Kara

I need your help! Rallying the troops!!!

May 16, 2016 By Kara Leave a Comment

I’m writing today to try to rally the troops to help a super deserving couple.

Meet my cousin Kestler and his wife, Hannah:

For over three years, they have been trying to grow their family and to become parents. After exhausting all other options, they feel led to begin a journey with IVF (In Vitro Fertilization).

As you may know, IVF can be super expensive, and they have been told to plan for at least $20,000 plus an additional $5,000 for medications.

Kestler is the pastor of a small, local church and Hannah runs a home-based business called Heavenly Kreations Cakes. They work hard and have done what they can to save. Their family and friends have decided to come alongside of them to try to help ease some of the financial burden and have been busy planning fundraisers, auction items, and other projects.

I don’t have skills like many of the other people participating such as quilting, or painting, or designing, but I want to use what I have to try to contribute. The Lord has led me to the idea of a raffle.

For every $5 donation you make towards this cause, you will be entered into a drawing to win AN ENTIRE YEAR MEMBERSHIP to the At-Home TRIBE. This is an online community that has full-body, do-from-home workouts, Scripture based teaching, online accountability and support, recipes, nutrition guidelines, and more!

Here are the details:

-The RAFFLE opens RIGHT NOW and will run through Sunday, May 22nd at 8 a.m. EST.
-one $5 donation will get your name entered into the drawing ONE time.
If you want to donate more, your name will be entered an additional time for each $5 that you contribute. -Donations will take place through a private PAYPAL link that is completely secure.
-Anyone can donate or enter, but the prize can only go to a female as the At-Home TRIBE is an all-female group. Sorry, guys. You could still donate and give to your wife, sister, mother, friend.
-This prize is valued at $120 and will consist of a free 365 day membership that will begin on June 1st, 2016 and run through June 1st, 2017.

Even if you aren’t interested in a free membership with workouts, recipes, group accountability, and support, would you prayerfully consider donating?

Kestler has been a huge part of my life since he was born and I can tell you with all sincerity and transparency, that he is a good, God-honoring man. He will make an amazing father. He pastors his church with integrity and a humble heart and is a hard worker. His wife Hannah is sweet, and kind, and will be a phenomenal Mama. She’s gifted and talented in her craft, and she supports Kestler so well.

Be-YOU-tiful

April 26, 2016 By Kara Leave a Comment

Yesterday on Facebook I shared a clip for a message that I delivered this past Friday night.
The theme of the Women’s event was Be-YOU-tiful and I was invited to speak with the woman about worth, value, identity, competition and comparison. We had the BEST time learning more about who God says that we are and in discussing ways to reclaim our God-given identity as Daughters of the Most High God.

Many of you have watched this clip and have asked if I would make available to you the list of scriptures that I shared in the video. To get your own copy, just click HERE to access the PDF file.
Print it out. Hang it on your bathroom mirror, on the dashboard of your car, on your kitchen pantry and refrigerator, beside your bed. Place it in so many places that you are constantly being reminded of WHOSE you are and of WHO you are.

I pray that it blesses you today!

You are loved, friend!

HopeFest 2016…Holy Ground

April 25, 2016 By Kara Leave a Comment

Last weekend was HopeFest.

Some of you may remember this post, where I told you how I had been given the incredible opportunity to travel to Phoenix to help with this event. It was everything that I imagined it would be, but so much more!

Imagine people gifted in every type of way- doctors, dentists, nurses, accountants, lawyers, pastors, teachers, hairstylists, audiology specialists, singers, painters, balloon art makers, food service professionals, and every other type of gifting you can imagine. Now picture tables and tables full of free clothing and shoes, chair after chair set up for free haircuts, entire rooms devoted to those who needed immunizations, medical care, vision exams, tooth extractions, dentures made, personal care items, and on and on and on.

The 25,000 poor and homeless of Phoenix showed up with a variety of needs, and their needs were met in ways that exceeded any expectations that I had. The thousands of volunteers showed up, thinking they were there to meet needs, but in turn were blessed beyond words. I know I was.

Before I attended this event, someone said to me, “I don’t get it…you’re going there to do fitness??? Why do the poor and homeless need to get in shape?”

This person misunderstood as many probably do.

We weren’t there to give them a fitter, more toned body.

We were there to train hope.

And it was beautiful.

Whether we were taking these precious people through a circuit, or leading in a drumstick routine, or jumping rope, or doing a ping-pong ball toss, or dancing, or praying over them, we were delivering HOPE.

We were talking to them about hurdles they’ve had to overcome. We were praying with them over broken homes, drug and alcohol addictions, mental illness, homelessness, cancer diagnoses, and about the Lord.

It was beautiful and it was holy, and it changed my perspective forever.

Want to know what I saw on those faces when they were moving?

JOY.

When I watched a young mother jumping rope and her daughter looking at her with eyes full of love and joy chanting “Mama!! Mama!!! Go, Mama!!!” I was moved to tears.

When we were singing and a man walked up to ask where he needed to sleep at in order to get in line for dental services, I was moved to tears.

When I prayed with a dear woman that she would get to be reunited with her children one day and to earn her G.E.D, I was moved to tears.

When I bent down to give a tshirt to a little girl who smiled at me with the most beautiful, sparkling, hope filled eyes and a mouth full of rotten teeth, I was moved to tears.

As I watched another volunteer lead one of these precious souls to Christ, I was moved to tears.

When I saw the way these families took care of each other, I was moved to tears.

When I walked down the line of free haircuts and saw over 50 men and boys getting their hair trimmed for the first time in a long time, I was moved to tears.

