He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness  MALACHI 3:3

I want you to know that at times I wonder, if it's possible that when we don't hear from God, that the Lord is being that Refiner and Purifier that sits closely by in our lives - silent, while He continues to mold us into the person that He created us to be - constantly preparing us for our true purpose, along with all the unfinished work that He has placed in front of us.

Could it be that He's equipping and readying us, so we don't spend all our time trying to "clarify" God's meaning, when it comes to the mission that He has for us, or even worse, being faithless, while
allowing ourselves to grow doubtful and be paralyzed by fear - when God is simply telling us: "Just go!"

Have we forgotten that the Bible says that for four-hundred years - God was silent? And this silence took place from the recording of Malachi all the way through to the gospel of Matthew. Keep in mind that one word from God - wasn't heard during this time. So what was God doing for the four-hundred years, while He was being silent? Just like the refiner and purifier that I'd mentioned earlier, when God was being silent, He was still working on our behalf.

Once the purification season process is over, all that remains is that "tremendous void" that was left behind from the things that God had removed from your life. And there's only one person who can fill a void of this magnitude, and that's Jesus Christ.


David said "Create in me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right spirit within me." -- (Psalms 51:10)

In order for us to accomplish this, God places us in the hottest part of the fire, while He watches silently, as the sinful dust of this world, and the lust of our eyes, and our prideful ways, melts off of us and fall into that "fire." That we should: "Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations." -- (James 1:2)

Know that God is that Refiner and Purifier within our life, and although He silently sits nearby, make no mistake, God is still working on our behalf. Start today by making your life an offering in righteousness to Him, and "Just go and beweeve!"

IS CHILDHOOD BECOMING OBSOLETE?

Do you ever wonder if childhood is becoming obsolete?  Seriously, with all the new age parenting and the government’s regulations on everything from what we eat to what we are allowed to play with to the litigation factor and lawsuits popping up over jungle gyms, monkey bars, tree houses and lawn darts, it seems as though parents are being more and more involved in what their kids are eating, what their kids are doing outside, and how their kids are experiencing life!  Not that I am suggesting parents shouldn’t be involved…of course they should.  But seriously, have we gotten a little over zealous in controlling every little move our kids make?  Heck, they can’t even have a lemonade stand anymore without the city zoning commissioner getting involved! 

It concerns me that I never hear phrases anymore like: “I fell out of my bunk bed last night.”  Or “I got a tummy ache because I had too many bowls of ice cream.”  I don’t know when was the last time I heard a little kid tell me, “I flipped off the monkey bars and had to get some stitches.” 

My kids went through each of these events and then some.  But it seems more and more we are becoming paranoid parents, almost wrapping our children up in bubble wrap and exposing them to a world of nothingness and no adventure or imagination whatsoever.  Yet, we think they are safe because they are sitting in front of the computer or television playing video games.  Have you really seen what goes on in some of those video games?  I'm pretty sure that is NOT good for our kids.

Shouldn’t their little hands smell like lightening bugs?  Would it really be the end of the world if they sold $3.00 worth of watered down lemonade without a permit?  And if they color a picture of Jesus and take it to show and tell is that really something that will bring down the nation?  Okay..maybe I’m getting a little extreme, but come on.  Where has common sense gone these days?  We aren’t protecting our kids with this silliness, we are depriving them of one of the greatest parts of life…being a child!

You would think at 53 years of age I would have a better handle on life. I wouldn't be so easily brought to tears or have my heart broken into millions of little pieces. You would think by now I would be able to guard my heart, restrain my tears and handle life with little difficulty and worry. That's what one would think...but that is not the case.

Reality is that I have cried many tears, my heart breaks, and still I need time on my face before God in prayer requesting forgiveness, wisdom and guidance on a regular basis!

Life has a way of sneaking up on you. You think you are going along just fine and then BOOM something happens that makes you wonder if you can keep going, even for just one more day.

Over the past few weeks I have watched so many solid Christian people go through some of the most horrific circumstances possible. I have listened to other Christians whose hearts have been hurt by fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, and others go through the agony of trying to make the 'right decision" for their lives.

I think we have all felt the pain of rejection a time or two, and have been disappointed and hurt by people we thought loved us and cared about us.  I would even go far to say that I wonder if God is even paying attention because it seems that, at times, He is very quiet and doesn't seem to be working in a certain situation.

Normally, I write about things that are not quite as depressing, and it is not my intention to depress you now. But I think there are many people out there who are trying to live the perfect Christian life and pretend that all is well, but inside they too have broken hearts. They too cry into their pillows at night out of pain that comes from living in this fallen world. The reason I share this personal moment with you now is only because we need to learn be authentic with one another.

I rejoice in Christ and all He has done and continues to do in my life and the lives of my brothers and sisters in Christ, but I feel the need to be on my knees a little more these days in prayer and conversation with God. People are hurting. Christians are hurting. This is NOT God's plan. This is the enemy who wants nothing more than to destroy each and every one of us. God wants us to live life and live it to the fullest. He sent His only Son to die on a cross so that we may have life and have it abundantly, not just in heaven but here on earth! Are we claiming the things He died to give us? It is so easy to get caught up in the tragedies of life and start focusing on all the difficulties and challenges around us instead of taking stock in all the blessings God has given us throughout our lives!

