Articles

To Much Candy ~ The Grave Is Empty

 

To Much Candy

Marty, was in church on Easter Sunday with his mother, and after eating a lot of candy he started feeling sick.

‘Mummy,’ he inquired, ‘can we leave now?‘  ‘No,’ his mother replied, ‘the service isn’t over yet.’

‘Well, I think I’m about to throw up.’ Marty announced. 

‘Then go out of the front door and around to the back of the church and throw up behind a bush.’ said his mother.

After about sixty seconds, Marty returned to his pew, alongside his mother.

‘Did you throw up?’ Marty’s Mum asked quietly.

 ‘Yes,’ Marty answered, embarrassed. ‘How could you have gone all the way to the back of the church and returned so quickly?’ she demanded.

‘I didn’t have to go out of the church, Mummy. They have a box next to the front door that says, “For the Sick”.’ Author Unknown

 

 

 

 

Reflections:  The Grave Is Empty

Easter brought new life, the Grave is empty, and Jesus lives. I know that my hope and constant care come from Him. He loves me, forgave me and helps me. Darkness is gone, and life has a new meaning.

What a privilege to celebrate the Easter season, because of Jesus’ victory over sin and death we are now free.

Matthew 28:5-6

But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified He is not here; for He is risen, as He said

 The cross of Christ reveals man’s sin at its worst and God’s love at its best!

The Grave Is Empty, He Has Risen!

Happy Easter Dear Friends, Wishing you much love and blessings.

Thank you for stopping by and sharing your time with me.

Hugs!

Lovingly, Karan

Going Fishing ~ Just A Sing-in

Going Fishing

A little boy was going on a fishing expedition with his father, traveling from New Mexico to Colorado. 

Every fifty miles, the excited son asked his father if they were almost there.  The father answered that they had quite a distance to travel yet. So the son waited for a few more minutes and asked his father again.

“Sorry son, we have another hundred miles yet.”

After fifty more miles, the son asked, “Daddy, am I still going to be four years old when we get there?” Author unknown

 

 

 

 

Reflections: Just A Sing-in

Every time I hear a beautiful song I get teary-eyed, and I think about my own voice that is a little off-key.  I remember at one time Lyle, and I had been invited to sing for an evening event. I was so scared. 

My husband comes from a musical family and has a wonderful voice.  We practiced for weeks.  But when we stood on stage in front of all those people I froze, and couldn’t remember the words or even find my note. 

My dear husband tried to encourage after our song, but I knew it didn’t go well.  As we were leaving a woman rushed up to reassure me and said, “Well after you went up and down the scale a few times you finally found your note, I think it was OK.” So much for my singing career! LOL

Although I am not a singer, I do love to sing. I like to sing out loud, and I’m sure others wish I would stop. One Sunday at church many years ago as I was singing loud and proud, one of my daughters stood close to me and suggested that I might like to hum! But hey, the Bible says let us make a joyful noise, and I want to do my part.

They say, “Music washes from the soul the dust of everyday life.” I believe those words.

I’ve often said,” It’s a long way between my head and my heart.” When we don’t understand our circumstances and find ourselves in hard places, we often want to rely on our knowledge, experience, and know-how to make everything better. But in our hearts, we feel afraid, worried and confused.

There have been times in these last few years that my head knows all the Bible verses and promises from God’s word, as well as all the praise and worship songs. But my heart still says, why? Have you ever had those feelings??

I have found over the years when I listen to music it lifts my spirits. It is something that gives me energy and joy when I can turn up the volume and sing as loud as I want. I have found a car is a perfect place for my personal concert.

Psalm 13:6 (NLT)

I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me.

Being able to sing lifts my spirit and helps me to delight in the love and care of God.  Singing also reminds me there is no problem or circumstance that is too hard for Him.  When I am singing my heart and head are one and at peace with Him.

And like a small bird needing to fly and feel the wind lift me higher, I know God has placed a special song in my heart that I must sing to a hurting world… Jesus Loves You!  That is my song©

Thank you, dear friends, for spending your time with me. 

