The Month of Mom

May 10, 2025Leave a comment

Motherhood – it’s the toughest job you’ve ever loved! Through both the joys and the hardships, your words, actions, and example speak volumes into the lives of those you love. In this springtime of the year, I want to encourage you to think about the seeds you are planting into the soft and fertile soil of your children’s minds and hearts.

Whether you are a mom, grandmom, aunt, or teacher, here are some tips to help you think about making a positive impact for generations to come.

Speak Words of Truth – In a world full of misinformation, our young people are hungry for what is real and true. Wisdom from the Bible offers a firm foundation to feed the mind and spirit. We can choose deliberate times throughout our week to teach our kids spiritual truths from God’s word and plant seeds of hope, faith, and peace in their hearts. Children’s devotionals and Bibles offer great resources for intentionally building an understanding of God’s love.

Use Teachable Moments – Opportunities to teach, train, and discipline occur spontaneously throughout each day, but we have to be looking for them. Disappointments or frustrations can become opportunities to ask God for peace and direction. A beautiful day, a trip to the zoo, a walk on the beach, a view of the stars – all offer joyful ways to point to the Creator of all things. Let’s grab these moments to gently point upward and invite our kids to see something bigger than themselves.

Remember the Power of Your Example – Our kids learn best, not from the words that come from our mouths but from the life lessons they observe in our actions. Our example shouts loudly and teaches our kids how to act and how to live. What positive principles does your life teach? Is it kindness, hope, and trust in God? Or is it anger, resentment, and constant frustration? It’s good to ponder what we are portraying.

As you can see, we have a powerful influence. Let’s be intentional about relaying positive messages and life lessons to the young ones in our lives. I am convinced that the only way I can be a good example and speak words of wisdom is to seek the Lord’s help each day. Every morning, I pray for His Spirit to flow through me in order to love those around me with grace and sincerity.

Keep looking up and leaning on Him as you speak into the next generation through your words and actions.

Photo by Sai De Silva on Unsplash

For more positive encouragement check out Karol’s book, The Power of a Positive Mom

Keep On Doing Good

January 19, 2025January 19, 2025Leave a comment

It’s easy to grow weary in the midst of the many needs around us. Whether it’s a close friend, a family member or those who are suffering in southern California, we can quickly become overwhelmed by the ongoing care for others. Perhaps you find yourself asking the questions:

How can I help? Whom can I serve? What can I do to make a difference?

We can’t solve every challenge, but we certainly can do something. I always begin with prayer, “Lord, help the people in need. Show me how I can be your hands and feet. Direct me in ways to serve and give.” As I continue to pray for people in my life or in crisis, ideas begin to come to me on how I can be a support and who I need to reach out to with care. Remember, the Lord is full of compassion and He wants to direct our paths to help. Prayer is not a passive response to disaster, it is a powerful one!

As we see the overwhelming and continued needs in California, many trusted organizations are at work. Here are several of the ones I am familiar with who are not only boots-on-the-ground but also sharing Christ’s love:

Texans on Mission https://www.texansonmission.org/disaster-relief

Hollywood Prayer Network https://hollywoodprayernetwork.org/

Salvation Army https://salvationarmy.org/

Finally, I just want to share a story about how one neighborhood can serve another. As the desperate needs started surfacing in California, I began praying how my Neighborhood Bible study could help. One of the ladies in our Bible study had a contact with a precious family who lost everything in the Altadena fires. She reached out and asked how we could help. The family was able to provide a list of several families in their neighborhood along with their GoFundMe links.

We decided that we could pray and give and offer support for these families. We can’t do everything, but from our neighborhood to theirs, we could do something. Please continue to ask the Lord to guide you on how you can help. The physical needs are great, and the emotional needs will last for a long time as well.

Do not grow weary in well-doing. May God’s strength and wisdom be with us all.

Photo by Marlis Trio Akbar on Unsplash

Simple Ways to Thrive in 2025

January 1, 2025Leave a comment

I love the first day of January! To me, each new year is filled with the potential to improve on the past. Sure, we’ve had accomplishments in the past year for which we can be grateful, but with the turn of the year comes the opportunity to rethink, regroup, and reconstruct for the future. I like to keep things uncomplicated and doable when it comes to a fresh start in January. Allow me to share three practical routines that help me take steps forward – perhaps they can encourage you as well.

