God Speaks to His People

September 28, 2015Leave a comment

The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your county… to the land I will show you.” Genesis 12:1

God is not a silent god; He is a God who speaks. In the Old Testament God spoke to His people through prophets. Throughout the Old Testament we see that God spoke to His servants like Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Daniel, Isaiah and Jeremiah to name a few. Sometimes He spoke directly to his people and other times through visions. Does God still speak to His people today?

One of the foundational ways He speaks to us is through His written word, the Bible. We learn who God is and how He wants us to live as we read His word. He also speaks through that still small voice, His Spirit within us, gently convicting us to turn from sin and lovingly prompting us to follow His direction. Now we must be careful not to think that every thought we have is from Him. We must test it against scripture. The more we get to know Him through scripture, the more we recognize His voice.

Just as God gave Abraham direction, so He guides and directs our lives. David wrote, “He guides me down the right path bringing honor to His name.’ In the New Testament, James reminds us that if we lack wisdom we should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault. God is always speaking. The question is, “Are we listening?” I want to be a good listener, don’t you?

Father, open our ears to hear and our hearts to understand.

This is an excerpt from Karol’s devotional, Pursuing God in the Quiet Places.

On sale now for $5. Click Here for details.

Making a Difference for Generations to Come

September 15, 2015Leave a comment

What tugs at your heart-strings? For me, my heart hurts deeply for children who are growing up in unstable environments. Domestic violence, emotional distress, poverty or adversity tend to create chaos for these tender and impressionable hearts. Several years ago, I decided to reach into the lives of parents in at-risk communities and offer parenting discussion groups to encourage parents to create positive interaction with their kids.

I called the program ENGAGE Positive Parenting Initiative. ENGAGE stands for Equipping the Next Generation to Advance and Grow through Education, Encouragement and Example (our three core values). We are expanding and growing and now have classes in five locations. My vision for ENGAGE is to expand across the nation using our powerful and unique discussion-style format to reach parents.

As the author of over twenty parenting books, I have designed this program to reach parents where they are at and empower them to rise up to their own responsibility in the home. My desire is for parents to encourage and equip their kids to use their God-given gifts to make a difference in this world. If you share my desire to make a difference in society by strengthening parent’s responsibility in the home, I invite you to join me on this journey. There are three ways to connect:

Join us as a volunteer to lead a parenting class.*
Connect us with community outreaches in your city.*
Donate to help provide materials for parents and expand our reach.

North Texas Giving day is a one-day opportunity to expand your giving. On Thursday, Sept 17 please consider giving to your favorite organizations – and my hope is that ENGAGE will be one of them.

Here’s the link that will be live at 6:00 am to midnight on Thursday Sept 17. Important note: You must put ENGAGE in the notes so that the donation will go to ENGAGE.

link: http://www.northtexasgivingday.org/#npo/provenway-ministries.

To learn more about ENGAGE go to: www.engageparenting.com

*To volunteer or connect us with an organization in your area please contact us at engageparenting@gmail.com

Truths from the Truck

September 9, 2015Leave a comment

My daughter is getting married soon and will be living in New York. I knew the day would come when we would need to transport most of her things from Dallas to her new home, but I wasn’t sure exactly how we would do it. Our thrill-seeking, adventurous spirit kicked in, and my daughter and I decided to rent a Penske truck and make this journey into a four-day, mother/daughter road trip (#modaroadtrip2k15).

We plotted out our course through Memphis, Knoxville, Virginia and into the Big Apple, driving through 12 states in 4 days. We had friends and family to stay with along the way, which completely enriched the experience. We also did a little antique shopping here and there and met some quite unique people! My daughter and I agree that it was a road trip to remember.

A few life lessons evolved for me personally along the way, and I’d like to briefly share them with you.

