Kara's Soft Words

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Let It Go {One Year of Freedom}

"...let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us." - Hebrews 12:1 (KJV) **If you don't get anything else out of this post, I pray that you realize. . . you really can do all things through Christ - especially when your desire is to please Him! He will strengthen you to walk uprightly before Him.** ---------- Believe me when I say. . . Knowing what you need to do is very different from actually doing it. Sometimes it is difficult to do what we know is right. That's where I found myself, in November and December of 2022. Let me take you back. . . As a single woman (just in case anybody needs clarification 😉), I was opening myself up to meeting guys and getting to know them when I crossed paths with Royal . Initially, we seemed to have quite a few things in common: faith, a desire to serve our communities, a strong love for our families, and. . . a way with words. (*insert face

Hydrangea Revelations

A few months ago, I brought home a hydrangea bush. Now. . . don't be deceived or confused. I do NOT claim to have a green thumb.🤣 However, I'm proud to say that I've managed not to completely kill the entire thing. This plant has honestly brought a couple of lessons or revelations to the forefront of my mind. . . A good while ago, I completely fell off of any sort of watering schedule. One night, I walked into my living room and every leap was drooping. The plant just looked sad! My immediate thought was to throw the whole thing away. Instead, I thought again. . . I decided to water it & see what would happen in the morning. The next day, I walked out and it looked new! Everything was upright! Job 14:7-9 came to mind. . . "At least there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail. Its roots may grow old in the ground and its stump die in the soil, yet at the scent of water, it will bud and put forth shoots lik

Ye Have Not. . .

(After posting this on social media, someone asked me to make it an actual blog post, so here we are...Y'all are getting the emojis and everything! LOL!) Receiving this gift both encouraged and challenged me . 🙏😅 A few weeks ago, my boss brought this painting to our building & from that first day, it caught my attention. It literally sat near my desk- for weeks. I kept admiring it but never really told anyone how much I liked it.🙃 Last Thursday, she was rearranging our workspace & at the end of the day, she asked, "Does anybody want this???"👀 Clearly, you see what happened.🤣 It hit me though. . . I was GIVEN this painting- simply because I expressed my desire for it.😲 The Bible mentions the importance of making our requests known to God- numerous times. We read that "we have not because we ask not" and "while we're calling, God is answering. . ." but do realize the gravity of the truth in His Word??? Sometimes we really do have to SAY

The Unexpected Temptation

I know. . . It's been time for me to write something new.🙈 However, coming across this video from Jackie Hill Perry to prompted me to actually get this post out. One line pierced my heart. "When you have a gift that involves words, one of the ways the enemy will tempt you is to be silent." Wow! I hone stly think silence is one of the last things that comes to mind when people think of temptation. According to Oxford Languages, the definition of temptation is the desire to do something, especially something wrong or unwise. I can hear someone asking, "How can silence be wrong or unwise?" Oh. . . Hold on for just a minute and it will come together. There are times when our obedience [to speak] may be the key to someone else's blessing . Your words and actions could essentially provide healing for your brother or sister in Christ! In the book of Revelation, we read, "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony..

34 {It Keeps Happening}

**Disclaimer: I wrote this letter to myself but I hope that as you read it, you’re encouraged and inspired to reflect on your own life… Give yourself credit for the progress you’ve made (or give yourself permission to dream again). See how far you’ve come & be grateful for all that God has done for you!🙏🏾💛 Dear Kara, I know I don’t say it enough. . . Please know that I truly am proud of you! You’ve made *obeying God* your life’s goal & you are experiencing the manifestation of His faithfulness. Almost 3 years ago, you moved to Texas with only a large suitcase, a duffel bag, and a backpack! You didn’t have a job or place to live but you came and made the best out of your circumstances… You literally moved by faith! God opened doors, made ways, and continues to show Himself strong, in your life! You have certainly faced hard times & disappointments but you are still here! Just in the last year, situations arose and made you question your value. However, you were reminded

Father Knows Best

I was surprised and confused. I was sitting in church (last August) when the announcement was made that my father would be preaching for the upcoming Friday night's service. I got home, called my parents, and they laughed as they confirmed what I'd heard. Almost a year after leaving Maryland, I was finally going to be able to see my brother and father- in person! I was definitely looking forward to it! At the time, I was still working at a pizza restaurant and thankfully, the only day I'd actually requested off was the exact day that they would be free to hang out. (I was basically working- every single day.😓) I proceeded to get on my family's nerves. I was trying to figure out what time Dad & Phillip would arrive in Texas, what airline they were traveling with, the airport they were flying into. . . everything! Nobody was giving me the details😔 but I did get a text when they got settled in their hotel room. On Thursday, we met up for dinner. They picked me up