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Can I Give You A Smile?

Can I Give You A Smile?

Some days I find myself in a place of discouragement. Bewildered by the world we live in, with so many hurting people looking for hope, encouragement and a smile. My heart aches for all the families that have gone through the hurricanes the last few months and the massacre in Las Vegas last night. 

Sometimes the way forward seems complicated and challenging, and I’m not even sure I have even enough energy to finish the tasks God had given me.  

I have often heard,” Instruction does much, but encouragement is everything.” Many times a kind word of encouragement, a smile or a simple touch can lift a heart out of sadness, grief, exhaustion or despair.

An act of kindness encouraging others and lets them know you care about them, and they are not alone. It also gives us the opportunity to show God’s love as we touch the lives of others. Encouragement gives hope and inspires determination to keep moving forward when life gets tough, and we become weary of the struggles.

Many times I have asked God to encourage my heart with his love, compassion, and guidance. Asking Him to give me a new perspective and passion for the task He had given me.When I become tired, His promises and love lessons come just in time in sweet ways of encouragement from others. God is not finished with the dreams and goals He has placed in my heart, and he is not finished with me either.

Isaiah 40:31 NLV

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
 

LIFE can be tough, and the struggles of life and ministry can be harsh. With God’s encouragement, we can remember His promises and rely and lean on Him. The journey will be brighter for us and others as we stand together building one another up with encouragement.©

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Have you felt more stressed in the last few months, how have you coped with the daily events?

Attention: ***** If you would like to receive our entire letter please subscribe and have it delivered to your mailbox each week, and don’t miss out on the fun stories, blonde jokes, and encouragement with a dash of warmth. 

Thank you, dear friends for spending your time with me, Have a wonderful weekend. Hugs to all.

Have a great week, HUGS
Lovingly, Karan

Good Afternoon Officer, Anything Wrong?

Good Afternoon Officer, Anything Wrong?

I have struggled with time management over the years and usually, thinking I have more time than I do. And yes my heavy foot has caused the highway patrol and I have our discussions over several tickets. Sometimes as I hurry down the highway occasionally my California roots bust out and I envision myself at a Nascar race. Lol.

I always try to be respectful but sometimes I grumbled about the tickets I didn’t think I deserve. Although in my heart I know I deserved far more tickets than I actually received. How about you? I remembered a time when I was on my way to a speaking engagement and a police officer pulled me over.

For once I knew I had not been speeding (thank goodness for the speed control) and surprised to learn my taillight was not working.

The officer walked back to his patrol car and check my registration and data. As I watch him walk back a thought occurred to me, how thankless his job must be. I couldn’t imagine many people are grateful for their tickets. I sure wasn’t!

When the officer came back to my car he handed me my license, insurance card, and a new ticket. I thanked him for his service, for my ticket and for the good job he does to make our highways safe. He was speechless for a moment and then, thank me and said no one had ever said that to him before. How sad. As I drove away I giggled and wished I had taken a picture of his face. 

Makes me want to do it again. LOL. Isn’t it fun to honor someone else and you get the joy in the deepest part of your soul?

The Bible says:        Lord, we show our trust in you by obeying your laws; our heart’s desire is to glorify your name.”

Isaiah 26:8 NLT

I am so glad that I didn’t react like I felt I wanted to. After all, I was in a hurry to do God’s work. But while I am here on earth, I am to trust the Lord, obey his laws and the laws of the land. And to bring honor and glorify His name. That is my true purpose as I walk daily close to him. ©

If you don’t learn to laugh at trouble, you won’t have anything to laugh at when you’re old.’
Edgar Watson Howe 
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Attention: ***** If you would like to receive our entire letter please subscribe and have it delivered to your mailbox each week, and don’t miss out on the fun stories, blonde jokes, and encouragement with a dash of warmth. 

Lovingly, Karan

Thank you, dear friends, for spending your time with me.
Have a wonderful weekend. 
HUGS

I Don’t Want To Complain, But…

I Don’t Want To Complain, But…

Two elderly women were out driving in a large car – both could barely see over the dashboard. As they were cruising along, they came to an intersection.

The stoplight was red, but they just went on through. The woman in the passenger seat thought to herself “I must be losing it.  I could have sworn we just went through a red light.” After a few more

After a few more minutes, they came to another intersection and the light was red again. Again, they went right through. The woman in the passenger seat was almost sure that the light had been red but was really concerned that she was losing it. She was getting nervous.