Has God given you a song to sing?

Have a great week, Hugs

Lovingly, Karan

 

 

 

LOL ~ Field Trip

“LOL”

John angrily looked at the text he had just received from his Mom.  It read: “Professor called to say you failed the course.  LOL.  Mom.

” How could he have failed?! … And all his Mom has to say is that she’s Laughing Out Loud?!  

Fed up, he texted his Mom: “What was up with the LOL?”  his text said.   “I just wanted to send you Lot’s Of Love because I know how disappointed you must be.”  Author unknown

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reflections: Field Trip

As I enjoyed watching the Olympics the last few weeks, the discipline and commitment that each Olympian strives to achieve are incredible.

Every time I see or hear about the Olympics, I think about my daughter who became intrigued with the swimmers. I would find her in the living room practicing the butterfly stroke with the swimmers on our shag carpet. Every day she came home after school to practice. And at night I would find water on the bathroom floor as she perfected her strokes.

We soon learned that she be going on a kindergarten school trip, the class was going to a swimming pool. The trip was a week away, and she couldn’t swim, no matter how much confidence she had.  We bought a new swimsuit for the occasion, but caution our daughter not to go into the deep end.

We tried to impress on her that swimming around the living room on a shag carpet or a breaststroke in the bathtub does not make her a swimmer.  But, she kept insisting that she knew how to swim, after all, she had practiced!

The day arrived, and Lyle took her to school and again cautioned her not to go into the deep end.  He got a smile, hug, and a wave as she headed for the bus and her friends.

We waited impatiently until the time arrives to pick her up, and Lyle raced down to the school to get her.

As she got into the truck, she was unusually quiet, so Lyle asked her how the day went. And with a surprised look on her face, she said,” I jumped into the deep end of the pool, and I almost drowned?” 

She was so convinced that she knew how to swim. After all, she learned the strokes and practiced with the best.  The only thing she was missing was the water!!!

Although we laugh at remembering this story, I wonder how many times do I think I know what’s best for me too?

Those times when I don’t want to bother God with my problems because he’s is too busy with others. However, when I try to fix them myself, I only make them worse.  I was so sure I knew how to do it.  I used God as my last resort when He should always be my first. Is it pride or stubbornness that keeps me from asking for His help? ©

Psalm 121:2-3 (NLT)

My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!

He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber.

 

Have a Fabulous Week! Hugs
Thank you, dear friends, for spending your time with me.
 I love you all and am praying. 
HUGS,
Lovingly, Karan

It’s My First Day ~ Oh No It’s Her

It’s My First Day!

A blonde was recently hired at an office. Her first task was to go out for coffee.

Eager to do well her first day on the job, she grabbed a large thermos and hurried to a nearby coffee shop.

She held up the thermos and the coffee shop worker quickly came over to take her order.

“Is this big enough to hold six cups of coffee?” the blonde asked.

The coffee shop worker looked at the thermos, hesitated a few seconds, then finally replied, “Yeah. It looks like about six cups to me.”

“Oh good!” the blonde sighed in relief. “I’ll have two regular, two black, and two decafs.” Unknown author

 

 

Reflections: Oh No It’s Her 

Being thankful seems like a hard place to be when life is complicated. Many times I have listened as people share a heavy load they carry and admired how they survive the storms of life with thankful hearts. They press on with a confident determination, always seeing a brighter future and moving forward.

There have been many times in my life when I have been heartbroken, disappointed and saddened by life lessons that are hard to understand. I am often reminded when we live our lives touching others we cannot always know the loads they carry or the loneliness they feel.

My husband Lyle had a doctors’ appointment awhile back, and I also required blood tests at the same clinic. I took a number for the lab as the room was full of patients. After an hour I checked with the lab technician to see if I had missed her call for number 23. With a short snip, she told me to sit down and would let me know when she needed me!

As I walked back to my seat I told my husband the technician was a bag and rude; I prayed she would not do my blood work. I sat there and steamed a little, not nice I know but it felt justified. Lol. Do you feel like that some days?

