Karla's Korner

So Many Choices... For a Fun Giveaway!

I need your help!!
I want to add several more art prints to my Etsy Shop
over the next few weeks
but I have so many to choose from!

I just added this one yesterday titled "The Journey".

I love this print because life is an adventure...
and when you're on the journey with God all roads point to a future of hope,
peace and joy in Him no matter what our circumstances are today!

So will you help me choose which art prints to add to Etsy next?
If you own any of my books and see an image that you would like to see
hanging on your wall or maybe one you'd like to give as a gift...
now is the time to tell me and WIN a print for yourself.

Just take a moment to leave a comment either here on this blogpost
or on Facebook and let me know your choice...
you can comment as many times as you like but only
ONE CHOICE PER COMMENT PLEASE.

Next Friday, I'll choose 3 prints from the comments to add to the store
AND ONE HAPPY WINNER to receive a FREE PRINT!!

I'll be looking forward to seeing your choices!
Lord bless you!

xoxoxo
Karla

Creative Day #10... Frugal Friday... Gift Basket Filler

I am leaving shortly to drive up to the Canadian border to speak for a wonderful group of ladies from Family Bible Church in Oak Harbor... it will be a five hour drive but most definitely worth it!  Of course... you're prayers would be appreciated... thank you! 

But I really wanted to share this great idea with you before I head out...
let me know if you think and if it's something you might find useful!

Okay... have you ever wanted to create a gift basket and not anything to use for a filler just to make it look pretty and more bountiful. I have a bunch of times and usually don't have anything on hand. So... the other day when I was creating my Gift Basket to give at the last church I was speaking at, I had the same dilemma and I was just about to scrunch up a bunch of colored tissue in my basket... which I don't like the look of... when I had this GRAND IDEA! 

I simply cut 1/4" to 3/8" strips off the end of my folded tissue paper and separated them into a fun fluffy filler.

(I did find that licking my fingers helped the layers to come apart much easier!) But because comes with several layers... two slices gave me plenty to pretty up my gift basket and one slice filled this little box with beautiful color and look of whimsy. (Also to note is that I did scrunch a white plastic grocery bag in the bottom to fill the space and lift the gifts up for better eye appeal.)  Love it!

The great thing about doing this is that it's very inexpensive (you can buy colorful tissue at the Dollar Store), there are a great variety of colors available, and you can still use the leftover pieces of tissue to poke into a gift bag if you need to.

I also wanted to share with you another Faith Block... isn't it SWEET?
These will be available in my Webstore soon... they make a sweet gift at a sweet price.
I'll let you know when they arrive in the store.

Every good and perfect gift is from above.
James 1:17

Lord God...  thank You for giving us the creativity to make the most of the money You allot us...even in these trying times. Help  us all to be more frugal and yet more giving at the same time... to bless and encourage others through the work of our hearts and hands like you have us. Love You Lord. Amen.

Refreshing Others

I wonder if you would agree that there is nothing so satisfying than knowing God used you to pour out a refreshing drink of His love to another person. I had the privilege last weekend to speak into the lives of some wonderful women in WI and , even though I know God poured out His Word and His love into their hearts and blessed them there, I was equally if not more blessed in being the vessel God used to pour from. Two women accepted Christ for the first time and many left that place different women from when they had arrived... thank You Jesus for Your love, grace and power to transform lives!

Here's a peek at a few of these women from Spring Creek Church in Pewaukie, WI as they enjoy being in the presence of the Lord... just look at those beautiful faces... they were/are great ladies...

What a privilege it is to be God's vessels of refreshing... and He gives each of us so many opportunities every day to pour out His love and encourage others... no matter what gifts and talents we have or don't think we have. Sometimes it's just a matter of looking around us and being willing to be used.

I love having the opportunity to partner with women like you all over the world by offering ministry gifts... my books and products... tools that you can use to bless and refresh other women in your world. I just want to say THANK YOU for letting me be a part of your ministry to other women!  And I am excited to announce that I have recently made the decision to introduce a new product that I used to offer several years ago to help you do just that... Ministry Magnets! 

I love these Ministry Magnets because they are an affordable way to share God's love and His Word with others. They tuck into an envelope along with a letter or card and become a small gift. And they make a great ministry tool to give each woman in your Bible Study or the women who attend your Ladies Tea or Retreat as a remembrance of the event and what God did for them there. Right now there are just a few designs available but I plan to add more to the offering every week. There are also quantity discounts available if you're interested in these Ministry Magnets for your group... large or small.

