Karla's Korner

Wonderful Woman of Influence

I almost didn't go. I had come home from church, changed clothes and snuggled up for a cozy restful afternoon. Then the reminder popped up from my computer calendar: Woman of Influence Meeting 1:00! Groan. Moan. Whine. Whimper. I didn't want to uncozy myself and travel all the way back into town.

Have you ever really not wanted to do something or go somewhere but you finally gave in to the nudgings (or sometimes downright shoving) of the Holy Spirit and then so glad you did? Well, that was me yesterday. So glad.

I don't think I heard anything I hadn't heard before about women influencing women. I know I'm a woman of influence. I know you are too. It's not a question of "if" but "what kind" and "how much." Sometimes we can simply forget just how much of a difference we can make in another woman's life when we're intentional about it... and how many opportunities to show God's love slip through the cracks because we're not. I can forget. I can get lazy. Side-tracked. Self focused. Fearful. I needed that reminder.

I want to be a better lover... lover of God and lover of souls. I want to love other women more than I'm afraid of them. I want to love them... love you... like God loves you... allowing His love to move in me and through me. Only His love can empower us to be Mighty Women of Influence. Sometimes we just need a reminder to say...

Here I am Lord, send me.
Isaiah 6:8

Heavenly Father... thank You for loving me and filling my heart with so much love that there's plenty to give away.  Show me who it is in my life who is lonely or hurting or needy for You.  Fill me, send me, use me...  so that the women in my life would see You through me. For Your glory... amen.

What I'm Reading...

Just had to tell you that I'm off to a good start on my "58 Things" List...
I've already begun on #6 with this little gem...

Have you read any of Robin's books?
I know this amazing woman personally and LOVE her
and so far... I LOVE this book!!
I know... it's been around for a LONG time... but this way I don't have
to wait for the next one in the series to come out... it's waiting for me!!
And just in case you haven't read it,
I've put a link on my sidebar so you can enjoy it with me.


Oh yes... I was gifted Max's book by my publisher so it will be next.

We all have fears so I'm sure I'll be encouraged by Max's insights
and scriptural exhortations.


And I've been savoring moments of inspiration in Blogging for Bliss.

This book is delightfully inspiring and just plain pretty!

So... have you read the SisterChicks series?
Do you think you'll read Fearless?
Have you been inspired by Blogging for Bliss?

I am so thankful that God has given us the ability to read
and learn and grow! And I love that He has given us each other
to learn from and be inspired by!

Above all may we always be learning more about and
growing in our love for Christ and for each other!
Be blessed my freinds...
xoxoxo
Karla

Monday Musings...Taste and See

What foods do you savor? Cupcakes? Chips? Fruits or veggies? Savory or sweet?

As I pondered Psalm 34:8,
"Taste and see that the Lord is good...",
I thought about some of the foods I love to taste... including chocolate!
But I also thought about how someone can place a piece of chocolate on a
plate before me and I can know it's chocolate... I can see it's chocolate...
I can even acknowledge out loud that it's chocolate.
But... if I don't purposely choose to pick it up and put it in my mouth,
I will never taste it's sweetness or savor it's flavor.

In the same respect, God doesn't want us to just acknowledge Him
from a distance. Instead, He wants us to experience Him intimately...
to taste His love and grace through His Word, His Spirit and His blessings.
His sweetness will beat out a cupcake any ol' day but we must choose
to eat from His banqueting table in order for our souls to be well fed!

I love Matthew 4:4 where Jesus says:
"Man does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."
God wants us to eat His Word and with every bite, taste His goodness!
As we "chew and swallow" God's Word about who He is, who we are in Him,
and His great promises for us...  truly believing it for ourselves...
and as we respond to His Word  with faith and obedience...
the taste of His love lingers long in our hearts!

Heavenly Father, we praise and thank You for making Yourself
known to us... so much so that we can truly taste of your Presence and
savor the blessings we know come from Your hand. Lord you also know
how big the battle is to keep us away from Your banqueting table... help us
be overcomers so that we may eat well and find nourishment for our souls.
Amen

xoxoxo
Karla

Monday Musings... Cedar Springs Retreat!

I can't move into June without taking a few moments to reflect back on May and the beauty and bounty of God's blessings that I was not able to share with you along the way.

I was privileged to be the retreat speaker for a beautiful group of women from Family Bible Church of Whidby Island, WA the weekend of the 15th-17th. The retreat was held at Cedar Springs Retreat Center up near the Canadian border and the theme of the retreat was "Down a Garden Path" which could not have been more fitting for the beauty of our surroundings...

 
Just like the gardens of Cedar Springs are dedicated to the GLORY OF GOD,
we are to dedicate the gardens of our hearts and lives to HIS GLORY.


I was so taken with the beauty of the reflection of the trees in the lake...
I couldn't help but think about how we are to be reflections of Christ in the world.


Swans are so graceful... especially surrounded by such glorious color!
God is more concerned us being GRACE-FULL than graceful... good thing, eh?
He fills us with His grace when we surround ourselves with His glory!


Did you know that a baby swan is called a cygnet?
They are adorable and heart-warming?


That mama is watching over her babies like God watches over us!
Sweet!


There were paths everywhere... you could walk up the garden paths
and down the garden paths... to incredible places of love and joy!


And there were sitting places tucked quietly into the landscape... places to rest
and be still in the Presence of the Lord and the beauty of His creation!

Be still and know that I am God.
Psalm 46:10

Won't you take some time today to be still? Lay aside your busyness and find a
quiet place to sit with God, whether it's in the garden
or in your favorite chair by the window.
Look into His Word... ponder His beauty and the depth of His love for you.
Dedicate yourself anew to His glory, and when you leave your quiet place,
the world will know you have been in the presence
of the Master Gardener of your heart!

