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 […]
Jason lived a double life. The loving husband, awesome father, and active church member on Sunday was also a “con-man” (controller/manipulator) involved in porn, shady deals, and emotional and often sexual affairs—until one day, his secret sins were exposed in the Light, and his world came crashing down. We’ve all seen this play out in […]
I’m incognito at Walmart at 6:30 in the morning, which means I have no makeup on, wearing sunglasses, a baseball cap on my head, and ragged ill-matched clothes. I’m in a hurry and I’m in hiding. I can’t talk to anyone looking like this. Surely no one will recognize me. “Hi, Karen, how are you?” […]
You and I are on a journey through this life. What are some things we can do to make it a good one? Read Genesis 35:1-5 with me and let’s see what we can learn from Jacob’s journey. Then God said to Jacob, “Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who […]
A pinch goes a long way in cooking, the Kingdom of God, and life in general. I always said, “If I couldn’t read, I would not be able to cook.” I read and follow recipes meticulously. That’s how I do it. My husband’s grandmother, on the other hand, never had use for a written recipe. […]