Articles

Is It Time?

Is my time up?

A midemergencydle-aged woman was having a heart attack and taken to the hospital. While on the operating table she had a near death experience. Seeing God she asked, “is my time up?” God said, “No, you have another 43 years, 2 months and 8 days to live.”

After her recovery, she decided to stay in the hospital and have a face-lift, liposuction, and a tummy tuck. She even had her hairdresser come in and change her hair color. Since she had so much more time to live, she figured she might as well make the most of it. 

After her last procedure, she was released from the hospital. While crossing the street in front of the hospital, she was ran over by an ambulance and killed.

Arriving in heaven front of God, she demanded, “I thought you said I had another 40 years? Why didn’t you rescue me from the path of the ambulance?” (You’re going to love this!!!)  God replied, “I didn’t recognize you.”  Author unknown

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Thongs

I still call my sandals thongs which really confuses my granddaughters, Lol  

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Occasionally I even toyed with the idea of a major overhaul, from top to bottom.  You know the kind, where they pull everything up, starting at the knees.  (Somehow the image of my navel in the middle of my forehead, has kept me taking the final step)

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I think God has a sense of humor too; after all, He made us.  Have you ever stood naked in front of a mirror and quoted Psalm 139: 14a I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made” Personally, I have not been able to get past the fearful!

Our confidence comes from knowing that God made us in his image, he knew what we would look like before we were ever born and loved us anyway.   

The Bible says: Psalm 139: 13-16a (NLT)

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.  Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!

Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born.

What wonderful security of knowing that I God knew all about me before I was even born, and loved me from the very start. I love that about God!

*** Thank you dear friends for sharing your time with me, I count it a privilege to connect with each one of you.  Thank you for your prayers and notes.  Much Love and Hugs.

Lovingly, Karan         

 

Fifty Shades of Brokenness?

Fifty Shades of Brokenness?

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Valentine’s Day is a day set aside for remembering the ones we love, honor and respect. A day of flowers, chocolates, cards and sharing the special joys of serving and putting others in your life first.

This year however, it will be remembered as the opening day of “Fifty Shades of Grey”; a movie and book that glorifies sexual perversion, abuse, pornography and lust.  And it’s alright when your consenting adults, no matter what the age.

I’m sure the Valentine’s Day opening date must have been a joke, because nothing about it has anything to do with love, kindness and respect. I am saddened to hear of the huge openings as people rush to see the movie lured by tantalizing advertisements, curiosity or secret interests. 

Although I have not seen the movie and have chosen not to read the book, I have read a lot about it from people who have. My dear friend Heather Mertens has written extensively about the perils of the book and movie.  At first I was concerned for her and worried that is was the wrong subject choice. But she has kept it up to some peoples’ dismay and I applaud her boldness and faithfulness to sound the alarm.  

For years I have traveled and talked with women whose lives have been broken and devastated by some form of perversion, pornography or abuse in their homes. Behind closed doors they silently keep the secret that is slowly destroying their families, home and children’s life.  These people live the real heartbreak, lives that this book and film praises and challenges us to accept as normal. 

I hear the stories of the brokenness and devastation that continues to affect their lives. There are no Valentine kisses or the joy of knowing you are loved because you are special. There is only the cruel imagination of someone who uses you as an object, instead of valuing and loving you as a precious gift.  

Have we become complacent and numb to the world we live in that immorality and evil is now acceptable?  Is it easier not to say anything and pretend it’s not happening? Are we to fill our hearts and minds with thoughts and images that deaden our senses and moral integrity?

 In Proverbs 4:23 (NIV) it says:

Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.

 I know this is a heavy subject and I wanted to share my heart with you.  I finally decided to stand up and say ENOUGH!  I’m not going to keep SILENT!  

Thank you for sharing your time with me, I love you!

Lovingly, Karan

***Discussion: I do value your opinion, please let me what you think. Please pass along.   

  I love hearing from you. Hugs

July Newsletter: Everyone Has Blonde Days

I was off to England for a wedding a few weeks ago, thought I would share my diet with you.  Trying to do a major diet before an important occasion can be real Stressful as many of you know, especially if you need a dress!

The Stress Diet 

This  diet is designed to help you cope with the stress that builds up during the day. 
Instructions for Stress Diet

BREAKFAST: 
1/2 grapefruit 
1 slice whole wheat toast 
8 oz. skim milk

LUNCH: 
4 oz. lean broiled chicken breast 
1 cup steamed spinach 
1 cup herb tea 
1 Oreo cookie

MID-AFTERNOON SNACK: 
The rest of Oreos in the package 
2 pints Rocky Road ice cream, nuts, cherries and whipped cream 
1 jar hot fudge sauce

DINNER: 
2 loaves garlic bread 
4 cans or 1 large pitcher Coke 
1 large sausage, mushroom and cheese pizza 
3 Snickers bars

LATE EVENING NEWS: 
Entire frozen Sara Lee cheesecake (eaten directly from freezer) 

RULES FOR THIS DIET:

1. If you eat something and no one sees you eat it, it has no calories. 
2. If you drink a diet soda with a candy bar, the diet soda cancels out the calories in the candy bar. 
3. When you eat with someone else, calories don’t count if you do not eat more than they do. 
4. Food used for medicinal purposes NEVER counts, such as hot chocolate, brand

Loving our Shape, Nobody is Perfect # 4

inverted triangleInverted Triangle Shape:

These fabulous women have an Inverted-Triangle shape:

Angelina Jolie, Demi Moore, Jessica Alba, Renee’ Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Charlize Theron and Cindy Crawford

  • Do you have wider shoulders than your hips?
  • Do you wear larger top sizes than on your bottom?
  • Is your waist less defined?
  • Are your hips narrower tend to have a flat bottom?
  • Do you have slim legs and thighs

Then you are an Inverted Triangle

Your goal is to create an illusion of the perfect hourglass body shape by balancing your lower body to your upper body

What to wear..

Trauma in the dressing room!

A changeroom in a department store

My self-image has always been a little distorted, so shopping for a bathing suit is a traumatic experience for me.  I have spent extended lengths of times in the “chamber of horrors” (the fitting room) only to leave in tears, because I could not find anything that looked right.  I would leave wishing I was taller, thinner, had a flatter stomach and no muffin top around my waist.

Occasionally I even toyed with the idea of a major overhaul, from top to bottom.  You know the kind, where they pull everything up, starting at the knees.  (Somehow the image of my navel in the middle of my forehead, has kept me taking the last step)

Do I put more emphases on what others think of me, instead of caring how God sees me?  I think God must have a sense of humor, after all he made us.

Have you ever stood naked in front of a mirror and quoted Psalm 139: 14a, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Personally, I have not been able to get past the fearful!

Our confidence comes from knowing that God made us in his image, he knew what we would look like before we were ever born and loved us anyway.

When he looks at us we are perfect in his eyes, he thinks each one is of us is unique and special. ©

Lovingly, Karan

When you step into the dressing room does your self-image take a nose dive?  Would you rather avoid dressing rooms? I would love to hear your comments.