Face your Fears – We planned and prayed and even had a multitude of friends praying for our truck-travels, but I must admit several nights before we left I was stricken with fear. What if the truck breaks down (even though Penske has 24/7 roadside assistance), what if we run into bad weather, what if we have an accident, and how in the world am I going to drive a Penske truck into NYC? Even the best-laid plans leave room for fears to pop in your head! I finally realized that there are simply times when we must step forward and not let fear hold us back. Every decision in life comes with risks. The question is, are you going to let your fears rule you or are you going to step forward knowing that you never travel alone – almighty God will never leave us. Oddly, this year my theme verse is from 2 Timothy 1:7, God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind.
Joyfully Serve Others –Often we learn the greatest lessons when we are the recipients of someone else’s kind hospitality. We had the privilege of staying with the Bentley’s in Tennessee. Chuck Bentley is the CEO of Crown Financial Ministries (www.crown.org). Chuck and his wife Ann had just returned from several weeks in Asia, and yet welcomed us into their home despite their jet lag. We had a wonderful time visiting about life and ministry and travel. When it came time for us to leave, Chuck noticed that our windshield on the truck was a mess (an abundant collection of dead bugs), and without saying a word he grabbed his windex bottle and a towel and began cleaning. Here is the president of an international organization cleaning my windshield! It was a modern day washing our feet. Ann joined in and started cleaning the inside windows, then she packed us a goody bag and filled up our cooler full of waters. Their joyful servant spirit inspired me to never miss an opportunity to show Christ’s love in a tangible way.
Make Marvelous Memories – Grace and I had hours of time together to laugh, talk, listen and discuss. We experienced gifts from strangers, the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains, and the exhaustion of loading and unloading – all built a glorious mosaic of memories. Perhaps one of my fondest memories was sitting with my aunt Margy in Virginia on September 7, the day of my mom’s (Margy’s sister) birthday. Mom passed away over 20 years ago. Since we were there on mom’s birthday, Margy made one of my mom’s favorite breakfast casseroles. I asked her to share some stories about growing up with my mom. We laughed with joy and teared-up with tender emotion. Now that was a memorable morning.

So if I can leave you with a few truck-adventure truths, I would say live deliberately. Don’t let fear hold you back, always look for ways you can help other people, and take time to create sweet memories with your loved ones along the way.

Reaching Out to Strengthen Others

September 3, 2015September 3, 2015Leave a comment

Don’t Let Comparisons Slow You Down

August 23, 2015August 23, 2015Leave a comment

If you have ever watched track and field events, you know that a split second makes all the difference, especially in sprint races. If a competitor in the 100 meter sprint takes even a second to glance at the runners on either side of her – she’s lost the race. In running as well as in life, we must learn to keep our eyes on our own race and not become distracted by comparing ourselves with others. Easier said than done, right? As women, we so quickly begin to compare with the other women around us. Often it happens the moment we walk into a room with other women. Am I as thin as she is? Do I fit in here? Why can’t my hair look as good as hers does? I wish I had her complexion.
It’s a trap each one of us can easily stumble into, and in the process we become dissatisfied with who we are and what God has planned for us. We tend to lose sight of what our purpose is in life. Perhaps that’s why the apostle Paul, with his powerfully purpose-filled life, was able to say, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God is calling me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Just as a sprinter keeps her eye on the goal or the finish line, so we need to keep our eyes fixed on the purpose God has given us and not be distracted by envy, jealousy or comparisons. True maturity is when we can look with joy at how God is blessing others and sincerely be thankful for the way God uses each one of us in a variety ways and in different styles.
There is only one you. God made you with a unique set of gifts and talents and with a distinctive purpose in this world. When we keep our eyes on the fact that God is at work in and through us to accomplish what He put us on this earth to do, we begin to feel a joyful confidence. We can rejoice in our assignment in the big scheme of life. On the other hand, when we start looking at everyone else and begin to compare ourselves with others, we either become prideful or we become jealous. Comparisons tend to zap us of our strength, distract us from our purpose and throw us off course from our goals.
The writer of Hebrews encourages us, “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” So here’s a few tips to remember when it comes to comparisons:
• Guard your mind against comparing with others by turning your focus upwards.
• Ask for God’s help and direction as you use your unique gifts and talents.
• Open your eyes to the blessings that God has given you right now.
• Thank Him for His unique plan for your life every day.
• Rejoice in who the Lord is and the work He is doing in your life as well as in others.
• Be happy with others for the good things happening in their lives.

This is an excerpt from my book Positive Life Principles for Women. The e-book is on sale this month for only $2.99 on your favorite e-reader. Click Here for Nook. Click Here for Kindle.