I respect when things are done in order according to plan. The opposite can be ridiculous, haphazard, and even dangerous. “Now, son of man, take a sharp sword and use it as a barber’s razor to shave your head and your beard” (Ezek. 5:1). This is exactly why I don’t recommend closing your eyes, opening […]
The prayer of my heart every day is to be more like Jesus. I have finally realized that I’m not doing well in this area. God must agree with me, because He sure is giving me lots of opportunities to practice. I heard someone say long ago to never pray for patience, because God will […]
What do my overactive imagination and a plate of spaghetti have in common? Everything is connected to everything else! Women will understand this blog. Men, for the most part, will not because their brains resemble waffles. So, guys, save yourself the frustration and read only the second half of this blog. Ladies, enjoy. Several months […]
A repurposed life is my current reality. For many years, I thought I had my life all figured out. I would always be a wife and mother of two daughters and work on staff at my church. Until Jesus came back, that was my plan. It was a good plan, but it was my plan, […]
Spreading jelly and joy are very similar. I arrived at this earth-shattering conclusion recently when my friend was having a bad day. “I’m struggling, Karen. Please pray for me to have joy again.” I knew what she meant. I’ve experienced those sad teary days too, and they’re no fun. So we prayed together. Later that […]
“Preach the gospel, die, and be forgotten.” I needed to hear this today. Don’t we all, especially those of us in ministry? It takes me back to square one, to the moment I knew God spoke to my heart and called me to teach and preach His Word. I was twenty-five years old, married, and […]
I’m walking on the edge, but it’s not what you think. I’m not about to fall off for I am safe here. As a matter of fact, the edge is my happy place. Let me explain. First of all, the ‘edge’ of my day is the very same as the ‘margin’ of my day; the […]
One of my favorite stories and movies of all time is “Beauty and the Beast.” In this fascinating fairy tale, Beast ultimately and magically turns into a handsome prince. Of course! It’s a fairy tale! Let me break it to you gently: This is not the way it works in real life. Ugly never miraculously […]
Are you uncertain about a deceased loved one’s eternity? Perhaps your loved one died by suicide or murder; or extenuating circumstances surrounding the death included mental illness. These scenarios make the grief process more complicated. It’s during these times that the unrelenting “Whys?” plague us unmercifully. We may be tormented by the question, “Where is […]
There’s a “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On”! Not that I know anything about this song! Jerry Lee Lewis made it famous in 1957. Let’s just say that was way before my time, but I did check it out on the internet recently, because a conversation I had reminded me of it. “Karen, you’re shaking me […]