My heart is heavy...I hate it when people are hurting and the devil is on a rampage. But I refuse to give in and give up! I will continue to pray for those I have had the privilege of ministering to and hearing their stories. I will continue to love people, even the ones that seem unloveable. I will continue to speak truth about God and His love for us. His grace and mercy towards us. I will continue to warn those who choose to "tear down" instead of "build up" their brothers and sisters in Christ that there is a price to pay for such action. I am not perfect. I am not great. I am greatly forgiven!!! I am not the one to focus on...Jesus is!! The situation is not what we are to dwell on..God is!! The words of men are not what we need to listen to...it is the Word of God!!

Being a follower of Jesus Christ is not an easy journey. In fact, it is at times a struggle, painful and downright frustrating. But I would much rather live my life on this earth with Christ then without Him. Being a follower of Jesus Christ means I do nothing alone. He carries me when I cannot walk. He give me joy when there is nothing to be happy about. He leaves me His peace when everything around me is in chaos.

Beloved, do not hurt one another. Do not judge one another. LOVE ONE ANOTHER...as Christ has first loved you! Be aware that there is an enemy of your soul out to destroy you. He wants nothing more then to pull the brethren of the church apart. As long as he can get us to focus on one another's sin and shortcomings, instead of loving one another and encouraging one another to do better and keep going, he gains ground. I pray we won't give him one more inch!

For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!

ECCLESIASTES 4:10

RESTING IN PRAYER AND PRAISE

Have you ever been criticized for your faith? Has anyone ever said to you that you are wasting time by praying and seeking the Lord’s wisdom and guidance, when you should be taking action to overcome whatever adversity you are facing? I have. I have been in situations when I knew something had to be done, I knew I was going to have to make a decision, but I was not prepared, nor willing, to make that decision without first praying about it and seeking God’s guidance. I think we forget sometimes that “praying” is doing something! It is probably the most important thing we can do in any situation. That’s why I am always amazed when I hear people say, ‘Well, I guess all we can do is pray.” Well, duh!  That's the very FIRST THING we should do!

When the voices around us start telling us there is no hope, there is no way out, we need not grow weary or weak in our faith and in our prayers. These outward voices, and the inward voice of the enemy, can sometimes cause us to be tempted to give up or react in a way that is not God’s way. When these struggles occur, instead of trying to answer back or argue we need to pause. Or as the Bible calls it “selah”.

We need to look away from ourselves, away from the enemy and look up! Pause and focus on God!!

Some believe that the word “selah” signifies also a sudden burst of musical instruments and then a pause. The pause was for a time of praise.

How amazing would it be if we all filled our pauses with praise! Today let me encourage you to give all that lies within you, not to the voices that tell you it can’t be done, there is no hope, and, you are wasting your time by praying to God, but I want to encourage you to engage in pure praise, in pure loving adoration of the Lord, and let’s worship from a grateful heart, a heart that is trained to look up!!

Many are saying of me, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.

Psalm 3:3-4

HOW WOULD JESUS ACT?

 

I was running errands and I first stopped at a fast food drive-thru to get some lunch. When I was greeted at the drive thru menu board and gave my order I thought to m yself, "Boy, this girl on the mic is not enjoying her day at all!" When I got up to the window I noticed she had the sourest look on her face, she seemed very angry, and did not want to engage in any conversation with me whatsoever. I didn't even get asked, "Do you want fries with that? or "Would like 2 for a dollar?"  When I asked for an extra package of ketchup I thought she may reach her hand through my car window and choke the living life right out of me!!!  Holy moly, it's just a pack of ketchup.  I didn't even ask for sweetener for the tea.  Too dangerous.

After I got my order I proceeded to drive next door to wash my car. When I pulled up to the automatic wash bay, a gentleman came out with a big smile on his face and said hello. He helped me place my coins into the machine and he also shared with me how I could save money on my car washes in the future. He then proceeded to notice that I had a lot of bugs on the car's grill and bumper and told me to wait a minute so that he could spray some "special soap" on my car to help get the bugs off. Then...he told me to go through the car wash bay and if the atuomatic wash did not clean off all the bugs he would then use the hand pressure wand to clean them off so my car was totally clean! Afterwards, he did in fact, hand clean off my car and proceeded to thank me for choosing his car wash! Wow! Talk about being a servant and cheerful at the same time.  What a contrast.

I hate to admit it but I did find myself in bit of judgement as I thought to myself, "I bet he is a Christian and that girl at the fast food place probably doesn't know the Lord!"

I learned in this experience that no matter what we find ourselves doing we need to do it all with excellence as unto the Lord! We need to be a light in a dark world. We need to smile more...care more...laugh more and enjoy our lives more! Jesus did not die on that cross at Calvary so we could be miserable...He died on that cross so we could have life here and in heaven and to have it abundantly!

Whatever you are doing do it with the joy of Christ! Treat others as you woud want to be treated and live as Jesus lived...love your neighbors. If we would all do that...the world would be a better place.  Oh, and Mondays are no excuse to be in a bad mood.  LOL  Just sayin.

