prayer

4 MUST SEE online spaces & places!

by Karmen |

The ongoing love-hate relationship many of us have with the Internet doesn’t appear to be going away anytime soon. Like you, I have had many discussions concerning the pros and cons of social media as well as the necessity of balancing real life and life online. Instead of splitting hairs and further discussing the have, have-nots, should and should not for the sake of this post we are going to celebrate the goodness of others!

Be encouraged to visit and follow these four spaces and places who are using online for good!

Prayers for Girls

Teri Lynne Underwood and I met a couple of years back at She Speaks and have kept in touch. She is a precious Alabama, girl mom who is doing great things for our sweet Lord. We share a passion for praying God’s Word. Teri Lynne and her team of contributors are being very intentional with their online space, and I STRONGLY encourage you, if you are a girl mom or an aunt or a grandmother or a woman who is influencing girls in any way share this page with your people! It’s beautiful inside and out!

Next,

Alice Circle

If you love fun, funny, decorating, creating & adventuring this online space is one you’ll need to bookmark! Alice is a creative wonder! My boys and I visit her bricks and mortar shop often because she is JOYFUL loves Jesus and is flippin’ HILARIOUS! She is a dear friend and the artist behind our #PrayBig product line. Her free-handed logo is on our #PrayBig shirts, decals, mugs & hats. We love Alice! She will inspire your inner creative and help you make all kinds of lovelies for yourself and others without blowing your budget. Be captivated! Shop Alice Circle online and be glad!

The Summit of Fort Payne

Speaking of glad, we are beyond thrilled, in fact, we have been AWED at the good things the Lord has done! Addiction is no respecter of persons. I dare say not of you one reading this screen hasn’t been affected by addiction in some way shape form or fashion. It’s a growing epidemic. In visiting and ministering at the jail over the last couple of years, it quickly became evident to me and was already known to many the women coming out of jail needed somewhere to go. Many had been praying for years, some of us met, and then the Lord did what ONLY He could do. The more than graciously, generous Truett Cathy family donated this 96 acres, 16,000 square ft home to women struggling with addiction. To God be the glory! The Summit of Fort Payne is a 12-month faith-based recovery home for women struggling with life controlling issues. The home is opening February 1, 2017, and we want you to partner with us in this great work! There is work for all to do! Make plans to attend our first banquet, January 28m 2017. Pray. Support. Donate online. Watch this video. Join the team of volunteers! You’re going to want to be a part of this modern-day miracle!

Last, but certainly not least. Meet

Bozo Smith

Bozo is the cat with a last name. Scout is a cat whisperer. No, this is not a joke. The girl talks cat or something. If you who have followed my blog for any length of time this may help you to have a better understanding of her passion for cats =her feelings for cats are equivalent to my husband’s feelings towards horses. Scout has had a number of cats in her short seven years of life because well, the circle of life but the cat she has now-well, he’s unmatched. His tolerance of her shenanigans leaves any audience shaking their head. My words can not do such “Cat Tales” justice. Go! Follow Bozo Smith on Facebook and be ready for your face to hurt from smiling. See for yourself, the wonder of the seven-year-old cat whisperer.

Happy Saturday!

Much love,

Lessons + Life Without a Microwave

by Karmen |

Our microwave blew January 1, 2013. We were moving full throttle into uncharted waters having left my career with a predictable income just a few months prior. Everything about life as we had known it looked different except for our address so why NOT try life without a quick defrost or popcorn button.

Little did I know then how often God would use the absence of a microwave in our kitchen to remind me, in a right now world some things take time.

photo @baileyjrobert

We are living in a day where a fast food drive thru isn’t fast enough. Now, your roadside favs have people who will gladly approach your car in the parking lot with an iPad in hand, ready to take your order or better yet you can download your favorite restaurant’s app and order before you arrive! Did you ever in your wildest dream predict in one-click on Amazon you could have a gallon of milk or a case of toilet paper by the door in twenty-four.

I get it. Time is marching on, biological clocks are ticking and yes, I’ve heard Adele’s new album, and her declaration in at least three songs and know none of us are getting any younger!!! #fortheloveofyouth

The young want more birthdays.