It is such a privilege to be God's vessels, isn't it? To be His girls who He can pour into and out of!  And there are so many ways we can pour out a refreshing drink of God's love into the lives of those around... the women God has sovereignly placed along the path of our lives.  Here's just a few to consider...

1. Write a note of thanks... not for what she's done but simply for who she is.
2. Give a listening ear... call her or get together and purpose not to talk about yourself... ouch!
3. Share a recipe... and better yet... prepare it for her as a gift.
4. Pray for her... and then let her know you've been praying for her... it's nice to know someone cares.

Or maybe she needs one of these gifts of refreshing and blessing...

The list of ways to bless one another is almost endless.  What are some of your favorite ways to pour out God's love to others?  Leave a comment and share your favorite ways... maybe you'll be the inspiration someone else needs!  May we never quit refreshing one another... and as we do, God's promise is that we too will be refreshed!

Be encouraged in heart and united in love.
Colossians 2:2

Dear Lord... thank You for being our greatest Encourager... our eternal cheerleader. Thank You for pouring out Your love into our hearts and bringing refreshing to our souls. Open our eyes to the needs of others and show us new and creative ways to share Your love and blessings with those around us. For Your glory! Amen.

A New Prize Added to the November Contest

What would our Thanksgiving Celebration be without good food and friends and family to share it with? In fact, our CARE group will be enjoying a traditional Thanksgiving feast and taking time to rejoice in God's goodness together tomorrow night... and then we'll be doing the same thing again on the 24th at Michelle's house with family. I look forward to spending the time remembering the good things God has done for each of us throughout the year and giving Him the glory and praise!

I also love knowing that both "the meals we share will be sprinkled with Love" because the love we share with one another is the greatest gift God has given us through His Son... the heart to love others as He loves us. And because this gift is one that keeps on giving... I thought how appropriate it would be to add this beautiful recipe binder to the November Contest Gift Bag!

Inside this Deluxe Recipe Binder, you'll find color coordinated paper to print or write your favorite recipes on, lots of helpful cooking tips, pocket pages to store your loose recipe clippings and cards, a shopping list and some refrigerator magnets... it truly is a beautiful gift to give and to receive. I know whoever wins it will love it for sure!

If you're trying to think of the perfect present for your kids or grandkids, I have a heart-warming idea for you to consider. How about passing down your tried and true recipes to the next generation of your family? I have had several people, over the years, buy my recipe binders for doing just that and each time someone tells me that, I think what a wonderful way to hand down a legacy of love.

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the gift of love that you have handed down to us. How different our lives would be today if it weren't for Your Presence with us. Jesus... help us stay focused on You during this holiday season... and be your heart and hands and voice to those who need a touch of Your love in their lives. Amen.

"HeavenSent Baby" Opens Webstore with Blessing!

I can be such a dreamer!  I wanted to do so much more to my webstore over the summer but I just ran out of time... I know that never happens to any of you, does it?  But I finally decided... after a few very encouraging emails... that it was time to put out the welcome mat and hang the OPEN sign once again. Even though I don't have everything in stock that I had wanted... I do have most of the books and I will be adding to the selections as product comes in. 

But for now... can you hear the drumrolll?  I am thrilled to introduce to you... my newest book... HeavenSent Baby!

Every baby is a heaven sent gift from God... and I know you would agree. I remember holding my own newborn baby and my grandbabies and just gazing at their tiny little fingers and toes... stroking the softness of their skin... and being in awe of the beauty of God's handiwork in such a small package.  But I can also remember all the questions that came with motherhood... mostly questions about my own ability to be a mom to this tiny little gift from God.

There is always a part of me in every book I write and illustrate and I know that I was thinking of that mom with questions... the kind of questions I had... as I penned the pages. This little book was created to be a warm and gentle hug to the heart of every new mom... whether they are a first-time mom or experienced, whether the baby is adopted or was born from her own womb... a reminder to them that they are not alone.

I love that God is the most perfect matchmaker and He sovereignly chooses which babies go to which moms... because remember... there are no accidents in God's glorious plan for our lives... or the lives of our babies!  Here's a poem from the book...

May your heart overflow
with thankfulness and love
as you ponder this miraculous
gift from God above.

For you have been given
this sweet little treasure
to give your life purpose
and fill it with pure pleasure.

So when the question comes...
if you're qualified to mother...
know this child is God's gift to you...
not given to another!

If you know a new mom who could use a bit of encouragement in the Lord... perfect for that two o'clock feeding... just include her name in your order and I'd love to personalize the book for her and her baby.

Heavenly Father,
Your Word says that "every good and every perfect gift is from above."  Thank You for the heavensent gift of new life and new beginnings and Your promise to be with us always and in all circumstances. Amen.