Karmen Smith

We’re Not That Different After All

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I recently sat in a living room wrapped two circles deep with women. I strategically placed myself behind a lampshade kind of because I wanted to blend in not stand out. Introductions moved clockwise and were, for the most part, kept brief. Listening intently the Lord quickened me at a couple of their stories but even more so to what wasn’t being said until she spoke.

“May I be honest?” she inquired of our hostess teacher who nodded and said, “Of course!”

Hardship. Heartache. Loneliness.

At her words, I began to exhale. FINALLY someone brave enough to share what others held back. Finally, someone willing to be TRANSPARENT.

Not to make light of circumstance but it was so refreshing to hear the heart of someone who wasn’t “fine.” And even more encouraging was the response to her transparency. One dear began to pat and comfort as she shared, another passed the Kleenex, one began to pray aloud followed by a multitude of others willing to whisper a prayer for a sister in agony. Lastly, one crossed the room to offer a heartfelt hug of assurance accompanied by a smile, “You are not alone.”

The women of whom I had the great pleasure to meet and begin to get to know crossed generational lines and represented multiple denominations and once again confirmed, as it turns out -we’re not that different after all.

You’re struggling in your marriage
She’s struggling with her loneliness
You want to be sober
Her husband passed away
She wants to be okay
Your raising grandchildren
You wish you had her confidence
She wants your waistline
Her husband is an alcoholic
She wants her heart work to be published
You want your life to matter.  She does too.

Yesterday I stumbled upon these wise words from Warren Wiersbe and I hope I never forget, ‘Discovering our uniqueness and using it to the glory of God is the challenge that makes life what it is. Why be a cheap imitation when you can be a valuable original?”

Isn’t that good?

“Why be a cheap imitation when you can be a valuable original!”   I’m changing the punctuation because a quote that good needs an EXCLAMATION MARK (or 2)!!

We are unique because we have been fearfully and wonderfully crafted by The Creative Creator of the Universe!

We are made to glorify Him.  We do that when we use the gifts He has given us for the good of others and when we allow Him to use ALL the messy parts of our lives, to bring Him glory- the parts we adore and the parts we hate.

We are valuable because The God who knows the number of hairs on our head is CRAZY IN LOVE with YOU & me!  So much in love that He sent His only Son, Jesus to pay our sin debt and die for us.  In Him, we have salvation, forgiveness of sin, find our worth & righteousness! Thank you, Jesus!

The challenge: Embracing our lot, accepting the hard seasons and surrendering completely to Christ, The Sovereign King.
Even as I type #thestruggleisreal!! With my whole heart, I believe every single syllable of the redemptive Gospel but I battle with the enemy daily, hourly and even moment to moment at times to surrender my full self, to resign as manager of my life and walk faithfully forward with my eyes fixed on Jesus.

The truth is, whether or not we love what’s going on in our lives doesn’t change what is true: God is Sovereign & His TRUTH stands.

It is by faith, we believe.

I suggest we take Mr. Wiersbe at his word and accept the challenge by embracing our uniqueness and give God glory in spite of our circumstances trusting that He is working ALL things together for our good & His glory.

 

 

Remember dear, YOU are a valuable original crafted by The Creator of the world and He loves you! Oh-how-He loves you so!

🙂

 

P.S. Have you been following our Facebook Live on Thursday nights @8:30? We’re having a great time and would be thrilled if you would tune in and join the conversation!

–> STAY TUNED for more information coming soon about our PRAYER CHALLENGE!

 

 

Hard truths from the garden & Scarlet’s hands

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They were everywhere.

 

Tall ones, short ones, skinny and fat, bushy, prickly ones.

 

Weeds.

 

They were choking out our garden.

 

It’s astonishing how fast they come on after a few summer showers.  The time to declare war on the pesky pest was now or never lest our garden plants perish!!  Our tiller’s on the blitz, so I assembled my weapon, our old faithful garden hoe and headed out into the blazing Alabama sun.

 

Row by row. Weeds versus me.

 

While uprooting one unwelcome guest after another, I began to ponder those wretched weeds and how similar they are to so many things in our life.

 

Tensions.  Unexpected circumstances.  Conversations that don’t go as planned. Stressors.

 

If left undone, like the weeds in the garden, they will begin to choke out our peace, joy, and love.

 

I’ve seen it and heard it on both large and small scales.

 

Bitterness taking root.

 

A couple of weeks ago while loving on the girls in the jail our topic that day, peace.  Some nodded, others crying knowing full well the absence of it when I noticed one of the girls sitting stoic on her bunk staring at me. Finishing our discussion with a few moments to spare I asked, “Does anyone have any questions or anything they’d like to share?”

 

She slowly lifted her hand and whispered, “I do.  I don’t know anything of any of that.  How do you get that peace you speak of?”

 

After a brief exchange, she shared that she’d grown up under an abusive, alcoholic stepfather who was a professing Atheist.  She knew nothing of peace, joy and little about love.  On the other hand, she was all too familiar with abuse, anger, depression.

 

Life’s weeds had slowing been taking her air.

 

As best I knew how I shared the Gospel with her.   Christ’s love and forgiveness.  How it starts with a personal relationship with Jesus Christ because He is real and He is coming back.  In Him, we find forgiveness and can forgive.  In Him, we find peace because He is peace.  In Him, we can love because He IS LOVE.  In Him, we find strength, can uproot & let go of those wretched old weeds and begin to breathe for the very first time.

 

Her stoic demeanour had softened a bit before I hugged her and had to leave.

 

I saw her again last week.  Smiling and much more joyful as we discussed further the goodness of Christ.  No doubt seeds of truth have been planted in my new friend’s soul.  I look forward to the harvest.

 

By day’s end, after my time in the garden, my hands looked like Scarlett Ohara’s in Gone With the Wind after she’d worked her palms raw trying to save Tara.

 

scarlett

 

The blisters and tender spots revealed these truths:

 

Sometimes we have to do hard things.

 

  • Sometimes we need to forgive, and other times ask to be forgiven.
  • Occasionally we have to confront when we’d rather avoid.
  • Many times we have to dig deep, sort through and let go.

 

Hard things are hard but totally worth it.

 

 

Meanwhile, back in the garden, I won the war on the weeds versus me.

 

Hip-hip- HOORAY! Said our tiny little okra plants that were hidden under a copy of weeds but now see the light.

 

In a few weeks while savoring the fresh garden goodness I’m going to remember:

 

Hard things are hard but totally worth it!

 

happy Saturday & much love,

KarmenSmith_signature