Where is your favorite place to be still and sit with the Lord?
Please take a moment to let me know where and why it's so special to you.

Be blessed my friends... in His love and for His glory...
Karla
 

Creative Day #6... Monday Musings and Stool Makeover!

Saturday was actually creative day #6 but this is the first chance I've had to post.
I had bought this little stool for $1 at Goodwill a few weeks ago. No comment.


Bye, bye Christmas bear! Nothing personal.


Hello layers of new paint finished off with a crackle finish!
Sorry... I get so into the project I forget to snap pics along the way.


Voila! A beautiful new creation with new purpose and value!
The perfect compliment to this gorgeous and fragrant bouquet.
By the way, does anyone know what these flowers are?
They grow on a bush and smell heavenly!



I love taking an old piece of furniture and giving it new life.
It makes my heart glad to save something
that was headed for the trash and give it a second chance.

I’m sure if this little stool could talk, it would say, “Thank you.”
I know I would–or would I?
After a few weeks of settling into daily life
and having the compliments dwindle,
would I begin to take my new life for granted?
When people look more at the bouquet than me,
and after the flowers have faded and my purpose doesn't seem so clear,
would I become discontent with this new life?
Would I forget about my salvation from the trash heap?

Sometimes I’m afraid the routine of everyday life can have that effect on us.
We can forget that God, in His infinite mercy,
has saved us from the trash heap of eternal death and destruction.

The Bible tells us that we are new creations in Christ...
the old is gone and all things have become new.
But God didn’t use sandpaper and paint.
He used the death and resurrection of Jesus. Unconditional love.
Undeserved favor.

Father forgive me for taking my new life in Christ for granted so much of the time. Remind me of the trash heap you delivered from and the tremendous value I have to You even if my purpose doesn't seem as clear today and is did yesterday or the day before. Use me Lord to be the stool upon which the beauty and fragrance of Christ can be displayed for all to see... so that You would be glorified and not me. Amen.

A Pleasant Day of Painting... Creative Day #1

I promised I would post my progress on my just for fun 10x30 painting I started way back on February 26th and here it is... I finally picked up a brush and painted on it a few hours today and then didn't want to stop! It was very restful and relaxing.


I decided this morning to challenge myself with 30 Days of Creativity. I cannot promise I will post what I do every day but I am making the commitment to purposely be creative and make note of it! I believe we are all creative because we are made in the image of God and He has deposited His creativity into us and He has given us the opportunity to live creatively.

We use our creativity everyday without realizing it or acknowledging it as God's gift... whether it's painting, cooking, crafting, sewing, problem solving, or parenting... creativity is an avenue for God to express Himself to us and through us. And when we acknowledge Him as the Author of our creative endeavors, He gets the glory!

How was God's creativity expressed through you today?
Take a minute to let me know... and God will get the glory!

Monday Musings... and Off to Cannon Beach!

I'm heading out for the coast this morning for a quick overnight trip. I'm working on a new project that's all about kites and there's no place better to research kites and kite flyers then Cannon Beach, OR.  So just to get you thinking... what comes to your mind when you combine the visual image of a kite with the Word of God?  Can't tell you quite yet where I'm going with this theme but it should be fun for sure!

I thought I would also share with you my newest art just to see what you think. I'm loving playing with different styles and this is one of my favorites for sure!

Thank You Lord for speaking to us through such incredibly visual ways. Your Word is a treasure of imagery that moves our hearts toward You. Thank You Father for the gift of creativity that comes straight from You and the opportunity to use our creativity to bless and encourage one another! Amen.

Monday Musings... Bread of Life

Have you ever read the book of Ruth? It's a beautiful story of God's love and redemption even though God Himself is not mentioned even once. But you can see the impression of His hand and His heart through all four chapters.

In chapter one we see Elimelich packing up his family and moving from Bethlehem to Moab because there was a famine in Israel and the pastures looked greener over in Moab. What struck me was some background information. Did you know that Bethlehem means House of Bread? It does. But there was no bread to be found in the House of Bread so, rather than trusting in God's provision during this famine, fear of starvation and death drove this family out of the presence of their God and into a foreign land. Sadly, Elimelich and his two sons all died leaving Naomi a widow with two foreign born daughter-in-laws. What they feared the most happened. The grass was not greener on the other side of the fence!

I couldn't help but think of how Jesus is our Bread of Life. And it made me wonder how often our lack of faith... our fear of the unknown... drive us... drive me... out of the peace and presence of God and into the land of worry or self-reliance? There is an economic famine in our land... and with it comes the temptation to pack up and travel to the land of unbelief that leads to depression, despair and discontent. But there is never a famine in the Spirit... for Jesus is our Bread of Life and He bids us to come and eat that we might find our joy in Him despite our circumstances.

So... are you hungry for peace of mind? Are you starving for hope? Are you tired of looking for your sustenance in the things of the world or in trying to figure out how to fix things on your own?  Are you longing for a taste of eternity? God calls us to return to the Bread of Life... to taste His goodness and rest in His provision. Trust in His sovereignty and His goodness... remind yourself of His blessings... and enjoy the banquet!

"I am the bread of life."
John 6:48

"The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul."
Proverbs 13:25

Heavenly Father, we long to be women of faith... not women of fear. Search our hearts today and show us if there is any area of our lives where, like Elimelich, we have packed up and moved into the land of unbelief or self-reliance. Forgive us and lead us back to Your Presence... to the House of Bread... to the Bread of Life. We are hungry for You Lord. Fill us with renewed faith in You. In Jesus Name... Amen.