Finally, my number 23 is called, “Oh no it’s her, Mrs. Grumpy pants.”

I sat down and answered her relevant questions, where I lived, name, age and such. I smiled and tried to be nice, and thanked her for her time and effort. As I left she shocked me with a thank you for being so kind and considerate. She said it had been a rough day.

Boy did I feel guilty! How often do I need reminding, “Assumptions are shaky things to rely on: and situations are not always as they appear?”

I am so thankful that God has given me flashpoints in my life to remind me He is faithful to His love and promises. I may get upset, angry and emotional, but when I stand still and look up I know that God is always with me, and continues to love me. I am thankful every day He still teaches me new lessons about myself and others. Even when I fail He is not finished with me yet! ©

Nothing can separate us from God’s Love, What shall we say about such wonderful things as these?

If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Romans 8:31 (NLT)

Yes, I can be thankful, with God I know am never alone.

Thank you for dropping by and sharing your time with me.
Do you ever have doubts about God and his plans?

I would love to hear from you. Have a great week! Hugs to All!
Lovingly, Karan

Did You Call My Luggage Is FAT? ~ I Can Totally Make That

 “Did You Call My Luggage Is FAT?”

A woman called and asked, “Do airlines put your physical description on your bag so they know whose luggage belongs to who?”

I said, “No, why do you ask?” She replied, “Well, when I checked in with the airline, they put a tag on my luggage that said FAT, and I’m overweight, is there any connection?”

After putting her on hold for a minute while “I looked into it,” (I was actually laughing)

I came back and explained that the city code for Fresno is FAT and that the airline was just putting a destination tag on her luggage for her city of arrival. Author unknown

 

 

Don’t Worry, I told you I could fix it!

 

 

Reflections:  I Can Totally Make That!

How many times have you looked at the price of something and said, “I can make that for less” or skimmed an invite and missed all the facts because you assumed you knew what they were saying?

Guilty!  A few weeks ago a young lady from our town gave an open invitation on Facebook to join a homemade card exchange. I thought it would be fun, so I said, “I’m in”.  However, I missed one important word, “Exchange”.  I somehow thought we were going to have a class and learn how to make cards.  I had only made one card in my whole life when I was in England and it wasn’t my best artistic endeavor.

After I agreed to participate in creating a card, our hostess sent instructions as follows: Create 36 cards to include-  6 wedding cards, 6 baby or sympathy cards and 24 birthday cards with directions to hand them to her at the end of the month. 

I finally confessed my predicament to my daughter and considered backing out of the card exchange. But my daughter gave me a pep-talk and encouraged me to press on, besides she had some scrapbooking supplies that I could use.  So I thought “how hard can it be?” I’ll take a day and whip them all together, however the first day I only made one.  And I must say it was not beautiful.

After another week and a half, I had a grand total of 23 cards. I didn’t know how to work the stamps without getting ink all over me. So I made my Best Wishes, Thinking of you and Congratulations on the computer and printed them out to put on the cards.  I was feeling pretty good about my creativity.

Then on Facebook, some of the other creative ladies posted some of their beautiful creations, and I was really discouraged.  My beauties looked like kindergarten through 5th-grade specials. But I persevered.

As I finished my 36 cards and turned them in, I decided I need to slow down and read ALL the words before making decisions stop jumping to conclusions

I wonder how God feels when I take off in all directions without checking what His plans are for me each day. Am I so self-sufficient that I don’t need his daily help? Do I make my plans and expect God to approve them

In Jeremiah 29:11, God gives me a hope-filled future, even with all my mistakes and blunders.©

 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

To realize God’s plans for me are far greater and more astonishing than anything I could even imagine for myself is humbling. He truly is my safe and secure place, and best of all I know he loves me.

Thank you, dear friends, for spending your time with me. Do you ever have days where you have made silly mistakes?
Live, Love, and Sparkle today!
HUGS,
Lovingly, Karan