Life

Biding Time …

Karen

Actually, I’m not. Time is definitely not something I have a lot of nowadays.

Right now, right this very minute, I’m sitting here waiting for my in-laws to show up at our house. We’re getting ready to drive to Broken Arrow, Oklahoma for the second of four out-of-town marching band competitions. We went to Tulsa last weekend and I still need to write about that one. And I will. As soon as I catch my breath.

I’m a little worried about the weather. If you read this any time soon, check out radar – see that wicked looking line of storms right smack dab in the middle of the country? Yeah – we’ll be under that tonight if it stays on its current course. HOPEFULLY the rain will hold off until our kids can perform. It would be a BUMMER to travel all the way there only for them to be rained out and have to come home without strutting their stuff.

And their stuff is worth strutting, let me tell ya.

I promise I’ll write more about the competitions soon. I also have some pictures to show you. I plan on sleeping, catching up on household chores and blogging a bit tomorrow. Kevin and I went grocery shopping last night so if all goes according to plan, we won’t even have to leave the house at all tomorrow.

I need the down time.

Work has been great. I’m not just saying that. I LOVE what I do and I REALLY like the gals I work with. We’re all gelling and I feel like I fit in. Even though I still don’t know what the hell I’m doing most of the time, the pieces of the puzzle are finally starting to fall into place – I learn a little bit more with each patient I help.

I also promise to write more about my job, or as much as I CAN write about, but suffice it to say, it keeps me super busy and I’m so focused all day long that by the time I go home, my mental coffers are completely empty.

I mentioned I wanted to participate in NaNoWriMo next month? Yeah. About that. I honestly don’t think it’s going to happen. Not only do I NOT have any energy left over when I get off work, one of the gals I work with is planning on taking a vacation around Thanksgiving, which means me and the three OTHER girls I work with will be picking up the slack and OMG, it’s busy enough with four girls, it’s going to be INSANE with just three.

And did I mention I’m still maintaining nine school websites? That means I come home to a MINIMUM of 15 emails every night that need to be taken care of.

At any rate. I’m alive. I’m well. And I’m having more fun than I’ve had in quite some time. I honestly love being busy and I’ll get a handle on this new pace soon.

Right now? I’m treading water and wearing nothing but a huge grin on my face.

How’s that for a visual?

Abundant Life

Audio Teaching: Our Guarantee of Salvation

Karen

by John Schoenheit
For centuries, a debate has raged in Christendom as to whether or not a Christian can lose his salvation. In this teaching, John Schoenheit examines scriptures from the Old Testament, Gospels, and the Epistles to the Christian Church, showing that from the moment one is born again of God’s spirit, he has the absolute guarantee of salvation. There is no way a Christian can become “unsaved.” John thoroughly covers the subject by examining verses concerning such things as the new birth, spiritual seed, the new nature, being a new creation, being sealed by God, being a citizen of heaven, being a part of the Body of Christ, and more.

Click the arrow to listen.

Related Topic

Check out Truth or Tradition teachings on:

Facebook
Twitter
MySpace
YouTube
iTunes
Amazon

Work Stuff

I Want to Write Something

Karen

I mean to write something.

But I’m just so wiped out that I can’t bear to think anymore.

This new pace both excites me and exacerbates me.

On the one hand, I’m using my brain again. YES. I can’t tell you how GOOD that feels. I’m making enough money to feed my family. We’re saving money by putting everyone on my health insurance. It’s so wonderful to be around people again (now there’s a sentence I never thought I’d say) and I love the feeling of accomplishment as I leave work every day.

But on the other hand, I have no time – zero. I drop Jazz off at school, come home, pack my lunch, go to work, have just enough time to eat lunch (we’re THAT busy all the time), come home, scarf down dinner, run Jazz to his band rehearsal, run to the office supply store and buy some fun/funky stuff to help me organize my notes and hopefully make my job easier, come home, answer emails (I had 15 today) and then? Then? I’m done. I can’t think anymore. I don’t WANT to think anymore. All I want to do is veg in front of my computer (because I stream Netflix through my computer) and watch some mindless TV series that doesn’t require anything more than a click of my mouse.

And I miss my family.

I’ve been using my brain so much these past few weeks I smell that musty smell whenever you turn your heater on for the first time in the winter.

There are so many thoughts, so many emotions I would love to share with you, but I’m simply too tired to first process them and then regurgitate them. It takes too much energy.

But you know me, I can’t stay away for too long. I will soon get used to this new life and then I will be back to cram my thoughts, opinions and beliefs down your throat.

I know. I’m charming, aren’t I. Don’t even pretend you don’t miss me.

Abundant Life

Teaching: Facing Trials with Joy

Karen

Every Sunday I provide videos and valuable links to the Truth or Tradition teachings. We’ve been following the Truth or Tradition teachings for many years now and they have truly blessed our family. We have found peace and happiness through our beliefs and we walk confidently for God. My hope, by passing on this information to you, is that what you find here, or on the Truth or Tradition website, will guide you to a better, more blessed and abundant life.

If you would like to read my views on religion and how we got started with the ministry, you can read this.

Let’s get started:

Do you have a serious problem? Is there a difficult circumstance in your life that is causing you to lose sleep? If so, take a moment to smile and be glad about it. Okay, so you think that’s weird. Well, take a look at this:

James 1:2
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

I just said, “smile and be glad”! God says to “consider it pure joy”!!!!

Over the years and many trials of many kinds, I’ve realized that the “worry myself sick” approach or the “if I would have…,” beat myself up approach are both fruitless. Actually, the word “torture” best describes them. On the other hand, I have found that asking “why” can be beneficial to a certain degree, usually to learn from a mistake. But to stay in the “whys,” spending hours thinking and rethinking why you are experiencing this trial can also waste precious time and be, well, more torture. Besides, a good portion of our trials are due to the fact that we are in a spiritual battle and we have an Adversary who wants to see a big “L” looming over us, “L for Loser”!