The newlyweds want their dream house.

The barren want a baby.

Empty nesters wish they could see their baby birds more often.

Who doesn’t want to be debt free?

The dream job

World peace

We want it all, and we want it RIGHT NOW or better yet, yesterday!!

But in a right-now-world, some things take time.

How much time?

I don’t know.

What I do know, God is at work in the wait.

How can we endure the present?

A few suggestions that may encourage you and yet some days I forget:

Fix our eyes on Jesus. What does that look like? Look for the activity of God today while we wait for tomorrow. Ask God to make today matter. As we set our eyes above, ask God to use us where we are with what we have. In doing this we take our eyes off of ourselves and begin to see the needs of others we may have otherwise missed.

Accept, what is. Jim Elliot said, “Wherever you are, be all there.”

Pray. It sounds simple and yet so many of us underestimate and overcomplicate prayer. You’ve heard; prayer is talking to God. Yes, but what if we take it one step further. I recently read somewhere we often pray one-way, a monologue. But what if we prayed in dialogue allowing our conversations with God to become a two-way street? What if, after time in His Word we let God’s Word lead us in prayer with Him? His Word speaking to our hearts and us lifting our prayers up to Him, connecting the two disciples: God’s Word & prayer.

If you and I were having coffee or lemonade, I would speak these words to you with my serious face as humbly as I know how:

“Learning to pray God’s Word back to Him has been the most practical, beneficial and valuable discipline I’ve ever learned.”

A game changer.

A few life lessons we’ve learned in living life without a microwave: we wait for meat to thaw, pre-plan meals, and reheat coffee on the stove. I suppose it’s silly to some, relating life without a microwave to seasons of wait & prayer.

But God in his goodness has so gently reminded me, in those little moments of delay, in a right-now-world some things take time.

In His time: He is working ALL things together for our good.

He is God. We are not.

He is faithful and wants to bless us exceedingly and abundantly.

He is always near.

He loves YOU and me and will never stop.

A prayer of encouragement for those who are weary in the wait:

Father, thank you for loving us like you do. Revive us, O Lord as we seek to live and love in ways that honor you. Give us grace for the wait as we trust you are working all things together for our good because God, you are good. When we forget Father, help us remember, To everything there is a season, a time and a purpose under heaven. With our eyes fixed on you, bless us this day we pray, in Jesus name. Amen.

Much Love,

PS-Need more encouragement? Grab a friend, your Bible and a #PrayBig journal and practice together. Or better yet, I’d consider it a privilege to come and encourage you and your people. We are working on my calendar and would love to include your ladies group, teens or just you and a couple of your friends. God is so gracious and has answer many of my #PrayBig prayers through YOU!

It’s NOT A SECRET ANYMORE!!

by Karmen |

My Dad has always encouraged my sisters and me, “Dream BIG girls!” His words have given life to many of the dreams we are living today. As a bossy adolescent, I dreamed of becoming a teacher. Daddy is the one who urged me to fill out the scholarship forms that lead to a Drama Scholarship to the junior college, that led to a Bachelor’s and finally to a Master of Arts in Elementary Education from The University of Alabama. Along the way, he’d say, “You can do it!”

For years, I watched him, and my mother pursue their dreams as entertainers. They’ve always been and continue to be a well of inspiration and steadfast source of encouragement. So of course, they are at the top of the list of people I want to thank for making this-at-long-last-finally-it’s REAL-I-can’t-even-believe-it DREAM, a reality.

In May of 2012, after twelve years of loving and leading littles as a public school teacher, I locked the door for the last time and turned in my keys. I knew I had come home to teach my children, and yet I had so many questions for God: What will this next season of life look like for us? What about our bills? What does a homeschool mom do? What if I’ve messed up?

As the questions came, I jotted them down in my journal. Doubts. Fears. “What if’ scenarios, I wrote them down.

Scattered amidst all of the scary emotions were slivers of excitement. Hope. New ideas. Dreams. More questions. I wrote them down. Days and weeks passed. Funny thing, once I had written down the scary stuff, they weren’t quite as frightening, and the new ideas began to grow.

