Leap of Faith February

On By K.L. HaleIn newsletter

Happy February! This month is chocked full of holidays and for some, there will be leap day celebrations–birthdays, anniversaries, and those “once every 4 years” special days. I’ve taken many leaps of faith. Each day I’ll leap towards love and live on the goodness of God, nutritious food, common sense, and the kindness of friends.

Longevity might prove commitment, but what if the love is lost? Co-inhabitants might mean easier finances, but what if values and beliefs aren’t shared?

How far do we leap outside of beliefs for love?

The love from my Creator, reminding me of WHOM I belong and HOW I should live, smacked me in the head and flipped me upside down. My communion with Christ. HIS “upside-down” Kingdom ways should make love stand out (loving our enemies, forgiving others, caring for the poor, and MANY other amazing ways to love–see Matthew chapters 5-7). I’m no expert on love. I’ve learned what love isn’t. Don’t compromise conviction for comfort and compatibility. It’s not about material possessions, a job, societal status, or the person we love. Or if we’re married, single, poor, or rich. You are loved so much someone died for you. Whether the beauty and goodness from our Creator’s nature, the love of a beloved animal, or admiration from your sweetheart- may love make you leap–

…if not in the air, how about a leap towards faith?

Friends, this newsletter was a labor of love. Finding creativity, using words, thoughts, and feelings heals my heart; even when my body is weak. It’s such a joy to be part of a forgiving and loving community–where hearts and minds are shared. Where we can come to the table with open dialogue, minds, and respect for one another. Don’t give up! Let’s keep the faith and keep sharing!

Embracing imperfection with faith, flannel, & fresh air

Thank you for reading, sharing, and taking a leap of faith to follow me!

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82 thoughts on “Leap of Faith February”

  1. Happy February my sweet friend, Karla❤️ I love that you are a fabulous encourager and a beautiful trophy of God’s amazing grace. You are greatly loved and prayed for. I am thankful that our paths crossed a few years ago. You are a blessing ❤️🙏🏻❤️🥰❤️🎶❤️☕️❤️🤗❤️

    Reply

    1. Happy February, Pam ❤️ I just emailed you a few minutes ago 🥰 I’m so thrilled I can be of encouragement! I needed a dose myself to talk me through some physical challenges ~and helping others does give me a boost! You are such a blessing to me. I love you, Pam. ❤️💕♥️🥰🩷

      Reply
  2. Ginger Salvatore's avatar Ginger Salvatore

    What a ray of sunshine your post is Karla. You’ve come quite a long way in three months. You are a medical miracle!

    I hope today’s treatment went well and hasn’t zapped you of what little strength you’ve built up. But even if you’re worn out, you will pull through like a trooper. Even just a day at a time can be a big order, so take it slow and let the healing process work its magic. Patience is your best friend right now!

    As always, sending my love and prayers to you and sweet Miss Finley, your family and your medical team, all of whom have your best interest at heart. You have such a strong faith and it will serve you well. 🙏🏻

    Ginger💞

    Sent from my iPad

    >

    Reply

    1. Ginger, I appreciate you so much. I’m on my way there now (sweet Mom driving). A few hiccups~but Ginger, patience, grace, and faith leading the way! I appreciate you so very much, dear friend.
      Finn and I feel the love and prayers! You’re such an encouragement! You’re a ray of sunshine to me too!! We love you ! ❤️💕🐾

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  3. There are too many good points here to mention them all, Karla. My favorite take away is this: How’s the best way to love? On purpose.

    Loving my truck, or pepperoni pizza is easy. Loving someone I fundamentally disagree with takes more work. Thank you God for the Holy Spirit, who helps me love the hardly accepted—including myself.

    PS. I love your new logo! I noticed it awhile back, and it’s super sharp!

    Reply

    1. David, I appreciate you so much! How kind and thoughtful. I appreciate your thoughts so much ~very wise! “Loving my truck or pepperoni pizza is easy…loving someone I fundamentally disagree with takes more work…” thank you God! Amen!
      Yes!
      Thank you for your kind comments about the logo, too. God bless you!

      Reply

  5. You put everything beautifully, my friend, and always with honesty and truth. May many read and see that “You are loved so much someone died for you,” by God’s grace. Love that meme: “You’re someone’s favorite cup of tea. Keep brewing.” Keep brewing, Karla, spreading that aroma of Christ Jesus our Lord. Lotsa love to you. 🥰💛💖

    Reply

    1. Aw, Dora, thank you. Your words touch my heart ❤️. There’s no other love like it! When you accept it, it’s so overwhelming! I’m glad you enjoyed the meme, too! Sip sip hooray to friendship and our loving God! Lotsa love to you too! ♥️🙏🏻☕️

      Reply

  6. Another great uplifting post, Karla. You joy and enthusiasm rises above and beyond the suffering and pain you have been experiencing. That takes a very special person to live that way. Your faith and trust in God’s leading in your life is very encouraging to all of us.