When I stopped by the prayer room and saw hands raised and knees bent, I was moved to tears.

When I watched our volunteers serve, and love, and hug, and celebrate over each person who came over to join us, I was moved to tears.

It was beautiful.

It was holy.

And I’m forever grateful.

To any of you who supported us through your prayers or through your tshirt donation, thank you. We weren’t there just to give out free t-shirts and to entertain the amazing people of Phoenix. We were there to remind them that LOVE is always greater than fear and that they have a place at the table. They belong. They matter. They are loved. And there is ALWAYS hope.

Super Quick Shirt Sale: GOD MADE Eph. 2:8-10

April 3, 2016 By Kara Leave a Comment

Hey, friends!

I’ve got a super quick shirt sale up that will be open until THURSDAY. In case any of you are interested, here are the details:
There are TWO colors in this design, a yellow and an aqua. People often ask me for a design that would work for men, and the yellow will work well. Here’s what the men’s version looks like:

This same yellow design comes in a women’s relaxed fit v-neck tshirt (100% comfortsoft cotton), a premium tshirt in both pink and gray (this one is a super soft cotton/poly blend), and in a hoodie.
Here are all the designs in the YELLOW font:

I’m also running this same design in an aqua font as many of you requested it on our Facebook page. This aqua design comes in: Hanes relaxed fit women’s v-neck (100% comfort soft cotton), TeeSpring Women’s Premium tshirt (super comfy cotton/poly blend), and in a hoodie. There are different color options, also.

You can order your shirt directly from the following links:
Yellow Design: www.teespring.com/GodmadeYellow

Aqua Design: www.teespring.com/Godmade1

These are only open until THURSDAY, so be sure to order before then!!!

Thanks, friends!

Sweet Potato Chili

March 22, 2016 By Kara Leave a Comment

Hey, Friends!
It’s been a while since I’ve shared a new recipe. This one is easy AND delicious- the perfect combination!

Ingredients:
1-1.5 lbs ground beef
1 can stewed tomatoes
1 can fire roasted diced tomatoes
1 green pepper, chopped
1 onion, chopped
Chili seasoning of choice (I use a low sodium packet from Wal-Mart. Yes, I know, it’s not perfect, but it works for us during this stage of life).
1 large sweet potato

Directions:
1- Cut your sweet potato into small pieces and boil. I probably did mine for a little too long and it became too soft when stirring in the chili. I would cook it long enough to soften it but don’t cook it so much that it’s mushy.

2- While potato is boiling, brown your ground been in a large pot with your diced onion and pepper. I also added garlic at this point.
3- Once brown and no pink remains, add in all other ingredients except the potato.
4- Let that simmer a while and then add in your sweet potatoes.

Serve and enjoy!
We found it was even better the following day.

For times when you’re not okay…

March 17, 2016 By Kara 1 Comment

She sat with her head down. She had her hands folded in her lap, her feet crossed, and she was hunched over in her chair. With her chin trembling she finally looked up, tears spilling from her eyes and said these three words: “I’m not okay”.

Just with the weight of having said them out loud, she seemed to exhale a bit.

The words “I’M NOT OKAY” have been repeated to me in multiple ways over the years I worked as a counselor. They’ve been whispered to me in a group therapy session, written to me in emails, and even sent as a note slipped under my office door. They’ve been said through tears when sitting and talking with a friend, and they’ve been shouted in anger. I can remember saying them to my husband one day while sitting on our kitchen counter and completely falling apart. “I’m not okay”. Many of us walk around saying these three words to ourselves over and over and over again.

These words have also been spoken by the enemy to my soul as an accusation more times that I can count phrased like this:
“You’re not okay.”
“If people knew who you really were, they would be so disappointed.”
“Try harder. Perform more. Strive. Hustle. Earn your worth.”

These words have power.

We are told early and often by society, our families, our teachers, and our leaders that we must have our act together all the time. We’re told that we must be ready to perform the tasks we’re given flawlessly, that we must have our happy mask firmly in place before interacting with others, and that we must carry on at all costs. We’re told through the words and actions of others that we must perform well to be loved.

But what about when we just can’t?
What about when the pressure to be ‘okay’ (as if there is such a thing) is too great to bear and we simply cannot put that mask on any longer?
What then?

Today, there are two fundamental truths you need to know:

1- You are not okay.
2- That is okay.

Want to know another rarely talked about but nonetheless truth?
No one is.

And if we were, we wouldn’t need a Savior.

Here’s the beautiful part:
If you have been saved by Jesus, then when He came into your life and saved you, you became HIS.
All of you.
And now, instead of you living, it’s His Holy Spirit living inside of you. When God looks at you, He doesn’t see all the mess that you think you are, He sees His perfect Son.

So although We may be broken, He is not.

Although we may be overwhelmed, He is perfectly in control.

Although we may feel defeated, He is still the Victor.

Although we are discouraged, He is our Encourager living INSIDE OF US.

The three words that the enemy tries to use to kill, steal, and destroy the gift that God has put inside of us?
You’re not okay.

The response we need to take:
BUT JESUS IS.

If you’re struggling today, feeling like you’re not enough, that you’re broken beyond repair, and that you’ll never have your act together, here’s some good news:
YOU DON’T HAVE TO.

That’s why God sent us Jesus.
You are enough because of who He is.
You are not broken, you’re loved. We get to turn to Him and let Him take our broken places and to turn them into beautiful testimony of His healing power.
And you don’t have to have your act together all the time. Our weakness is the perfect vehicle to display HIS glory.

Truth is? I’m not okay. But I’ve got a Savior who is.
And THAT is enough for me.