Articles

Are You Coming or Going?

Are You Coming or Going?

boyMother asked four-year-old Brandon to pick up his toys in his bedroom. There would be company tonight, and his friend Chad would be coming too. 

A while later mother checked on Brandon and found him sitting on the bed with a troubled look on his face.

He asked his mother, is it was true that when people die they turn to dust?

Yes, Mother said.

Brandon continued, then is it true that God made people out of dust?  

Again mother said, Yes.  Why do you ask?

Well, said Brandon when I looked under the bed, there was a lot of dust. I think there is someone either coming or going under there. Author unknown

 

clip_image001.gif

antie-acid-53

dotted-lines

 

Reflections:  Are you too busy?

A praying child one evening said; Dear God, I hope you’ll also take care of yourself if anything happens to you; we’d be in an awful fix…

child-prayingI’m sure we all feel like that these days, when the world is in so much turmoil, and distress.

I have struggled for years trying to have a consistent prayer life that seems so often to be more hit and miss, than anything else.

  • I have felt guilty, that I did not pray enough, or long enough.
  • I have felt not good enough, why would God listen to me, I have failed him so often.
  • I don’t have enough time; I know and have been told that you have to spend hours in a quiet place, (I have family, work, I don’t have time to hardly sit down, and when I do I fall asleep.)
  • We all know that the only time to pray is early in the morning,

an author told me. (I’m not an early bird, I just stare at my open bible, then fall asleep) then for sure I will feel guiltier.

Then discouraged I give up, God why did you make me like this? I can’t even stay awake in the morning for prayer, I must be your worst child, One who doesn’t deserve your constant, eternal, forgiving love and graciousness.

I spent money on seminars and books that would help me to try and get it right, so many formulas and how it should be done. But it never was personal to me until I heard a story about the mother of John & Charles Wesley, Susanna who raised 19 children and still had time to pray.

With a busy family, Susanna found it difficult to find quiet time to pray. Her life was hard, but she realized the importance of praying for her family.  The children soon learned that any time of the day when their mother had her apron flipped up over her head that she was praying. So they quietly left the room leaving her disturbed.

I love this story about Susanna Wesley, it has taught me that it doesn’t matter where you pray or when.  I just need to talk to God like a dear friend, anytime or anyplace, he is only a prayer away.  Have you struggled with finding the right time or place to pray? ©

” We are put on this earth, not to see through one another,
But to see one another through.”

Smile, God Love You

 

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

Hugs to all.

Lovingly, Karan

Didn’t You See the Stop Lights ?

Didn’t You See the Stop Lights ?
   
For years Shelly’s husband denied that he was an aggressive driver. That changed one day when they were out for a drive with their three-year-old son, Mathew.

Seeing teaching opportunity, mom asked Matthew about traffic lights.

“What does astoplights red light mean? Shelly inquired.     “Stop”.

“Good. How about green?”    “Go”.

“And yellow?”  she continued.

And in his best deep voice impression of Daddy, Mathew bellowed…”Hang on!”

 

clip_image001.gif

minion600

dotted-lines

 

Reflections:  I’m Not Lost!

Have you ever wondered why men and women are so different in taking and giving directions?

If a man gives directions, it goes like this; Go three miles, turn left, go seven miles, turn right, then go a quarter of a mile and you will see it on your right, you can’t miss it!  Now I am blonde and a creative thinker is there a three-mile sign, how will I know?  With these directions I could end up in someone’s cow pasture, never to be seen again.

I drive by landmarks, go to Target, turn left, go down to the Burger King, and turn right.  Drive to Sears, and turn into parking lot, the place is right next to the shoe store that is having a huge sale, 70% off.  You can’t miss it. (Now that is my kind of directions)

Thankfully, we decided to get a GPS for the car, saves Lyle and I a lot of time, him from driving all over the country trying to find an address, and me from getting lost.  However, in my creative moments, I have been known, to second guess the GPS system, and go a different way because it didn’t look right to me.  Only to get lost, have the satellite locate and get me back on track.

It gives me great security and peace in my life to know that I am never off of God’s GPS system.  He always knows where I am, and even if I wander off, he has his eye on me.  The bible says:

Psalm 139: 1-3

O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.
You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do.

His loving care sustains, guides, and protects me; I just need to follow his directions. ©

Thank you, dear friends for spending your time with me, I would love to hear from you.

Have a wonderful weekend.
Hugs to all.

Lovingly, Karan

 

He’s Wired for Sound!

 tangled-up-in-wires-and-cablesHe’s Wired for Sound!

The preacher was wired for sound with a lapel microphone, and as he preached, he moved briskly about the platform, jerking the mike cord as he went.

Then he moved to one side, getting wound up in the cord and nearly  tripping before jerking it again.

After several more times moving back and forth, a little girl in the third pew leaned toward her mother and whispered, “If he gets loose, will he hurt us?’

dotted-lines

frog 5

dotted-lines

Reflections:

They say “laughter is the best medicine for a hurting heart.”  I believe it.  As a child when life happened I could always see the funny side of any circumstance. Maybe it was a way to hide my anxiety and hesitation. Growing up I was unsure how to respond to stressful situations, so I just laughed.  And sometimes I would get in trouble for the inappropriate times I did laugh!  Can you relate? But I learned if I could find humor and laughter, it would relieve stresses and give me joy in a crisis-driven world.

laughing10Many years ago I was guest speaking for a group of women, in northern Canada.  The weather was warm enough to wear a skirt that day.  It was a little big around, but the button seemed secure. Besides, it was a cute skirt and matched my suit jacket. What can I say? 