 

MAKING A JOYFUL NOISE IN THE KEY OF Q

When you are in the radio business you are in the music business. Which means you hear great singers all the time. Sometimes you even get the opportunity to meet them and watch “in person” sing their songs unto God in worship.

On Sundays when I got to church, I am always amazed by the level of talent that exist when it comes to singing and how the worship leader and the praise team sings such a beautiful melody with ease and leads the rest of the congregation into a time or praise and worship.

I find myself, at times, wondering, “God, I can’t carry a tune in a bucket….are you sure you meant what it says in the Psalms…we are ALL to make a joyful noise, because I don’t know how wonderful I’m going to sound to you, I sing in the key of Q God!” But of course, the Lord meant what is said in Psalm 98:4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord all the earth,break forth into joyous song and sing praises!

As I meditate on this Scripture this is what I hear: It says “joyful” which indicates to me it is not the musical expertise God is looking for..but the state of our heart. It says “noise” which tells me that in some cases that is just what it will sound like to the human ear, but to God, because it comes from a state of joy in Him in our heart it is pleasing!

I remember a man sharing with me one time that when his son decided to take up the trumpet and follow in his footsteps the dad said it sounded anything but good. But the boy kept practicing and practicing until one day when he was in the marching bad out on the field, the band turned toward the dad in the stands and played. The father of this young man said he could pick out his son’s sound immediately, as tears began to run down his cheek, he was so proud of his son. Granted, his son was not the best trumpet player, but he was still pleased at his effort and determination. His son enjoyed playing and his heart was in it.

I think God feels the same way about us. When we lift up our voices in praise and worship to Him he can “pick out his children” among all the rest of the “noise” and it makes Him happy and He finds it pleasing.

So , crank up the radio and sing along with Franny Batestelli or Chris Tomlin. On Sunday, don’t just move your lips, make a joyful noise and give your voice to God!

And if you are one of those people who can sing…the next time the person next to you sings a little off-key, instead of complaining, simply smile and remember, it is their “joyful noise”!

TREASURES IN THE SHAPE OF SCARS

I have several scars on my body. I think most of us if asked would say that we do have one or two, if not more scars somewhere on our bodies and we can usually remember where they came from. For example, I have a little scare below my bottom lip that I received when I was disobeying my mom and climbing up on the kitchen counter as a little girl and I fell and split my lip open on a metal stool. I also have a scar on my shin where I fell off of my bike as a kid when they took off my training wheels. I also have a few other scars that are not quite as humorous. Such as the one on my hand that I received when I had lost my temper while holding a bunch of metal clothes hangers and when I tried to throw them down one of the hangers ripped into my skin and left a scar on my hand.

Perhaps the most painful scars I have, however, are the ones you can’t see. You know the ones I'm talking about. We all have them. They are the scars on our hearts and in our souls. The scar of rejection from a mother that suffered from depression and didn't know how to love me; the scar of growing up in a home riddled with verbal abuse and guilt; the scar of disappointment at the loss of a child or a spouse; the scar of broken dreams.

We receive scars in one of two ways: what has been done to us by other people or what has been done through us by our own mistakes and failures. Either way, I believe that scars are not something that we need to hide or be ashamed of, but rather an invitation to share the healing power of Jesus Christ with a hurting world. For a scar, by its very definition, implies healing.

Perhaps you've never thought of the wounds in your life as potential treasures. The Bible tells us, "Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story" (Psalm 107:2). Your story may be one of your greatest treasures. Share your story and let others know that you have made mistakes, you have been hurt, but Jesus brought you through it all!  

• Do you have some scars on your body that are comical?
• Do you have some scars on your body that represent a deep hurt from your past?
• Do you have some scars on your soul that represent a story to tell? A story of healing or redemption? If so, consider telling someone today!

I NEVER KNEW!!

 

Okay, okay, so I may not be the most observant individual in the world, but I am someone who can learn once I am shown something. Recently, my husband burst into laughter after I got into the car and fastened my seat-belt and began to complain about the belt not fitting me properly. “I cannot believe we cannot find a vehicle that offers seat-belts that fit me! Every car we ever buy always pins me to the seat with a constrictive belt, that hits me in the neck and is very uncomfortable! Am I a freak or something? Am I the only one who struggles with this problem? Is my body so “out of the ordinary” that I just don’t fit?”   My husband just looked at me, laughing, and then gained his composure and said, “Karen…all you have to do is hit this button right here and adjust the seat-belt to fit you more comfortably”. I quickly asked him, “How long has that been there?”

I have been driving since I was 16 years old, and without giving away my age, you will just have to trust me when I tell you that is a long time ago. You would have thought I would have learned about this “magic button” in the car way back when….but I didn’t, that’s the bad news. The good news is…I know about it now and it has changed my life! No longer are long road trips unbearable for me. No longer to I have a huge redmark along my jaw line. No longer to I feel constricted and trapped!

I had a similar experience several years back when I was constantly worrying, and fretting about things I could not control. My life seemed like a big ole’ mess that I was constantly trying to straighten out, but was only getting worse and I couldn’t understand why. I felt “trapped”. Then someone shared with me the Good News about Jesus! I remembered thinking to myself, “It can’t be that easy?” Seriously, could God forgive me for this mess I had made of my life? Could I start over and have a Heavenly Father that would help me every single day? The answer, of course, was “yes”! It was like I finally found what I was looking for….there was finally a way to make my life “fit”. I could have joy, I could have peace, I could have an eternal life in heaven through Jesus Christ!