With new ideas came new questions: What do others do with fear and anxiety? What about their dreams? Do they write them down? I wonder if they wonder if God hears them when they pray? Is their journal as precious to them as mine is to me? Do they have a journal?

Journaling and Jesus kept me sane through our years of infertility and loss.

If my journals were unique then, they are beloved now. They are my evidence that God is real, and he is just to hear us when we pray.

People will argue and debate scripture. People, however, are not as likely to argue with our own stories. I have lived the stories and events written out in my journals. They are real. They affirm me when I doubt or forget that God is real. When it feels like God’s not there or doesn’t care, I can go back and read and remember:

Sometimes God says yes, sometimes God says no, and sometimes God says wait.

I have been waiting just over TWO YEARS to share this little gem with you. And because I think you should know -even as I type these preceding sentences: I have sweaty palms, my heart is racing, and I can’t keep my tapping feet still!!!!!!

Why? We want people to like us. We want people to approve of the things we say and do. We wonder how we will be perceived.

When others have come to me and asked what to do when they don’t know what to do, I say, “Do what you know.”

I don’t know how this is going to go. I don’t know what you will think. I don’t know how well received this project (that is so dear to me) will be. But I’m going to take my advice because this I know:

The idea was born in quiet times spent with the Lord. For two+ years, little glimpses of the end game would press upon my heart, wake me up at night, and tug at me throughout the days.

The process: One idea +prayer+ time in God’s Word+another idea+one page+more time with God+prayer+an AMAZING, gifted, generous designer friend+ more prayer+a few more pages+lots of days+edits+proofing+more prayer+more edits+friends & family prayers=

IT’S DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AT LONG LAST…………

The product~designed with YOU in mind.

A JOURNAL!!!!

A guided prayer journal, for which I have prayed and prayed and prayed will become dear to you. May it be the missing ingredient that will transform laundry lists of prayers into intimate conversations with The Savior!

A 6-week guided prayer journal designed with YOU in mind!

Pictures to inspire you to keep going!

Scriptures and quotes to challenge you to grow!

A place for you to talk with God.

It includes personal prayers from my journal from some of the best and worst days of my life.

In one week, Monday, Dec. 7th, I’m going to GIVE AWAY 3 JOURNALS before they are available in-store and online because you have been so kind and loyal to visit this place!! Here’s HOW TO ENTER the GIVEAWAY:
sign up to receive post via EMAIL (enter your address–>top right)
FOLLOW Blessings Beyond the Barnyard on Facebook
SHARE this post on YOUR Facebook page

STAY TUNED because there is going to be a VIDEO and we are going to journal TOGETHER!!! (because the Facebook family is loud and proud and had no trouble telling me most of them are not on Periscope) I promise to do my best, to have my hair color done, and keep my clammy hands in my lap for the love of the VIDEO. The VIDEO and all of the places the journal will be available will be announced in a blog post later this week.
Whether you are an avid journaler, a wannabe journaler or a not sure what you are-THIS JOURNAL IS FOR YOU!!

I pray it will be so much more than a lovely book on your nightstand.

More than a gift off of your Christmas list.

I pray it is a game changer for you and your closest family and friends!!

I believe down to my very bone marrow that prayer changes everything and, GOD IS REAL.

It’s with so much love for you and this journal and God how he weaves us all together that I invite you to SHARE the LOVE using hashtag #PrayBig as you share this post with your peeps!

So much LOVE!

It’s NOT A SECRET ANYMORE!!

by Karmen |

Daddy always said, “Dream BIG girls!” His words gave life to many of the dreams my sisters, and I are living today. As a bossy adolescent, I dreamed of becoming a teacher. Daddy is the one who urged me to fill out the scholarship forms that lead to a Drama Scholarship to the junior college, on to JSU and finally to a Master of Arts in Elementary Education from The University of Alabama.

I watched mother and daddy pursue their dreams as entertainers. They have always been and continue to be such an inspiration. So of course, they are at the top of the list of people I want to thank for their part in making this-at-long-last-finally-it’s REAL-I-can’t-even-believe-it DREAM, a reality.

