with ministry as we have spent many hours on the phone or computer sending messages to encourage and bless those people the Lord has given to us. We made new prayer sheets the other day and we have added so many more names to our lists. We had the joy of hearing reports just this month from missionaries in Europe who experienced the Tsunami several years ago first hand and have seen the power of God manifested in lives saved physically but also lives saved spiritually. The move of the Spirit of God is great in these countries hit by physical catastrophes. Do you know what touches us the most as we listen to these saints of God share all that the Lord is doing in and through them? It is their passion! Their passion is for Jesus and for the people who are lost and hurting. Though they have walked through great trial and seen death and destruction face to face, their passion and their love flows freely from their words and their actions. We in America are far removed from a lot of the world’s trials but in our own country we have experienced earthquakes, tornadoes, floods and fires.

Right now we are listening to our political candidates seek to win votes for the upcoming election and all we can really think about is What Does God want US to do? It is sad that we cannot believe everything that we hear. We must have wisdom from another source than our own minds and hearts. We want to help everyone we meet and yet the only thing that will truly help the lost and hurting is to receive Jesus as Savior and Lord and begin to walk in confidence that He is God! We thrill to hear of the thousands saved at Rallies in Moldova, Russia, the Middle East and other areas of the world where the Gospel is being preached to the masses. We thrill to hear of lives changed and hearts mended by the power of God. But we also thrill to hear of one person who decides to follow Jesus, no turning back to the old way of life but a desire to seek the adventure of being a Christian every day of your life. We rarely see the masses saved in our neighborhood but our witness is no less important than the evangelists who speak to the masses. Ask the Lord what you can do for Him today! Ask Him to show you His plans and purposes for your life. If you are His child, He does have a plan. Join Him in that plan! It is the MOST EXCITING LIFE you will ever lead! An adventure, a process, a covenant, a life lived with fulfillment and purpose.

Thank you for your prayer and financial support of this ministry! We seek to tell you in these articles what Father is doing because you care but human words are very inadequate for what Almighty God is doing.

We love you,
Charley & Karen
chasnkt44@att.net