“Karen’s Notes!
Insights from a Glory-Bound Lady”

Selected Notes
Volume 6 Number 40
#284 ”A Very Special Word She Embraced!”

October 4th, 2023

Just a little background.
We met in the third grade.
We grew up together in classes at Oakfield – Alabama Central School in Western New York.
We started dating in our senior year in the spring of 1969.
We went to the same Bible college.
We were married when we were twenty years old.
We had forty-five years together before she went Home to be with the Lord in 2017.

Let me share a word with you that became very special to Karen.
The word is “expectation!”
She underlined the verse in her Bible.
This is the verse.

According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death (Philippians 1:20).

Not just expectation, but Paul spoke of earnest expectation. The word he used is apokaradokia
(ap-ok-ar-ad-ok-EE-ah) which gives the idea of watching so intently that one stretches out his or her head, eagerly longing for it.

In one of her ladies’ retreats, Karen spoke about the expectation we should have in serving the Lord. She wrote the following:

The secret of true service is to daily live with expectation. There are at least two things to keep in focus.

1. Christ’s return.
For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Are you watching and listening?

2. God’s approval.
His lord said unto him, well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler of many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord (Matthew 25:21). We can use both our spiritual gifts and natural abilities for Christ. Are you willing to become vulnerable and to serve Christ where He chooses? The secret of true service is to be faithful wherever God places you.

Let me send you on your way with this encouragement.
No one is perfect. However! I can tell you that I saw firsthand the blessings that come because this truly was Karen’s desire (as well as mine) throughout her life. She earnestly was watching for the Rapture; as well, she truly longed to please the Lord. That was her earnest expectation.

Watching for His return and a willingness to do whatever He chooses does at times make one quite vulnerable. It sometimes takes us into new arenas that are unfamiliar and sometimes even uncomfortable for us. In those times, the Lord helps His servants in ways that are really precious.

What is at the top of your priority list today? His return and His approval should be our highest priority.