Blog

Who Is This Crazy Lady

/ Psal121 / Leave a comment

and why should you listen to anything she says?

I am first, a child of the Most High God. I have many roles in this life, but very few of them define me like being a Jesus follower.  I love Jesus. He gifted me with salvation. He has given me many other talents and a life full of adventure. He has created in me the ability to tell stories through several mediums: film, books and photography.

I have stood at the feet of the Great Emancipator in the District of Columbia, stood at the edge of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama and touched the Gates of Time in Oklahoma City, OK. Those are just a few of the places, I have stopped at. Not only has He given me adventure, but a heart for the people I encounter along the way.

I am also a mom, sister, travel companion, coworker, friend, annoying person who always reminds you of what God’s Word says on a subject. I cherish all of the roles (especially the latter.)

In 2016, many of you have gotten to know me by some of those roles and I would like to thank you. It has been a year full of photography, books and film. I appreciate your support.

I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Karen

UPP Creative Media

getting-those-steps-in

 

Christmas Moments

/ Psal121 / Leave a comment

Life is full of great moments and I had one today. Some friends and I were talking about buying Christmas presents for our children and how overwhelming it could be.  Then T said “Remember when all you really wanted for Christmas was a bike?”

“Yes!”

Remember when everyone in the neighborhood had to have a bike.  And if you didn’t have one, you were riding on the back or sitting on the handlebar.  I remember getting my bike for Christmas. (and the hell of having my father try to teach me to ride it.)

But I learned and rode with my friends who had bikes. We would ride fast with the wind in our hair. We would pretend to be bus drivers or race car drivers.  There was a hill where I lived so it was always a challenge to get down the hill and still be upright on your bike.

And then T said “Then everyone wanted roller-skates.”

And so did we. This was before helmets, knees pads and etc. I remember my sister and I in our bright new white skates with the cousins skated to the store. When we was almost at the store, this big dog jumped out barking.  Baby we was like those Fred Flintstones feet. (Running as fast as we can but going nowhere.) (Although my sister did fall on broken glass and hurt herself) But we made it through.

T reminded us of the Walkman and that Boombox with a record button. You could put your cassette tape in and record yourself singing. Beautiful memories.4

My pastor said we should give our kids memories, not more stuff.  He was right.  I have great memories, as jacked up as some of them are. I wouldn’t trade them.  Go make memories.

/ Psal121 / Leave a comment

 

I love to tell stories. I love allowing you to connect the dots in your head. My goal is always to create a moment that you can feel. When you read or view one of my stories I want to leave an impression of hope.

I love seeing how a good story is told. Frank Capra is one of my favorite storytellers. I enjoyed seeing how he saw the world and the people in it. There is a moment in “It’s a Wonderful Life” when George realizes his dream is not going to happen.  The rest of the film shows him he has something better than what he dreamt about.

This is our life.  There are things we want in this life and some of us are killing it to achieve. And we are so disappointed when we get there and it is not what we thought it would be. But God knows what we really need. After all, He made us. He knows us intimately.

Sometimes we are sent on detours to build up our spiritual muscles for the tasks that are coming to us.  You may be on a detour right now. Soak up as much as you can. Enjoy the journey. I am on a detour right now, and it is such a blessing.IMG_5854

Just like these roses don’t pop open instantly, they have to press the hard green leaves away so that they can bloom. Know the hard green leaves that are around you are there to protect you until it is time to bloom. Remember God has a season for everything.

The best quote from BSF this month was that true worship was when your spirit meets Jesus’. Amen. Don’t miss this opportunity because it could be the thing that takes you where your spirit will bloom. You see God only creates beautiful things.

It is my quest to stay connected to Jesus so that the work that comes from me will make you laugh. Be Encouraged. Live.

 

The Pages Talk Back

/ Psal121 / Leave a comment

Over the last couple of days I have had to thank God for my work friends. Y’all, they are a hoot. Four of these ladies give me the best set of giggles. They inspire me. They encourage me. They remind me what it’s all about.

IMG_5854

One of my friends is deaf. Over the last year, I have become the person who interprets and lets her know what is going on. (Did I mention I do not sign?) When I started, I would write everything down. But I soon learned that people say a lot of stuff that is unimportant. So now I focus on the important things that people say. Yes, I edit. She doesn’t mind. Recently I have gotten enough courage to sign using the alphabet when she and I have private conversations.