So simple, yet I never knew. If you feel “trapped in” “uncomfortable” and find yourself wondering…why doesn’t my life “fit”, give your heart to Jesus and then allow Him to transform your life.

What Is Your Focus Today?

It is said that Cyrus, the founder of the Persian Empire, once had captured a prince and his family. When they came before him, the monarch asked the prisoner, "What will you give me if I release you?" "The half of my wealth," was his reply. "And if I release your children?" "Everything I possess." "And if I release your wife?" "Your Majesty, I will give myself." Cyrus was so moved by his devotion that he freed them all. As they returned home, the prince said to his wife, "Wasn't Cyrus a handsome man!" With a look of deep love for her husband, she said to him, "I didn't notice. I could only keep my eyes on you- -the one who was willing to give himself for me." (Unknown.) I read this today and it hit me. My eyes are focused on the wrong things. My heart is longing for the wrong things. Does that make me unfit for the love of God? Not at all. Does it show me that I am still very much a "work in progress"? Absolutely. In my line of work I am privileged to meet many different people in a day's time. Constantly exposed to various circumstances, places and things. I remember one time I visited a friend in her new home and when I walked inside I was stunned by the beauty in her decorating. Everything was very neat, very stylish and seemingly very expensive. When I got home I went on this cleaning rampage. I was a mad woman. Garbage bag by garbage bag I loaded up everything I deemed to be "shabby" or "tacky". I remember once I was finished I looked around and realized there really wasn' much left in my home! I sat in the middle of my kitchen floor and cried. I felt so sorry for myself because I knew I was going to have to dig all that stuff back out and put it back in it's place because I certainly didn't have the "means" to buy all new and redecroate our entire house to look like my friend's. As I was drying my tears and sniffling on my cold linoleum floor, I happened to look up at my refridgerator and hanging on it was a wrinkled piece of white paper. It had scribbles all over it in a virtual rainbow of magic marker colors. In the corner it said: To My Nana...I love you! It was a picture my grandson had made for me and had proudly hung up there with his own two little hands. After putting everything back in it's place, I sat down once again, this time in my living room chair. Again I began to peruse my home. I saw pictures in mismatched frames of my children and grandchildren hanging on the walls where I was going to hang new, more fashionable artwork. My tatered Bible sat on the corner of the coffee table where I earlier thought I would place a lovely centerpiece. Scattered across the top of the television set were VeggieTale DVDs. On the end tables, where beauiful vases would have gone, were nothing but tiny fingerprints and a baby quilt I had been working on for years. Suddenly my eyes were focused on different things in my home. Not the worn furntiure or the out of date, early attic, hand me down knick-knacks, but the things that told a story about who I was. Someone could walk into my home and instantly tell that a family lived there. A wife, a mom, a nana. A family that believed in God. Hopefully, if someone walked into my home they would be comfortable and feel as if they were welcome there, they would sense a feeling of a "work in progress" but definitely not "perfect", and they would like that feeling. Everyday I find myself longing for things I cannot have. Desiring and dreaming about things I will never be allowed to do. Sometimes I even find myself arguing with God about it, telling Him that life isn't fair. But just like that day I noticed so many beautiful things around me in my home that I had overlooked in my haste to get what I thought I wanted, I am trying each day to "focus" more on Jesus and what He has already given me. Now don't start telling me that the Lord knows the desires of my heart and one day my every wish will come true...because the only way that will happen is if my "wishes" are "in-line" with God's will for my life, and trust me, I'm certain some of them are not. Some are simply my "flesh" wanting what it cannot have. That is where the word "sacrifice" comes in. Not one of our favorite words these days. Cyrus was willing to sacrifice everything for the one he loved and his wife was so appreciative of his sacrifice that her eyes never left him for a moment. God was so willing to sacrifice His son out of love for me that my eyes should never leave Him, not even for a moment. But occassionally, they do, and for that I am sorry and I am so grateful for His mercy and grace, allowing me to try again tomorrow to be better "focused". I have certainly come a long way...but I have a long way to go and I look forward to the day I meet my heavenly bridegroom face to face and I am able to gaze into His eyes and actually see His love for me come pouring forth from His face! !

Jesus was not only "willing" to give his life for me (and you!), he did!

With a look of deep love for my Lord, I say to Him,.. "I didn't notice the world. I could only keep my eyes on you- -the one who was willing to give Himself for me."

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

   JOHN 3:16

APPRECIATING GOD'S WORK OF ART

If you love art you no doubt appreciate Michael DeAngelo’. I was reading about this famous and gifted artist recently when I found out that every time Deangelo was going to create a new sculpture he would pick out his piece of beautiful raw marble, bring it into the studio and sit it on the sculptor’s pedestal and just stare at it for hours. Someone once asked him what he was doing and he explained that he was envisioning the masterpiece he was about to create inside the center of that raw marble so that all he would have to do is just chip away the pieces of marble that did not belong there.