Plan each day the night before. As I close out the end of each day, I take a moment to consider what needs to be done for the next. Typically, I write down the top three priorities that must be accomplished and then think through a general schedule for the day. I also make a list of who I need to call, email, or text. This has become a game changer for me over the years, as I sleep more peacefully and wake up ready to jump into the day.

Get up and get out. Whether it is a brisk walk outdoors, a trip to the gym, or a stroll to the local coffee shop, we all need physical activity and the social encounters that go with it. At our house, we have a giant white fluffy alarm clock known as our faithful dog. She demands a walk every morning, rain or shine, Saturday or not, so we don our sneakers and take her around the neighborhood. Not only do we start our day with a breath of fresh air and a little exercise, but we typically make new friends along the way.

Take some time each morning to pray and meditate on God’s Word. Find a quiet place and begin a daily routine of praising God, thanking Him for His blessings, and giving Him your concerns and worries. Dedicating daily quiet moments can equip you mentally, spiritually, and emotionally for the joys and challenges you face. Seeking God’s wisdom and direction and acknowledging your need for Him sets you on a path of finding your strength in Him. When we give our day to God, the twists and turns we encounter become opportunities to say, “Father God, I know you are in charge. What would you have me to do or learn through this situation?”

These are three simple practices, I know, but influential nonetheless. I hope this year will be filled with mercy, love, and peace for you and those around you. Let us seek to love God more deeply and to love others more sincerely in 2025.

Photo by Humphrey Muleba on Unsplash

Choosing a Positive Direction for the Fall

August 19, 2024August 19, 2024Leave a comment

Oh the joy of gathering together and finding a common connection! As summer fades and the school year begins, let’s take deliberate and positive steps into a new season of connections. One of the ways we can deepen our friendships as women is to study the Bible together. Several years ago, I reached out to my neighbors to see who would be interested in starting a neighborhood study. A handful of women began to gather over cups of coffee and an open Bible. It was beautiful. Friendships were born.

This fall, we are starting our fourth year of growing together. We call ourselves “House to House” Bible Study because we meet in different houses each week and simply study the Scripture together. We are non-denominational, non-political, non-gossipy, and non-grumbly. Our group has grown to many women outside our neighborhood, and the connections continue to deepen as we walk through the truths of the Bible together. If you live in the north Dallas area and or want to join us via Zoom, please email me at Karol@Karolladd.com (subject line Bible Study) and I’ll send you more information.

Many of the women in our group have never been to a Bible study before, while others are well-versed in His Word. It’s a lovely mosaic of people from all different denominational backgrounds. I’ve found that in general, women are hungry for fellowship and hungry for truth. Neighborhood Bible studies offer both.

Wherever you are, I want to encourage you to connect with the people God puts in your path. Reach out over a cup of coffee with neighbors and invite them to join you as you grow in truth. You can simply study the Bible or study a book that points to Biblical truth. I’ve listed several of my books below that are perfect for reaching out and gathering women together. Ask God to give you the courage to make positive steps of connection this fall as you encourage women with His love.

Here are some of my books that make a great group study:

Press On

August 1, 2024Leave a comment

Olympic athletes inspire me. No, not to run a marathon or take up synchronized swimming, but the competitors inspire me to persevere, press on, and push forward – even when the going gets tough. When I watch these world-class athletes, I am motivated to put in the extra effort to do my best with the gifts and talents God has granted me.

Somehow the Olympians make their sport look effortless during competition, but in reality their accomplishments don’t come easily. We rarely see the countless hours of early morning practices, aching muscles, failed attempts, and frustrating injuries. Yes, every spectacular performance is preceded by unspectacular preparation.

As we watch in wonder while our favorite athletes perform, let us consider how we can persevere through the personal hurdles in our own lives. It may be facing challenges financially, or difficulties in relationships. It could be a physical or emotional setback. Whatever we are facing, we can gear up with mental toughness, grit, and perseverance, recognizing that we are not alone in our struggles. There are others who have stumbled down similar roads, and we can gain strength from their encouragement, advice, and examples. Most importantly, we can look to God for our help, hope, and guidance.

Remember the Lord’s words to the apostle Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul went on to say, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”*

Through prayer and perseverance press on my friend. You are stronger than you think.

For more on perseverance, check out my latest book, Positive Connectivity.