    You are right love is a cloud that floats above hate, light and easy to carry. Hate and anxiety on the other hand is the weight of the world overwhelming us daily.

    Stay Strong!

    Reply

    1. Your thoughtful and sincere words mean so much, Dwight! Thank you for supporting me over the years.
      I have to share that I stayed up late creating this thinking that after my treatment today, I might feel worse. It was a long appt. My sweet Mom went with me. How blessed am I? Due to an insurance issue, I did not receive it. But did give blood and had a wonderful visit with my oncologist and his team.
      Now, I have several weeks off before a rather “large” day of two treatments and appts ~this gives me time to rest from these viruses, pain from fluid build up, and just write, read, praise, and get in nature, hopefully!

      I can’t imagine not having faith~there was a time I doubted…and pain tried to push me around. I watched an episode of “The Chosen” where Jesus tells “Little” James the reason he hasn’t healed him…I just bawled! It hit me so hard! Pain has propelled my perseverance, kept me humble, more empathetic, and the most, closer to Christ.

      I don’t want to talk of faith and not use it, grow it, and share it. It doesn’t make the pain go away~but it brings communion with my Creator in a way I never imagined.

      “Love is a cloud that floats above hate…light and easy to carry.” Love that! Yes!
      I’ll remember your words, and the prayers of so many when I’m feeling weak. I’m so blessed to have your support and prayers!

      Reply

      1. Your are most welcome, Karla. You are amazing. One day at a time is all any of us have. Most of us just don’t realize that. Have a good rest of the week!

      1. Susan Gillen's avatar Susan Gillen

        Truly…regarding our lives inner twining all these years…God has given us a friendship th

  8. February is a short month but you’ve packed so much positivity into this newsletter that it is bursting at the seams!! Of course you know the prayer warriors are on top of things and so many prayers are winging their way to God’s ear… I love you and I’m thinking of you and Finley! Hugs from me and tail wags from Mochi!!

    Reply

    1. Hello Val and Mochi! It’s been awesome visiting you both these last few days. Your thoughtful and kind words are always appreciated! I’m so thrilled you feel what I was hoping would come across~could I squeeze more LOVE into this? Yes!! We love you both! Belly rubs to Mochi and a big group hug to you and the prayer winging warriors (I SEE you all). ❤️🩷♥️🙏🏻

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  9. I love this post: so positive and inspirational; yes, I doubted the wisdom of my treatment for a while but you put your trust in God and yr oncologist; I will put you on the prayer line for healing on Sunday at Fellowship, Karla: stay strong ‘leaning on the everlasting arms’ 🙂

    Reply

    1. Thank you, dear friend. John, you inspire me. Look at what you’re doing~thriving in the cancer unknowns. We have this~and I’m so glad we’re in it together (separated by a huge body of water, united in spirit!).
      It’s no doubt you understand so well! Your wisdom helps me! And we have such a wonderful God guiding us (I updated you at your place on my visit today since I responded there first).
      “Leaning on the everlasting arms “🎶 I just love hymns! The prayers from you and your Fellowship are so appreciated! Let’s stay strong and remind one another always of who has us!

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      2. I read ‘About Me’ to get a fuller picture: O Karla, I’m praying so hard for you that this cancer will heal, seeing its inoperable]; will have the whole assembly praying on Sunday 🙂

      3. Thank you, my friend. John, I need to update that! I’m so glad you read that to remind me. When I went Maryland it was because a top chief oncology surgeon at the National cancer Institute accepted me. It’s true, they can’t do anything for the bones but treatments to hopefully slow growth~and radiation for pain. But he was able to remove my largest tumors on pancreas (with the tail and many lymph nodes), spleen, gallbladder, and many in liver. “Statistically”, these will reappear in liver in 12-24 months; it’s a pesky thing. Stabilizing bones is a good thing. We know our ultimate healer~that’s why I’m here! I was given this “reset” and now, with continued treatment (and eventually complete healing from surgery), I can feel better! Life looks different, things are different~but God, his love, and power never change! 🙏🏻💛

      4. well that’s hopeful, Karla and it’s always good when you’re feeling better;; it’s good that we can lean on the everlasting arms — and walk in that pilgrim way 🙂