That really spoke to me because I thought that is how God see us! He knits us together in our mother’s womb and he envisions what our lives will be like and what we will become. He has a wonderful and perfect plan of how we will become his masterpiece! But as we live our daily lives here on this earth there are times the Lord must gently “chip away” the pieces that do not belong there that may hinder us from becoming everything he created us to be. 

I imagine that once Michael DeAngelo was finished with his sculpture and he stood back to take a look at the work he smiled to himself and was pleased at the effort.

I also pray that one day we will stand before our heavenly creator and he will look at us and smile and say, “ Well done, my good and faithful servant. You are my masterpiece!”

So don’t get discouraged when you feel the Lord chipping away at the things in your life that are keeping you from him. Don’t be sad when you feel the gentle hands of your sculptor molding you and shaping you into the person he wants you to be. Although these times may be uncomfortable and perhaps even painful, in time you will see and appreciate the beauty that has been created in you in HIS name!

And may I just add that recently I have been "chipped and sculpted" in more ways then I care to admit. Lots of "chunks" and "junk" falling down around me. But...I keep reminding myself that one day I will look back and I will see those pieces that have been chipped away, on the floor of life, and I will be so grateful for the masterpiece God created in me!  In the meantime, you might just hear me say “ouch!” a few times.

Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you re the potter; we are the work of your hand. Isaiah 64:8

LOOKING FOR A SOUL-MATE?

Have you ever been so in love with someone that it "consumed" you? Your every thought, your every plan, your every action revolved around them. Only to discover that the person you loved so much either...A: Doesn't even know you exist. B: Has no desire whatsoever to be with you. C: Tells you that you are important to them, and, that they love you, but all of their actions tell you something different.

I think that is how it is with God. He loves each of us so much that it "consumes" Him. That is why He sent His only son to be the sacrifice we needed in order to be with Him for eternity. He overlooked our short-comings, our sinful nature, our mistakes, and said "I love you and want you more than anything else!" His watchful eye is always upon us. His tender and caring heart is always wanting to bless us. His actions authenticate His Word.

But some don't even know He exists. Some believe He exists but they choose not to allow Him into their lives. Some say they love Him, but yet their actions say something different.

I have loved and I have lost at love. It hurts beyond words. At times it seems as though it would be easier to just give up. To accept a life without love would certainly be much neater, less complicated and easier in some ways. But without love, life is empty, hopeless and cold.

People will hurt people. People will fall short of expectations. People will make mistakes and fail. But we cannot base our desire to find love and experience it on "people". We need to allow the Prince of Peace to "romance" us and captivate us with His every word and His every move. We need to "fall in love" with God and discover what "true and real love" is, so that we can fill that desire in our hearts and know what it is we are looking for here on earth in another human being. If we don't know what "genuine love" is then how can we recognize it here on earth?

If you find yourself lonely (and many are….even those with partners) I would suggest you read 1 Corinthians 13 and learn what "love" is and "who" "love" is! Or read the Gospel of John and give it a chance to settle in your spirit and in your heart.

The closer we get to God the closer we get to love! He is our "soul-mate"!

CONGRATULATIONS! YOU ARE EXPECTING!!

I remember those words as if they were spoken to me yesterday.  Sitting on that examination table, waiting for the blood test result and wondering if it was true…would the doctor tell me I was pregnant?

The excitement when I found out goes beyond ecstatic.  All I ever wanted to be was a wife and mommy.  I can honestly tell you that from the moment I found out I was carrying that little life inside of me, I was head over heals in love with that child.

My two sons, Michael and D.J., are very different.  Each of them with their own unique personalities, and, gifting.  Michael was always a challenge for me.  He was a colicky baby and didn’t sleep through the night until he was two years old!  He was the type of child that always had to be entertained.  Yet Michael always had such a sensitive heart.  He was always a compassionate child.  Worried about the underdog.  Always wanting to help.  Michael was also a very shy child, never really wanting to draw any attention to himself.  Now at 31 years of age, he is a husband and father to two little boys of his own, and his wife, Kristin, is expecting their third child in March of 2012.  After a season of “sowing his wild oats” and nearly giving me a nervous breakdown, Michael has grown and matured into such an amazing, Godly man.  You would be hard-pressed to find another daddy that loves their family as much as Michael does.

D.J. was the polar opposite in many ways.  Slept through the night from day one.  Could entertain himself with blocks and puzzles, and cartoons for hours.  He was outgoing.  Had a wonderful smile and sense of humor.  He loved making people laugh.  He was well-disciplined.  I never once had to tell him when bedtime was, to do his homework, of get up and go to work.  He just did it.  Many times I joked, saying he was a 55 year old spirit, trapped in a kid’s body!  Now at 22 years of age he is a husband, and also, a Godly man.  You could search and search and never find someone as dedicated to his wife and his God as passionately as D.J. is today.

Of course, as their mother I would love to take credit for all their wonderful traits and blame the rest on their fathers.  Yes, Michael and D.J. come from two different unions.  Honestly, I can tell you that there were many, many times as they were growing up that I wondered if they would ever be able to get over all the chaos I had put them through as children. 