At the next intersection, sure enough, the light was red and they went on through. So, she turned to the other woman and said, “Mildred, did you know that we just ran through three red lights in a row? You could have killed us both!” Mildred turned

Mildred turned to her and said, “Oh, crap, am I driving?” Author unknown

 

 

 

 

Reflections:  Wrong delivery!

With my clothes piling up and wearing my last pair of pants I needed to look for a new washer and dryer.  I searched furniture stores for the perfect laundry set that would fit both our needs and budget.  After comparing prices, we made were our decision.  I liked the plain white set with burgundy lettering, (I thought it would match our other furniture) I know it’s not going in the living room) besides, it had a wrinkle free cycle which appealed to me.The salesman was anxious and jumpy and talked incisively.  He assured me I had come to the right place, gotten the best price, best deal and best warranty of any other customer he had had that day.

They were going to deliver the washer and dryer on Saturday morning around 9:00 am. Saturday morning came and no washer and dryer. I started panic we needed to wash some clothes and be at another appointment across town at 2:00 pm.  Finally, I received a call telling me they were running late and would be there at 1:00 pm.I knew this would be cutting my time short, mentally figuring out how I was going to make my next appointment, take a shower and have clean clothes. At this point, I was in extreme meltdown mode.

At 1:10 pm the crew showed up and let me know they didn’t have time to set everything up. “It was easy, you could do it all by yourself,” Jr. said, giving me the thumbs up as he raced out the door. Now I don’t know about you, but when someone tells me it’s easy, red flags start flying. Now, Jr. had no way of knowing that I am mechanically delayed and seemed to have confidence in my ability to swing a wrench. Lol, I remember thinking that the washer and dryer looked different than I had remembered. However, I didn’t have time to spend on that thought as we rushed to our next appointment

After a stressful afternoon, arriving home and looking at the washer and dryer, I realized the top of my new set was the wrong color. Instead of white with burgundy letters across the top, it was baby blue enamel 50’s look. I checked serial numbers, did research on the internet, and could not find anything to match.  I was sure that the company had ripped me off and sent me a relic from the back of the warehouse.  I finally fell asleep at 4:00 am worn out and upset.  And I still had no clothes washed!!!

Off to church, we went, but I must tell you I was not in a church going frame of mind.  Later I decided to go to the furniture store and have a chat with the salesman.  Praying I would be kind but firm, I walked in and asked for Harold.   All the while explaining to another salesperson about my predicament. He wasn’t at all sympatric telling me those things often happen. (I was not feeling cared for at that moment.)

Here comes Harold, and I explained my difficulty.  He told me he had never seen a washer and dryer with Baby blue on it.  He even suggested that I might have been lucky and received a newer model.   We walked through the warehouse, and there was nothing like it on the store computer either.

He was beginning to sweat, talking a mile a minute, I thought I needed to take matters into my own hands.  I was firm and told Harold that I wanted the company to come a get the baby blue laundry set, and I would cancel my order, and buy it somewhere else.  Harold wanted to discuss the matter further and asked me to sit down.

All of a sudden he sat up straight in his chair as if a bright idea just hit him.  He said,” did you remove the blue plastic from your washer and dryer? Shocked I squared my shoulder, and indigently said I felt the top and it was enamel. Harold told me sometimes the plastic is hard to remove.  My mind was racing, and I let him know I would go right home and check, but I was positive it was enamel.

Running out of the store, and racing home, I saw my distress salesman coming out of the store lighting up a cloud of smoke, (I suppose to calm his nerves,)  pacing back and forth talking to himself.  I think I ruined his day.

Hurrying into the house, I grabbed a coin and scratched at the enamel, and it started to peel off.  Wow, am I embarrassed!  As I peeled off the baby blue plastic, there was my beautiful white Laundry set, with burgundy letters.  I tried to call poor Harold back, but he wasn’t accepting calls, I wonder why?

Do you ever make embarrassing mistakes and beat yourself up for the foolish error, I often do. I have had to confess my folly many times. In  Psalm 86:15 it says: “God is compassionate, gracious, and slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.” I love that God always hears my prayers and loves me, no matter my circumstances. ©

Thank you, dear friends, for spending your time with me. Have a wonderful weekend. HUGS,
Lovingly, Karan

Schooling the Teacher?

 

Schooling the Teacher?

A little girl was talking to her teacher about whales.

The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it was a very large mammal its throat was very small.

 The little girl stated that Jonah was swallowed by a whale.

 Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human; it was physically impossible.
 The little girl said, “When I get to heaven I will ask Jonah”.  The teacher asked, “What if Jonah went to hell?”
The little girl replied, “Then you ask him.”
Reflections:  

I have always loved people; their diverse cultures, colors, accents, and humor. Our humanity binds us together. We share times of laughter, brokenness, insecurity, and doubt.