    1. Thank you, Kelley. I love and appreciate you so much! You’re such an encouragement. I lift you and your family in prayer when God places you in my heart very often.💛🙏🏻

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  12. A powerful post, a beautiful song, and a very profound and loving heart you share this day Karla. Big hugs and much love returned in kind dear lady. As I have no doubt Jesus will too, guiding you through each step to share what He too found in His giving to us. An empathy, compassion and love so beautifully built from a path that only love can build. You too (and Finn), have a lovely month, a fresh start, and the joy of standing within it all ❤️🙏

    Reply

    1. A path of love, guidance, and compassion~you know, my friend! I cherish your sincerity and message of love. You’ve experienced it, share it, and ooze of it! Isn’t the song just beautiful and raw? The first time I heard it, the words moved me~so simple…as “Jesus loves me this I know….” not because the Bible told me so (although I learned that my entire life), but because somebody SHOWED me so!
      Mark, do you have chocolate? If there’s a time, or month, for chocolate, it is this month.
      Happy February, my friend. Finley and I love you and appreciate you! May God keep you safe and blessed. 🙏🏻💚💕🩷☕️🎶🌈🫶🏻❤️

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      1. It is like all else in our lives Karla, we never truly appreciate happiness unless we experience sadness too. And on through those many emotions that are us. The love in our lives is an appreciation, empathy and compassion in all we do down here. And up there? There truly are no words for that true gift of unconditional love that awaits us.

        To understand as I have I had to go somewhere inside of me and face myself. I dared to question God and all of this down here, so He showed me. But to do so I had to experience it all so that I could understand. And to finally see that each and every step, good and bad, are all truly giving a great experience and understanding so that we will indeed appreciate just how powerful this journey is. Be it a simple walk in nature, to which you truly do now appreciate because of one small but powerful part of your journey (going through your cancer), and where before you loved those walks…but now see even more beauty because of what He has now shown you.

        Each and every step, and I mean that literally, is such a beautiful and powerful gift…when we ‘see’ through it as this journey gives us.

        And yes, it is chocolate month thank you. A sharing of love as only chocolate can do. A valentine to that life within us.

        May God bless you through your journey Karla, even if so hard to see it is truly giving such a powerful gift, that slow but profound understanding that unconditional love is.

        Big hugs and much love to you and Finn. Your blessings gratefully received and returned in kind dear lady. And for that I shall buy a lovely chocolate for you both, eat it and send the love it gave me over to you both. (I could actually send it but I think the un-refrigerated journey may re-design it a little too much 🤣) But it is the thought that counts…isn’t it? 😂

        Much love for this latest treatment, may it all go beautifully and have you back on the trail soon 😀❤️🙏

      2. Your words are a beautiful book, my friend. So many words and truths I could highlight and repeat. I’ll say a hearty, “Amen”, and wipe the chocolate off my face (and keep the love in my heart!). I can say, “Here here!” (And wait for Pam to say, “There there!” 🤭). Mark, I was given the gift of a few weeks off~insurance glitch~it will mean a bigger and longer day later~but a gift! ❤️🙏🏻

      3. Then His love (and mine) will jump for joy for your little rest, and be there strong for the treatment Karla. I’ll build up a little chocolate eating in the meantime to send over, but you may need a wet towel to wipe it all off at this rate 🤣

        Stay safe, heart held and much love to you for it all kind lady (and Finn too) 😀❤️🙏

  13. I L🩷VE the thoughts you’ve shared on love. Christians should never feel unloved or unlovely when Jesus, the source of perfect love put His own Spirit within us. Sometimes we focus on the wrong source of love and use it to determine our loveliness. You have reminded us that we are so loved, the Lover of our souls died in our place to redeem us to Himself. There is no way we could be loved more than that!

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    1. Here’s my friend full of LOVE! ❤️ you ooze with it and it helps me keep my focus too. I have such gratitude for you, Mama (and love 🥰😘). There has never been, or ever will be, the love like a Father can give. Your words are truth~”sometimes we focus on the wrong source…” yes. A source that never satisfies the SOUL. Thank you for sharing in this community the your gifts of love and encouragement. It lifts me and so many others! Many blessings. I appreciate you,dear friend. ❤️💛🙏🏻

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  14. Karla, your post is so very uplifting and encouraging! And that’s something we all need! Thank you for sharing your love! God bless you and Finley, today! 🐾 Love and hugs from Henry and me! 🥰

    Reply

    1. Cindy, I’m thrilled you found it be uplifting! Thank you for your sweet words and support. It uplifted me writing it~and then getting out there to apply it! Lol! Not easy~but oh worth it because I was blessed by others! Finn and I love you and Henry. We’re sending prayers and blessings to you both.❤️🙏🏻🐾

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  15. I’m so glad to hear you’re doing well, and praying for a full recovery! Meanwhile, thank you for this inspiring post, reminding all of us to keep our focus on God….As long as we can do that, life is indeed good!