It is back-to-school time now, and I read many, many Facebook posts from parents who have dropped off their children at college for the very first time.  They are wondering, “did I do the right things?”  “are they prepared?”  “will they ever grow out of this or that and make something of themselves?”  The bad news is….now is the time you are going to find out, and it can be a very stressful time for a parent.  The good news is….well,  umm, the good news probably won’t be apparent until a few years down the road.  Sorry.

My “Good News Day” came with Michael, when he brought his first born son, Brody to meet me in the hospital.  I remember looking at this proud daddy holding his newborn son and being so grateful to God for all He had done.

My “Good News Day” came for D.J., today.  When he preached his very first sermon at the church where he and his wife, Dianna, are currently serving as Youth Ministers.  To watch my baby boy talk about his childhood, the challenges and the redemptive powers of Jesus Christ, cause my cup of blessings to overflow.

I didn’t do everything correctly as a mother.  I still make mistakes.  Only by the grace of God have my children grown up to be the men they are today.  The one thing that I did do correctly was, I loved them, unconditionally, and I never held back from telling them or showing them.  I would like to say I learned that from my parents…but I did not.  I learned how to love, and, love deeply, the day I gave my life to Jesus Christ.  I saw how much God, my heavenly Father loved me, and how He sent His only son to die for me so that I could fellowship with Him today and for all eternity. 

My sons and I will always have that physical connection of being related by blood.  But what excites me even more today is that we also have that “Jesus Connection” because of His blood shed for us at the cross.  Mistakes will be made, choices will disappoint, and feelings will get hurt.  But because we share in the legacy and example of Christ, forgiveness will enter in and love will remain.

I am attaching a link to the sermon my son, D.J. preached today.  If you want to watch I would certainly be honored.  I have attached a photo of my oldest son, Michael and his boys.  When you look at them, remember, the best thing you can give your children is unconditional love and the desire to love and serve God…and always, always, pray!

D.J. sermon:  http://branchesofchrist.com/videos/

HAVING A "GIRLFRIEND ATTITUDE" WITH GOD

In my devotion time the other day I was in the Book of John and I was reading in Chapter 11 about the death of Lazarus. Now Lazarus was the brother to Mary, who annotied Jesus' feet with perfume and dried them with her hair. Lazarus was also the brother to Martha. All three of them were loved by Jesus and they were his dear friends.

Now Jesus received the news of Lazarus’ sickness and pending death he did not race back to Judea but stayed a few more days.

Now I know that Jesus did not do anything without it first coming directly from the Father, so I believe that Jesus knew to stay where he was for a time so that when he did return and raise Lazarus from the dead it would be a HUGE testament as to who he really was to everyone around him.

Something I noticed in this story that I never had seen before was the reaction of Martha and Mary when Jesus finally did return to the village where Lazarus had died. Martha heard Jesus was coming and she ran out to meet him while Mary remained sitting in the house. That struck me…that Mary didn’t run to meet Jesus as well.

Do you think Mary had a “girlfriend attitude”? She knew Jesus had received the message days before about her sick brother. Do you think she was thinking to herself, “Oh yeah..now you show up. Where have you been all this time? We could have really used your help a few days ago..and NOW you show up? Seriously, Jesus..I’m the one that sat at your feet and hung on your every word while Martha cleaned and cleaned the house during your visit…you even commended me…but you can’t take the time to show up when I call for you? What is up with that?”

Sometimes I think we “cop” a “girlfriend attitude” like Mary may have. We pray and present our petitions and needs to the Lord and yet he is silent for days, weeks, sometimes even years and we beging to question whether or not he is listtening at all. Is he really going to help us? Does he really care about us? The answer of course, is “yes, he does.” But we must understand that our timing is not always God’s timing.
Jesus did raise Lazarus from the dead and he does answer our prayers,in his divine timing , in his wisdom and love for us.

WHO DOES GOD SAY I AM?

This has been an especially rough week for me.  I could list all the things that have happened, and perhaps whine a little and get some sympathy, but at the end of the day that really isn’t very productive for me..emotionally, physically or spiritually.  So there you old stinky pants devil!  Ha!

Sometimes when life is getting the best of me and I get discouraged I have to take a minute and start remembering who GOD SAYs I am.

We tend to let other people define us, or we allow our circumstances to define us. As for me, I was always great at allowing my past to define who I was, until one day I decided to get serious and find our just exactly who God created me to be and who He said I was.

Below is a list of Scriptures that I have hanging on my bathroom mirror and in my kitchen. I also keep a copy in my Bible. Periodically (sometimes daily) I pull out this list and I just start confessing and reading them off one by one. It is amazing how the Holy Spirit renews my confidence and my self-worth as I read and believe! You can hear it in my voice as it gets stronger and bolder the further down the list I go.

GOD IS A LOVING AND JUST GOD!  Remember Who You Already Are … Loved and accepted. You Belong! You are Valuable!!!

WHO AM I?