Here’s a thought. If you’re the analyzing type (or even if you’re not), think about why we should “count it pure joy.” In 2 Corinthians 12:10a, Paul said: “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties….” By the way, do any of those words describe your problem? It’s obvious that there is a reason why we should and can “delight” or “consider it pure joy” when we face a trial.

So let’s start in James 1:3, which begins with the word that usually starts off the answer for all “why” questions: “because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” The next verse tells us why it is so important to persevere during a trial: “Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Surely you do not want to be immature, incomplete, and always lacking something, so consider it pure joy when you face difficult circumstances, because persevering through them is causing you to become the person you truly want to be! Perseverance, doing what is right even when it’s hard, produces character (Rom. 5:3 and 4.) Every person of great character persevered! The opposite of perseverance is to give in and well, sin (lie, cheat, rage, slander, stay bitter, sulk… I could go on and on!).

The next verse is extremely helpful.

James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Trials come in many shapes and sizes, and wisdom is a key ingredient for standing strong in your tribulation. Much of what we are to do during a trial is clearly written in the pages of God’s Word. Sometimes, though, we need specific instructions, so ask God, and He will tell you “without finding fault,” even if our foolishness got us in the predicament we are in! Isn’t that wonderful?

There is another reason to delight while in a trial.

2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you. For my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

Who would not want to see Jesus Christ help them take care of their problem? Our Lord’s grace is sufficient for us, no matter how difficult our situation is. His help is always enough to get us through. The best part is watching him do it!

A couple of years ago I started a journal called, “Grace Abounds,” which is a record of events that took place because of God’s grace, such as answers to prayers and the unusual ways they came to pass. Besides delighting in seeing what He does in circumstances that I am powerless to make right, I love recording the praise report! As I write, I usually notice even more details that could have been only through divine intervention. This has helped me “…boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses….” Now when a challenge comes my way, I think about the joy I will have recording how the grace of my Lord got me through.

So when difficulties come your way, smile, be glad, count it pure joy, and be determined to persevere, to do what’s right. Remember you are not alone, for Jesus Christ’s power is available to you. Ask for help; his grace is sufficient to get you through. You can rejoice because as you persevere, you are preparing for a great praise report

If you have any questions, or would like to learn more about God’s wonderful message, please visit the Truth or Tradition website. You can also keep track of the ministry through their Facebook page, their YouTube Channel, or follow them on Twitter.

Thanks for reading.

(Comments have been turned off. The information is here to inform and bless you. God granted you the gift of free will – take it or leave it).

More from Write From Karen

Abundant Life

Audio Teaching: Stand, Even When You Do Not Understand

Karen

by Joshua Anderson
Life often brings trials and tragedies that we just do not understand. Too often, Christians facing such adversity lose their excitement for God, and their commitment to Christianity weakens. Many stop going to church or fellowship, stop praying, stop reading the Bible, and become negative about God and life in general.

The Bible is clear that things will happen that we do not understand, but we never abandon what we do understand in the face of what we don’t understand. God’s Word directs us to stand on what we know, no matter what is going on around us. Joshua Anderson takes us into the lives of some of the great people in the Bible who lived through difficult times, showing that despite great trials, we can stand for God, even when we do not understand everything about the situation.

Click the arrow to listen.

Related Article

Check out Truth or Tradition teachings on:

Facebook
Twitter
MySpace
YouTube
iTunes
Amazon

VideoPlay, Work Stuff

Job Diary – Video #1

Karen

Tuesday evening:

I just crashed. I was working along, catching up on emails and suddenly, I just couldn’t keep my eyes open. I had to lay down for an hour. I’m up now because I have to pick Jazz up from practice, but when I get back home, I’m going straight to bed. I think this new job thing is starting to catch up with me.

******

Jazz had an orthodontist appointment yesterday. He had been instructed to wear some rubber bands on two of his teeth for the past six months. I remember asking him, right after his last appointment, if he knew where he was supposed to wear those rubber bands.

“Yeah mom,” he said with a touch of impatience in his voice.

Well. Come to find out, he was wearing them on the wrong teeth. SO the kid now gets to wear rubber bands for an additional six weeks on the RIGHT teeth.

Good grief.

BUT. They told Kevin (because Kevin had to take him because he’s Mr. Mom now), that they’re thinking they should have a better idea of when they will come off by the next visit. Jazz will have had his braces for two years in November (which – how is that freaking possible?!?) so I imagine we’re getting close to having them taken off.

IF he will follow directions this time.

Grr.

******

Dude applied for a few more jobs today. Kevin has started looking at the applications that he’s submitting and yep, sure enough, he had been putting his availability as 9:00 to 5:00 Monday through Friday.

hahahahahahaha … as IF.

So, we proceeded to give Dude a taste of reality and tell him that it’s HIGHLY UNLIKELY he’ll land a job working 9:00 to 5:00 his very first time. I mean, it could happen, but it’s not very likely. Most likely, he’ll have to take evenings and certainly work the weekends, at least, at first.

So he’s still looking.

******

Jazz’s band is performing at a football Friday night. I’m excited to go because the band will be in full uniform (complete with plumes) AND the color guard girls should be in their costumes, too. Which means we’ll get to see what they have in store for competitions this year.

And speaking of competitions …

Jazz’s first band competition is this Saturday. We’ll drive down to Tulsa, watch them perform at 3:30 in the afternoone and IF they make finals (they’re going to make finals because I’m going to remain optimistic), then we’ll stick around and see how they do in finals. Which means we won’t get back home until about 3:00 in the morning.

Guess what we’re doing on Sunday?

SLEEPING.