Kara's Soft Words

"Lord, I hear of showers of blessings Thou art scattering full and free Showers the thirsty souls refreshing Let some drops now fall on me. . . Bless me Protect me Direct me Even me, Lord" {Even Me - Yolanda Adams} "What are you asking for- [right] now?"  My close girlfriend posed the question and I was speechless. "What do you mean?" I asked. We were discussing life and I told her that I was feeling behind. . . that I needed to make progress in order to feel more stable in some areas. "You've already accomplished so much- in a year!" It was hard for me to hear this because I just wasn't seeing it that way, at the moment. She began to list things I had done and I slowly saw the light (lol). She was saying that if I felt like I still wanted or needed things, I should consider what I was asking for. I told her that I didn't know where to start. She caught me off-guard when she said that she wanted to share a scripture with me. It was  J...

{From the February 2015 issue of Women's Elevation Magazine} *This piece was inspired by Kara’s blog post- “Lessons from Strangers (Part 1). . . You’re Beautiful!” * Okay ladies! It’s that time of year. We’re seeing chocolate and flowers EVERYWHERE . . . Valentine’s Day is coming. As we get closer to February 14th, I just want to encourage you to be careful . It can be easy to get caught up in the hype and feel like you need to have someone special in your life. The New Living Translation of Proverbs 4:23 reads, “ Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” These days, I don’t know if many people consider the truth in that statement. It seems like the more popular idea is, “ Anything {Anybody} is better than nothing {nobody}” but that’s not always the case. I want to share part of my own story to remind you to proceed with caution when it comes down to matters of the heart. A while ago, I randomly met someone who was sweet, h...

I woke up and knew  that I was out of it. I didn't feel like myself. I wasn't angry or upset about anything in particular. . . it was almost a combination of the two. And whatever it was, I didn't like it. Driving to work, I was determined. . . I HAD to turn things around! *Sometimes we choose to be in denial. We don't acknowledge our power. I've heard people say that if you can't change the situation you're in, you still have the ability to decide how you'll react. I decided to be proactive with the belief that my attitude would then change my situation. The first step I took was simply breathing and praying . I needed to have my "woosah" moment ;-). Although God sees and knows all, I understand the power of prayer and decided to take my concerns to Him. Next, I put on encouraging and uplifting music .  When I got to work, I spent some time with coworkers who I knew would have me laughing.  (Proverbs 17:22) My day started to turn ...

Meeting him was like a breath of fresh air. I hadn't dealt with many guys like him. Most of the time, dudes act like all we (females) wanna hear is, "Hey ma. . . (hey sexy, or what up shorty)" but he simply said, "Hello." He was warm and hilarious- willing to embarrass himself in the grocery store just so he could keep talking to me. Before we went our separate ways, he'd asked me out. Talking to him was easy! If there's one thing that girls love, it's being able to have a great conversation with a guy. He amazed me with his knowledge of statistics and a desire to analyze almost everything. He was easygoing and fun to be around. He really wanted to know about ME- who I was, what I'd studied in college and what interested me. . . And he didn't mind giving out compliments ;-). Our meal together was bittersweet.  Like I said, talking to him was easy. Hours passed during our conversations on the phone and in person. We kept each other l...

This is funny lol!  It's taken me so long to post this because I was trying to narrow down my list of items :-p. I really wanted to pick things that represent various aspects of my life. So here's a little collage to address the first part. . . In the top left corner, we have journals, of course! I'm almost always writing *something* down but these 2 are a couple of my favorites.  Made by DaySpring, these journals have scriptures on the bottom of their pages. . . sure to inspire and encourage the writer.  I feel like they represent my {growing} love for writing and God at the same time. In the top right corner, we have A Woman After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George.  This book represents the fact that I love to read but more importantly, I appreciate reading books that will motivate me to grow.  This book challenged and encouraged me- from the very first chapter! Front and center is my Vertical Current hoodie!  I love this band! ...

*The topic of the most recent L.O.V.E. Meeting was "Powerful Women. . . Powerful Words!" so I decided to write an affirmation for my L.O.V.E.ly Ladies.  Sometimes we need reminders. . .*  I Am Loved   I have been wonderfully and fearfully made !  I can walk in confidence because God has created me for a reason!  He will equip me for every assignment that I am meant to accomplish.  Even when I face challenges, I will not give up .   God holds my world!   He has a plan for my life and will be with me- every step of the way.   I will Rejoice in the Lord and remember that His Joy is My Strength!   As each day goes by, I will not sweat the small stuff.   I’ll focus on those things that are important to me and pray for wisdom when dealing with difficult situations.   I will not be bound by fear, guilt or pressure from other people’s expectations or opinions of me.   I will live by faith!   All things are po...

I've written/re-written this post so many times that I decided to start over and say what I think is really important. . . Ladies!  It is so much more important to look for ways to improve your relationship with God- than to figure out how to "get a man!"  I know... I know... I don't have one, BUT I'm fine with that (lol). In this day and time, it seems like ladies are struggling to recognize and walk in their worth.  Some feel that they need a man to complete them or their life will have no purpose. If you need to be reminded, just read Psalm 139:14! "I thank you, High God-- You're breathtaking!  Body & soul, I am marvelously made!"   -{The Message//REMIX} It's so easy to get distracted in this thing called life. So we have to be careful, or else we'll lose focus on the things that are truly important. Let me take you back for a minute. . .when I was 19, I "dated" this guy and actually believed that he just migh...

I woke up yesterday- close to tears.  My throat felt like it was on fire and all I wanted to do was cry.  I tried to get my sister's attention but I couldn't speak!  I could just barely  whisper.  That moment scared me so much-> knowing that I was TRYING to talk and no sound would come out.  After some tea, medicine and rest, I regained some of my voice.   Even now- as I write this, I'm (patiently) waiting for it to get back to normal. These moments made me think. . . What if God could only hear the words we utter?  What if He only honored the requests that we make with our mouths. . . our voices? I'm grateful to know that He knows our every thought before it even crosses our mind.  It's assuring to know that while I'm praying, God is already  answering! With all of that said, I decided to write as though I was speaking directly to God. What would I say if He could only read my thoughts?  Let's see. . . ~ Lord Jesus,...