I
AM a child of God. (John 1:12)
I
AM saved by grace through faith. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
I
AM loved by God and He gave his one and only Son for me. (John 3:16)
I
AM born again…through the living and enduring word of God. (1 Peter 1:23)
I
AM a new creation in Christ; the old has gone and the new has come! (2
Corinthians 5:17)
I
AM at peace with God. (Romans 5:1)
I
AM a container of the Holy Spirit Who lives in me. (1 Corinthians 3:16)
I
AM filled with God's wisdom. (James 1:5)
I
AM helped by God. (Hebrews 4:16)
I
AM reconciled to God. (Romans 5:11)
I
AM not condemned by God. (Romans 8:1)
I
AM justified. (Romans 5:1)
I
AM filled with Christ's righteousness. (Romans 5:19; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
I
AM Christ's ambassador. (2 Corinthians 5:20)
I
AM completely forgiven. (Colossians 1:14)
I
AM tenderly loved by God. (Jeremiah 31:3)
I
AM the sweet fragrance of Christ to God. (2 Corinthians 2:15)
I
AM a temple in which God dwells. (1 Corinthians 3:16)
I
AM blameless and beyond reproach. (Colossians 1:22)
I
AM the salt of the earth. (Matthew 5:13)
I
AM the light of the world. (Matthew 5:14)
I
AM a branch on Christ's vine. (John 15:1,5)
I
AM Christ's friend. (John 15:5)
I
AM chosen by Christ to bear fruit. (John 15:16)
I
AM a joint heir with Christ, sharing His inheritance with Him. (Romans 8:17)
I
AM united to the Lord, one spirit with Him. (1 Corinthians 6:17)
I
AM a member of Christ's body. (1 Corinthians 12:27)
I
AM a saint. (Ephesians 1:1)
I
AM hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3)
I
AM chosen by God, holy and dearly loved. (Colossians 3:12)
I
AM a child of the light. (1 Thessalonians 5:5)
I
AM holy, and I share in God's heavenly calling. (Hebrews 3:1)
I
AM sanctified. (Hebrews 2:11)
I
AM one of God's living stones, being built up in Christ as a spiritual house. (1
Peter 2:5)
I
AM a member of a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for
God's own possession and created to sing His praises. (1 Peter 2:9-10)
I
AM firmly rooted and built up in Christ. (Colossians 2:7)
I
AM born of God, and the evil one cannot touch me. (1 John 5:18)
I
AM filled with the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16)
I
AM someone who can approach God with boldness, freedom, and confidence.
(Ephesians 3:12)
I
AM someone who has been rescued from the enemy's domain and transferred into the
kingdom of Christ. (Colossians 1:13)
I
AM someone who has been made complete in Christ. (Colossians 2:10)
I
AM someone who has been given a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline. (2
Timothy 1:7)
I
AM someone who has been given great and precious promises by God. (2 Peter 1:4)
I
AM someone who has all my needs met by God. (Philippians 4:19)
I
AM royalty in God's kingdom. (John 1:12; 1 Timothy 6:15)
I
AM someone who was bought with a price, and I belong to God. (1 Corinthians
6:19,20)
I
AM someone who was adopted as God's child. (Ephesians 1:5)
I
AM someone who has access to God through the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 2:18)
I
AM assured that all things are working together for good. (Romans 8:28)
I
AM free from any condemning charges against me. (Romans 8:31f)
I
AM someone who cannot be separated from the love of God. (Romans 8:35f)
I
AM established, anointed, and sealed by God. (2 Corinthians 1:21,22)
I
AM confident that the good work that God has begun in me will be perfected.
(Philippians 1:6)
I
AM a citizen of heaven. (Philippians 3:20)
I
AM a personal witness of Christ's. (Acts 1:8)
I
AM God's coworker. (2 Corinthians 6:1, 1 Corinthians 3:9)
I
AM seated with Christ in the heavenly realm. (Ephesians 2:6)
I
AM God's workmanship. (Ephesians 2:10)
I
AM someone who can do all things through Christ, who gives me the strength I
need. (Philippians 4:13

BEAUTY IS MORE THAN SKIN-DEEP!

When you get up each day at 4 a.m. like I used to do, you don’t have a lot of time, or energy to spend figuring out what to wear. Most of the time it is a pair of sweat pants or capris and a comfy shirt and flip flops. Again, getting up at 4 a.m. and driving for an hour and fifteen minutes one way to work didn’t leave a lot of time for fashion. But that was one of the perks of being in radio and not television!

Nonetheless, as a woman, it is my desire to feel pretty each day. Whether I am preparing to throw on a pair of sweats, or I am getting dressed for church, or going out with my husband, in my heart I want to be able to look in the mirror and be pleased with what I see. However, I do struggle in this area and at times can be downright depressed.

Let’s face it, the world gives us a pretty unrealistic goal of what we are to look like. Pictures of Jennifer Aniston. Katie Cruise, and others indicate this is “the look” that is beautiful. This is what you are suppose to look like whether you are in sweats or an evening gown. But again, let’s face it….I am never going to be a size two no matter how little I eat, and no matter how much I wish my thighs were smaller and my hips curvier, this is the body type I have and unfortunately, I can’t airbrush out the cellulite.

I have always struggled with my looks. Even when in school I never ran with the “in-crowd” or was the most popular girl in the class. So I focused on other things like sports and academics and music. Although secretly I would have traded everything to be the “prom queen”!

