Mr. & Mrs. David Karnowski

Claiming God in this battle.

Why don't I see more of God's promises (And the fruit of the Spirit- Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Self-Control) fulfilled in my life? Because I've been like the Israelites in the wilderness not able to get to my Promised Land because of my lack of belief.

Five years ago I won a trip to South Africa. I was looking through some pictures this morning and came across some of a lion eating a water buffalo. They are pretty gross. Sorry if the pictures offend you. We returned the following day and saw nothing but the carcass that was left behind. It had been eaten alive by the lion and cleaned by the vulchers within a few hours.

It was no accident that I went upstairs and dusted off an old book I had read and studied years ago. God knows I need to get back to the basics and Believe Him.  Believing God is the book that inspired me to name my blog it's name--By faith... Angbaylis. I had finished my very first Bible study and it was life-changing. I knew that I had already believed in God, but I sure wasn't living my life day to day Believing Him and His promises as His Word teaches.  I am reminded today that I need more to get through this life that's ahead of me. There are challenges before me that need nothing but Faith to get through. I know I am more than a conquerer with Christ as my center. Satan would like to get ahold of me and eat me alive and leave me for dead in the wilderness. I sure don't want to die that way as Hebrews chapter 3 explains because I don't Believe.

I hope you'll join me in this battle. Satan is trying to steal Joy and ruin the lives of too many people I love.

Trusting God with my whole heart,

By faith... Angbaylis

A lesson for Katie

Last night I had dinner with some of my family who was in town from North Carolina. I was sitting next to my niece who is 14 years old and is about to start high school this Fall. She was telling me about accepting Jesus in her heart while she was at camp this Summer. She proceeded to tell me about this friend of hers who stole all of her favorite clothes while she was there. Apparently she keeps "forgetting" to return them. As we were all discussing the story I immediately felt sorry for her friend because she felt the need to steal from her friend. I also shared my own story about something I stole from someone many, many years ago that I still regret.  I wanted to learn more about this friend. It sounds like her home-life is not the greatest. The responses at the table were interesting. Everyone was mad. I tried to think of ways she could be assertive to get the clothes back, trying to teach her to stand up for herself! The more I thought about it later, the more mad I got. I wasn't upset with Katie's friend, but at satan. He immediately stole the Joy from her. He also stole the Joy from her extended family who was shocked that this happened at a "church" camp. Satan didn't waste any time. We should have been talking about the Joy she received from Jesus, a gift nobody can ever take from her.

I failed my niece by giving her wrong advice to help her get her clothes back. She is at the age where style, self-image and insecurity is huge.

I failed Him by not sharing these Words instead...

Love for Enemies

“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:27-36)

If you wouldn't mind, please pray for this little girl who I have never laid eyes on. Oh, and Satan, get the you know what away from me and my loved-ones!

"How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe.”

Again the one who looked like a man touched me and gave me strength". (Daniel 10:17-18)


I'm grateful for friends who remind me to...

Just Breathe

Close Friends & Family Are Forever

I've been searching for a verse to give me comfort at 3:00 in the morning. When I was flipping through my Bible, I noticed either so much Desperation or so much Praising. I'm looking for something in-between. I don't feel desperate because I do trust His plan, but I'm having a hard time with passionate Praise.

I had a dream last night that my favorite Bible author and speaker (All right, I'll come clean since you probably already know who I'm talking about- Beth Moore.) just happened to be at my brother's house with our family. I was so excited to ask her to pray over Dave... and the rest of us. I don't want to scare anyone (especially my brother) by sounding too "religious" or by being too "cool" and totally discounting God's presence in this whole thing. Since she is so authentic, real, cool and down-to-earth while still being Godly, she was the perfect person (in my fantasy) to ask. Plus, I'm just positive he would like her if he gave her a chance. Anyway, in my dream she insisted that I pray and she would listen and pray with us. I did my usual ugly prayer (even though I was nervous as all get out because I wanted to impress her with my eloquent prayer) and it was raw and messy to say the least. Afterwards, she just walked away and disappeared to get back to her life like everyone does.

So often I wish there was somebody from the outside who appears out of nowhere, to walk in to take over and do the hard thing so I don't have to. Maybe God was telling me he wants me to be the in-between person (not too "cool" or too "religious" ) and just give my brother the gift of quiet Presence and do all I can do which is pray for him and listen if he wants to talk. It feels like such a small way to show my love, but it's all I know to do.

All this to say, here's the verse I plan to meditate on day... and night:

"All his brothers and sisters and everyone who had known him before came and ate with him in his house. They comforted and consoled him over all the trouble the LORD had brought upon him, ..." (Job 42:11)

Thank You, God for never leaving or forsaking us and for Your Holy Spirit.
Your daughter,

It's a choice.

"Sometimes you have to Praise first and feel it later." ~Beth Moore


It's extremely difficult to Thank God when someone so dear to you is suffering. I have to do something with this heaviness so I thought I better start writing a list.

Dear Dave,

In case I never told you, I wanted to say:

Thank you...

For being such a loving, thoughtful brother.
For scrubbing the dishes with such enthusiasm when we were kids, without complaining when Chris made up every excuse to get out of helping.
For sitting next to Connie and Chris at your kids' sporting events, and for showing me what it looks like to forgive an ex-spouse in its truest meaning.
For teaching me wrestling moves and for making me so proud when I watched you.
For taking the blame in the "cutting of the yarn" incident when we were kids.
For teaching me how to cut grass diagonally and for your all around work ethic.
For acting like we gave you a million dollars when you took the junker BMW off of our hands.
For being such a great hands on Dad and Grandfather. You inspire me.
For being so good with Mom after Dad died.
For all you did with the boat store. (I can't believe it's just another thing on the list. It's huge!)
For enjoying all of those no bake cookies with us.
For storing all of mom and dad's stuff we couldn't get rid of.
For being so supportive and for coming to so many of John's lacrosse games at MSU.
For being Dad to Rebekkah.
For caring more about others than yourself.
And for so much more...


Dear God,

I'm thankful to You for giving me my brother, Dave. He has a heart like Yours. Please help him forgive himself for anything he did with his life that could have contributed to this awful thing called cancer. Help him understand that he does not deserve this and that you don't punish. Help him feel Your arms wrapped so tightly around him that there is no space for negativity. Please give him comfort so he can enjoy this time with his family. Thank you for sending so many generous people that have stepped up to support and pray for him and our family. Thank you for not taking him in a car accident so we can cherish this time together. Keep us all safe as we are a little distracted these days. Thank you for giving me the courage to not worry about what others think, by allowing me to write this so they might be reminded to give You Thanks in the midst of all of the chaos and confusion.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." ~Romans 8:28



Help us to continue to see how Great You are!

In Jesus' name,
Amen