In May of 2012, after twelve years of loving and leading littles as a public school teacher I locked the door for the last time. I knew I had come home to teach my children, and yet I had so many questions for God: What will this next season of life look life? What about our bills? What does a homeschool mom do? What if I’ve messed up?

As the questions came, I jotted them down in my journal. Doubts. Fears. “What if’ scenarios, I wrote them down.

Scattered amidst all of the scary emotions were slivers of excitement. Hope. New ideas. Dreams. More questions. I wrote them down. Days and weeks passed. Funny thing, once I had written down the scary things they weren’t quite as scary and the new ideas began to grow.

With new ideas came new questions: What do other people do with their fear and anxiety? What about their dreams? Do they wonder if God hears them when they pray? Is their journal as precious to them? Do they have a journal?

Journaling and Jesus kept me sane through our years of infertility and loss.

If my journals were special then, they are beloved now. They are my evidence that God is real, and he is just to hear us when we pray.

People will argue and debate scripture. People, however, are not as likely to argue with our stories. I have lived the stories and events written out in my journals. They are real. They affirm me when I doubt or forget that God is real. When it feels like God’s not there or doesn’t care, I can go back and read and remember:

Sometimes God says yes, sometimes God says no, and sometimes God says wait.

I have been waiting just over TWO YEARS to share this little gem with you. And because I think you should know -even as I type these preliminary sentences: I have sweaty palms, my heart is racing, and I can’t keep my tapping feet still!!!!!! We want people to like us. We want people to approve of the things we say and do. We wonder how we will be perceived.

When others have come to me and asked what to do when they don’t know what to do, I say, “Do what you know.”

The idea was born in quiet times spent with the Lord. For two+ years, little glimpses of the end game would press up my heart, wake me up at night, and tug at me throughout the days.

The process: One idea +prayer+ time in God’s Word+another idea+one page+more time with God+prayer+an AMAZING, gifted, generous designer friend+ more prayer+a few more pages+lots of days+edits+proofing+more prayer+more edits+friends & family prayers=

IT’S DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AT LONG LAST…………

The product~designed with YOU in mind….

a JOURNAL!!!!

A journal, for which I have prayed and prayed and prayed will become as dear to you as this journal, and you are dear to me!! May it be the missing ingredient that will transform laundry lists of prayers into intimate conversations with our Savior!

A 6-week prayer journal designed with YOU in mind!

Pictures to inspire you to keep going!

Scriptures and quotes to challenge you to grow!

A place for you to talk with God.

Personal prayers from my journal from some of the best and worst days of my life.

I may pass out. I still can’t.even.believe. I can FINALLY TELL YOU! & SHOW you!

And because my palms are clammy, and I can barely breathe and need to go outside for a gulp of fresh air let me give you the skinny on how this is going to unfold:

In one week, Monday, Dec. 7th, I’m going to GIVE AWAY 3 JOURNALS before they are available in store and online because you have been so kind and loyal to visit this place!! Here’s HOW TO ENTER the GIVEAWAY:
- sign up to receive post via EMAIL (enter your address–>top right)
- FOLLOW Blessings Beyond the Barnyard on Facebook
- SHARE this post on YOUR Facebook page

STAY TUNED because there is going to be a VIDEO and we are going to journal TOGETHER!!! (because the Facebook family is loud and proud and had no trouble telling me most of them are not on Periscope) I promise to do my best to have my roots done and keep my clammy hands in my lap for the love of the VIDEO. The VIDEO and all of the places the journal will be available will be announced in a blog post later this week.

Whether you are an avid journaler, a wannabe journaler or a not sure what you are-THIS JOURNAL IS FOR YOU!!

I pray it will be so much more than a lovely book on your nightstand.

More than a gift off of your Christmas list.

I pray it is a game changer for you and your closest family and friends!!

Because prayer is powerful and, GOD IS REAL.

It’s with so much love for you and this journal and God how he weaves us all together that I invite you to SHARE the LOVE using hashtag #PrayBig as you share this post with your peeps!

So much LOVE!