Unfortunately, I have learned that you won’t find the “smart girls” or the “athletic girls”or the girls with the “really sweet personalities” opening the suitcases for Howie on Deal or No Deal…if you know what I mean. I have also found that when my girlfriend or husband says to me, “Karen, God made you beautiful in His eyes..you are uniquely created”, I think to myself, “Okay, that doesn’t make me feel any better, and as a matter of fact, now I feel worse because now I am not only insecure I am spiritually immature! Great!” Can any of you relate??

So what do I do in times like this. Well, usually I put on my bathrobe, otherwise referred to at home by my husband as my “sack cloth” and I down a pint of Ben & Jerry’s and sit amidst my own ashes. Then…I realize in a moment of clarity that I am not the only woman that goes through times like this. I think we all do. If the truth were known, probably even the “prom queens” of the world struggle with insecurity.

Next, I have learned to forgive my imperfections. So I have a few extra pounds, I probably got them from eating too many snacks with my kids and grandkids. So what if my hair is a little grayer than it used to be, it is just a sign of the wisdom I have gained over the years. And as for the laugh lines on my face…if I had to trade those in and miss all the times I have laughed with friends and family, I wouldn’t do it. So it is time we embrace those things.

When you really think about it there is not one other single person in the entire universe just like me. God did make me special and that alone is pretty awesome! So the next time I look in the mirror I am going to see past what the culture says I should be looking for and appreciate the creation I am in Christ! I am also going to love the things about me that I think are really neat…like I am funny, I really do have a sweet personality and, if I do say so myself, I love my hair!

The Bible says in Romans 8:29 that we are destined to be molded into the image of Jesus Christ and share inwardly His likeness. I encourage you to be content with who you are. That doesn’t mean you can’t make progress or improve, but when we compare ourselves to others we are continually disappointed. Let’s celebrate our uniqueness and rejoice in the future God has planned for us! Be confident and start enjoying!

JUST BE-WEEVE!!!

It has been one of those days.  You know the kinds where your alarm clock doesn’t go off, your hair dryer doesn’t want to work, and you were counting on having that last piece of bread as toast for your breakfast but your 5 year old decided to feed it to the birds before you got to it.

So you’re late, you run out the door with your watch on backwards, the worst hair day you have ever had in your life, and two kids taking their sweet time in getting loaded into the car.

You drop off the kids you drive to your office where you cannot find one single parking space because they are all blocked off because of an afternoon parade coming through.  Once you are parked you run inside, up the stairs because maintenance is “inspecting” the elevator, only to find our your secretary has called in and will not be there, her sister’s shih tzu, “Candy” died last night and she simply must go and console her.

So…do you get the idea of how my day had been going?

When that big wall clock said 5 p.m. I was like a bolt of lightening getting out of there and heading for home.

Of course, once I got home there was still a dinner that needed to be made, baths to be taken, and laundry to be done.  Needless to say, I was pretty much at the end of my rope and wondering what I had done to deserve such a crummy day.  After all, I am a Christian woman…I love the Lord with all my heart…why in the world had He not swooped in and carried all my burdens away for me this day?  SIGH  I was beginning to wonder if maybe I was wrong, maybe God doesn’t love me as much as I thought He did.  Maybe He really doesn’t care about me.  ANOTHER SIGH and a few TEARS.

As I was taking the kids up to bed to tuck them in for the evening, they wanted me to read them a story.  I thought to myself, “Oh no.  Please not tonight.  All I want is a long, hot bubble bath with enough Calgon to not only take me far away but to completely obliterate this day from my memory bank!  But, looking into those sweet little faces I found just enough strength to agree to ONE story.

The book the kids selected was one about God’s creation and how He created each of us in His image.  The book went on to tell about God’s everlasting love for each one of His children.  As I read I could hear myself arguing inside.  Telling myself, “Oh yeah, well if God loves me so much how come He allowed my alarm clock to malfunction this morning?  How come He allowed me to have such a bad day?  “  Half way through the book I stopped and looked down at my little boy and said, “Do you know God loves you?”  Without missing a beat he answered with a smile, “Yes! I do know’d it!”  Intrigued by his enthusiasm and quickness to respond I asked a second question of him.  “How do you know God loves you?”  Once more without a moment’s hesitation he replied, “I just beweeve it!”  It was just that simple.

Even though I was the one reading to them and suppose to be the person teaching them the lesson, I found that I was the one learning that evening.  Unfortunately, I had gotten to the point in my life where I equated God’s love for me with the circumstances around me.  If things were good…God loved me.  If things were bad…God was angry.  But that is not the “truth”.  God loves us with an everlasting love all the time!!!

The bible says in Psalm 36:5, Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.

Jeremiah 31:3, The LORD appeared to us in the past saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.”

Psalm 136:26, Give thanks to the God of heaven.  His love endures forever.

John 3:16, For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

As soon as I finished reading that story and kissing my boys goodnight, I went and picked up my bible and began to search for verses about God’s love for me.  Those were just a few that I found that night.  They are highlighted and underlined and now memorized and written on my heart.

God tells us that we must have faith.  He tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:7 that we must “live by faith and not my sight", knowing that no matter what is happening we are secure in Him and His love for us.  Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

I will be honest with you, there are days when I don’t see, and sometimes I don’t even feel, very loved, however, it is on those days that I simply “just be-weeve”!!!