As I was in the middle of my presentation, the button fell off, and I caught my skirt as it was sliding down. Trying to act as normal as I could I kept talking, grabbed my skirt and tucked it into my slip elastic. Whew! I am so glad I decided to wear a slip that day; it could have been just a pantyhose day.  I am also thankful for the women at the head table beside me, who remained stoic during my presentation, they can surely say they have seen it all.

I believe God has a great sense of humor. He must laugh when he sees us scurrying around trying to fix all our problems. Only too soon we reach the befuddling, confused and worn out state of crises.  I often do that myself.

Many times I think I don’t want to bother God with the little stuff he is too busy. I can be his deputy shepherd, and help him by taking care of them myself. Only to make a bigger mess. Only to run the back to God so he can fix it quick. Do you do that too?  I love that He never refuses and always has plenty of grace, forgiveness, and love to fix that which in broken.  The Bible says;

You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.       

 Nehemiah 9:17 

God is our refuge and strength, and ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

Thank you, dear friends for spending your time with me, let me know what you think.

 Have a wonderful weekend.
Hugs to all.

Lovingly, Karan

Did You Get The Video?

 

Did You Get The Video?

bukks 4One of my grandsons has decided to take up bull riding as an occupation, which makes my hair stand on end. Last year when my grandson began riding bulls, I went to a few rodeos so I could be an encouragement and make videos of the ride. Because the arena had no light and delays in the program, I pointed my camera at the noise and prayed I could get a picture, no luck. Just a black video and loud yelling.

Three days later I was at another rodeo with him.  Sitting and waiting for the bull riders to start, I noticed the bulls were a lot wilder than the previous day before.  They were meaner with longer horns. I began to get nervous about him riding; the other cowboys I thought were a lot more experienced.  And they were not having much luck on the bulls either.

As I was sitting in the stands as a grandmother knowing how dangerous this sport can be.  I felt almost compelled to go racing back around the rodeo chutes, and grab him by the ear and drag him off to safety. Now can you see the look on all the cowboys faces to see short blonde hair lady dragging a 6’2” man off to the car? Scolding him about the dangers of life in the rodeo arena?  No wonder I am going white!

Alas, I got a grip on myself. I sat waiting for him to ride his bull, prepared to take the video as any loving grandmother would do. However inside I was a wreck. Do you know how long 8 seconds is when you are trying to stay on a bull named demon?  For me, those 8 seconds took a lifetime.

However, I didn’t let my emotions get the best of me, and I didn’t embarrass my grandson, family or myself. Thankfully, common sense took over.  But I will admit at my grandma moment I wasn’t thinking about how anyone else felt, I just wanted him to be safe.

I wonder if God ever looks at us the same ways as we precariously walk through life, going our own way.  Or if he ever feels like grabbing us by our ears trying to get our attention, so he can show us a better way or show something important.

Sometimes I get in such a hurry I can run in the wrong direction, forgetting to ask God what his plans are for me. I love this verse in

Isaiah 41: 9b & 10 I read this morning, which is one of God’s promises for each of us to hold on too.

For I have chosen YOU, and will not throw you away. Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you

God is always watching over us, wanting to love, help and care for each one. Can we ask for anything more? ©

Do you ever think God feels like grabbing us by our ears trying to get our attention?

 

dotted-lines

23fafa59f4f737f5dd223b12539666da

dotted-lines

 

Love, Whatever

barn
Once, while riding in the country, I saw a farmer’s barn with a weather vane on top. And on the arrow was inscribed these words: “God Is
Love.”


I turned in at the gate and asked the farmer, “What do you mean by that?

Do you think God’s love is changeable; that it veers about as that arrow turns in the winds?” 

The farmer said, “Oh, no! I mean that whichever way the wind blows, God is still love.”

© Charles H. Spurgeon

dotted-lines

 Hugs to all.

*************************

Thank you, dear friend’s for spending your time with me, Hugs

Lovingly, Karan

Do You Know the Senior Citizen Texting Codes

 

Do You Know the  Senior Citizen Texting Codes

man4ATD – At The Doctors
BFF – Best Friend Fell
BTW – Bring The Wheelchair

BYOT – Bring Your Own Teeth
FWIW – Forgot Where I Was
GGPBL – Gotta Go Pacemaker Battery Low

GHA – Got Heartburn Again
IMMO – Is My Hearing-Aid On
LMDO – Laughing My Dentures Out

OMMR – On My Massage Recliner
ROFLACGU – Rolling On Floor Laughing and Can’t Get Up
TTYL – Talk To You Louder……..Author unknown

clip_image001.gif

Stress-ZebraStripes

dotted-lines

 

Reflections:

I am constantly aware that the world we live in seems out of control, and demanding of our time. With extra pressure at home, with our children, our social and work obligations, It is no wonder we have a lot of stress in our lives. We need to find ways to de-stress, and find strength and calm in the midst of all the chaos. I love that verse in the Bible that says,

“For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need.”

Philippians 4:13, NLB

It gives me great comfort to know that God’s telephone line is never busy, he will never put me on hold, and He does not have an answering service or voice mail. He takes all my calls quickly and personally.

There have also been times when he has not answered me right away, and sometimes he has even said no. I also recognize there will be times in my life when I will never know all the answers. Those are the why questions, the one’s I don’t understand.

I think one day when I get to heaven all those unanswered prayers will not matter. I will know the why’s as God shows me how he protected me from my plans and wishes.

Can I love him and trust him enough to accept the answers He gives me?©

Do you get discouraged when you have unanswered prays like I do sometimes?

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

Hugs to all.

Lovingly, Karan