I am so glad that God chose ordinary people of this world to show his great love and compassion. How many times have I felt the sting of Satan’s whispering lies; “That I am unworthy or not good enough to serve a Holy God.” Would I cover my face in shame and hide from the God who knows me best and still loves me?

Like Moses who spent 80 years trying to find meaning for his life, God brought him to a burning bush moment and gave him both meaning and purpose in serving him. I am so glad God can use ordinary, broken people to share His Good News and love to a broken and hurting world.

In 1 Corinthians 1:27 it says,

God purposely chose what the world considers nonsense in order to shame the wise,
                                                  and he chose what the world considers weak in order to shame the powerful.                                                     
Father, help me stand with open hands before you, submitting to your will. I want my ordinary life to be extraordinary for you.
Christ paid a price we could never pay, to give us a life we did not deserve.
We are truly loved.
Lovingly, Karan

 

Do you ever feel like you are too old, too broken or flawed to be usable to God?
Do you think it’s too late for you?
I would love to connect, let me hear your thoughts.

Freckles and Wrinkled Beauty

Freckles and Wrinkled Beauty

An elderly woman and her little grandson, whose face was sprinkled with bright freckles, spent the day at the zoo. Lots of children were waiting in line to get their cheeks painted by a local artist who was decorating them with tiger paws.

“You’ve got so many freckles, there’s no place to paint!” a girl in the line said to the little fella.

Embarrassed, the little boy dropped his head. His grandmother knelt down next to him. “I love your freckles. When I was a little girl I always wanted freckles, she said, while tracing her finger across the child’s cheek. “Freckles are beautiful!”

The boy looked up, “Really?”

“Of course,” said the grandmother. “Why, just name me one thing that is prettier than freckles.”

The little boy thought for a moment, peered intensely into his grandma’s face, and softly whispered, “Wrinkles.” ~ Author unknown

 

 

 

Where Are your Teeth? ~ 

Three hours past our planned departure time, my husband, Lyle, and I, along with our two teenage daughters, were finally pulling away from our southern Alberta home.  We were on our way to the State Fair in Great Falls, Montana, but the way our car was packed, it seemed like we were off on a world tour.       

I was looking forward to six days of rest.  No cooking, no early mornings, and plenty of my favorite hobby—retail therapy. We had a poolside room, and our girls were ready to find their swimsuits and head for the water.  However, my husband (the practical one) decided we would have a relaxing supper first before the swimming suits came out of the suitcases and everyone went in all different directions.          

After a delicious Mexican dinner, I hurried back to our room because I had something stuck under my upper partial plate. As I rushed into the powder room, I took out my “two front teeth” and laid them on a tissue next to the sink.   After I had brushed my teeth, I wiped off the counter, threw the paper and tissue into the toilet, and flushed.  

I turned around to get my teeth and put them back in, but they were nowhere in sight.  I ran around the hotel room crying, praying, and hoping that I would find those teeth, but in my heart, I knew they were gone—flushed—adios—good-bye.          

My family returned to find me flustered and crying.  They were concerned, but before I told them what happened to my poor teeth, I made each one promise not to laugh. It did not help one bit.  By the end of my story, they were rolling with laughter and asking to see my toothless smile, which only brought more uncontrolled laughter.   I decided right there my vacation was over.  

I wanted to go right home. I told my family I certainly could not be expected to spend the rest of the week without my two front teeth. “Oh yes you can,” my husband said.  “All you have to do is keep your mouth shut, and no one will know.” (Now why didn’t I think of that?)         

I spent the week more quietly than usual.  When I sometimes forgot myself or was carried away with the fun and laughter, my teenagers would lovingly point at their teeth to remind me that mine were still missing.   However, after the first few days, I forgot about my teeth and had a fun, memorable vacation.         

Just think of what we would have missed as a family if I had carried out my plan to go home because of pride and concern about how I looked. My daughter said we were making memories, and she was right.  Now that my daughters are grown women, we remember our vacation with great fondness. In Proverbs 11:2 (NIV)   It says,

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”

How often do we miss opportunities God plans for us because of our selfish pride?

Dear Father Forgive me for my selfish pride. Help me not to miss the good things in life you want to give me because I am thinking only of myself. Help me to put you first.  

Have you ever experienced vacation mishaps?

Thank you, dear friends, for spending your time with me.
Have a wonderful weekend. 

HUGS,
Lovingly, Karan