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    1. Ann, you’re a blessing! Thank you for your encouragement and support. Your prayers are appreciated! Keeping the focus on God really helps me~keeps an eternal perspective and peace this world, and circumstances, CAN’T produce! Many blessings to you and your family. ❤️🙏🏻

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  16. Love that last statement, Karla: “May love make you leap.” It’s worthy of turning into a prayer. Lord God, may your love for me make me leap joyfully into doing loving things for others!

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    1. Thank you, Nancy ❤️ that’s a wonderful prayer! I’m going to liken my leap to small jumps of joy that are turning into bigger leaps, too! Thank you for being here and giving encouragement! Many blessings! 💛

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  21. February blessings Karla. Your energy and enthusiasm mirrors your love of Christ. Your journey through Google to other places sounds exciting. We have so much right at our fingertips, especially God’s Word. Keeping you in thoughts and prayers. And always, disvovering special moments to taste the life which the Lord brews daily.

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    1. Richard, thank you for your thoughtful and kind response! I’m so glad you can feel the enthusiasm! We really do have so much at our fingertips; especially the goodness that can come from it! “Taste the life which the Lord brews daily.” That’s wonderful! I appreciate you so much. God bless you and yours!

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    1. I do know how much you pass the love, Crystal! And you are so precious to me. THANK YOU for saying this. I FEEL the love and hope I can pass it on for sure! Much love, dear friend. 💛🙏🩵💕

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  23. Pingback: Leap of Faith February – Me and my life 😍🙏😊(ये मेरी ज़िन्दगी हैं)

  24. “Don’t compromise conviction for comfort and compatibility.” This couldn’t be more well said. Happy February! Thank you for bringing joy and wisdom through your newsletter!

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  25. Unknown's avatar Curtis Proffitt

    Hi, Karla.

    I just glossed over your story and am amazed at how your relationship with God is working in and through your life; and somehow you have had the time and energy to check on or talk to the elderly man across the street! I am here visiting my father and that’s what he tells me, and I am grateful.
    V/R, Curtis Proffitt

    Reply

    1. Curtis, how kind and thoughtful! Your Dad is a blessing to me. It means so much to me that you took the time to visit my “place” here. I heard about your ministry, too! Meeting your Dad has impacted my life. I love him so! He inspired me to keep writing since he was still writing! What a blessing! I was unable to check on him for a while so I’m glad I’m more able to now. Are you still here? Enjoy your visit and many blessings. Thank you again, Karla.

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  26. So grateful for your sage-filled words in this post, Karla. Most especially, “Hate is too hard to carry and it doesn’t serve me…or Him.” Hate is a terrible burden to carry, and has one sole purpose – to destroy – both body & soul. When we stand back and “look at” the poisonous way it enters into our realm, it is overwhelming how easily it (most times) happens. But as easily as it enters…it can be so very difficult (for many) to be freed from. It has been my sad experience that “justification” is a sticky word hate holds in its grip. If only it were weeded out more quickly and plucked away perhaps love could enter more readily to fill its space. Let’s pray for this together, shall we? May love seep in and fill every space where hate resides. Sending you February hugs as you continue to progress through this newest round of treatments. 😘🥰😘

    Reply

    1. Dawn, thank you, dear sister. Yes, I’m praying that with you. “Justification”…oh a sticky word. How about love, grace, and forgiveness right? You said it all so beautifully–your words are an amazing book of wisdom! “May love seep in and fill every space where hate resides.” I’m so grateful for you. And the love you share so freely and graciously! Sending you hugs and prayers, as well. I’m proud of you and the path you’re on! 💛💕❤️ I’m happy we’re in it together!

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  31. The joy we have in Jesus is unfathomable, undefinable, yet He gives us more and more and more. Opening our arms we are able to receive as well as pass on that joy and love.

    Thank you for the reminder, and for sharing the beautiful song link that you did. Listening to it with my eyes closed was a beautiful experience. 🙏

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    1. I’m so happy you enjoyed the song, Hamish, and your words are so wise and comforting! THANK YOU! He gives us more and more and it’s ALL we need! God bless you, my friend. I’m sorry for the late reply. I’ve been out of state and playing “catch up”. May God bless you and yours with more blessings! Let’s keep our arms and hearts open to all the joy and love our Heavenly Papa gives us! ❣️🙏

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