She is amazing in that she remembers everyone we work with, even though she doesn’t know their name.  She will ask about the girl with the blonde hair. The other day, she asked about our friend Jesus’ friend.  At first I was a little throwed off because when I see the word Jesus and Friend, I think “we are all his friend.” But she meant the young man who worked with us.  She has some limited speech so when she vocalized it, she pronounced the J. I had a quiet giggle and answered her question.

I admire the fact that she works in hearing situation. She lives her life like everyone else only she can’t hear. The other day she walked passed me and I had ear plugs in to help cancel out some of the noise. She cracked up at the sight of them. She couldn’t believe I was trying to keep sound out.

Another woman I look for every work day is Ms. Positive. She is not the bubbly happy for no reason person. She is a woman with a deep seed of joy. She will tell you that she is 98 percent positive. The other 2 percent is not negative, it is just something else.  This sister has an amazing perspective on life and our purpose here. She spends her time encouraging others.

I used to sit a table over and listen to her talk to others. My favorite conversation was “poor was a state of mind. You are not poor.” But sometimes the conversation got so good, I had to join in.  She knows what she is here for and has goals. I love that.

My friend SK would be the one who makes me belly laugh. She has two daughters that started college this year, so everything I am going through, she is getting double. Let me tell you, that don’t phase her at all.  Somedays when she starts talking I hear Helen Reddy in the background singing, “I am strong! I am invincible! I am woman!” No matter what she encounters she says, “I am going to handle this.” And I see the same thing lived out in her daughters.

And finally, my girl T-Rae. She deserves to punch me in the mouth, but instead gives me a smile and says that is okay.  She is very sweet and forgiving. This morning, on our overtime day, our boss asked her “Do you know how to do XYZ?” She said “No.” I said, “Yes you do.” Because of that everyone else got to go home, and we had to stay and work.  She should have socked me in the mouth. I would have. (I really wanted to leave. I could have socked myself in the mouth.)

She is the mother of a boy and pours into his life. She is not afraid to voice views that are different than other peopel. She introduces me to stuff I have never thought about, like eating SPAM. (IKR) We have the liveliest discussions around child raising and pretty much anything on television. We often sit like Homey the Clown, reminding people that “We don’t play that.” Yet under the gruff exterior are two women who crack up laughing all the time.

Each one of these women have their own views on life and I have the privilege right now to hear it. I wish I could bring them over and we all have a conversation. It is like reading a living breathing book. And the best part is that I get to participate.

 

Stormy Days and Sleepless Nights

/ Psal121 / Leave a comment

Rainy wet days are not good for getting my steps in, but lots of good came from the storm clouds this week. My dying rose bushes really appreciated the rain. There is something about the water from heaven that truly beats the water from the hose. The bushes find almost instant satisfaction and renewal.

I find the same type of satisfaction in the midst of a storm. While storm raged overhead, they also raged inside. I got to have conversations with different women this week that revealed how God worked through their storms. Like the dried out roses, some women were beaten and battered but at the roots they were nourished. They found strength in the struggle.

20160820_194546

This week something that was meant to harm me, turned into one of my most powerful moments.  I took that and empowered others. God is so good. I know many women going through right now, but let me tell you God is getting some glory through them. Several times I had to stop and shout because the Lord’s word does not return void.

20160814_195813

I can’t count how many times this week I have said, “Don’t worry, God has got this! Don’t be afraid. Trust the process.”  We tend to focus on the the dark clouds overhead, and not the impact the clouds have on our life. We only have one way of seeing a storm as something that is coming to destroy us. When all the Lord is doing is tearing loose something that has us bound.

But we need to pray to see the storm the way the Lord sees it.

He tells us in His word that His ways are not our ways, His thoughts are not our thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8)

20160814_200048

 

What Makes The Difference For You?

/ Psal121 / Leave a comment

Like many in the world, I have been consumed by the Olympics in Rio this past week. I have enjoyed watching the young and strong  compete against each other and the sense of national pride it gives to us who do not have youth and strength. Like life, there have been good moments and not so good moments. All of these moments have made a difference in these athletes lives.

My favorite moment was when Simone Manuel realized she had won the gold medal in her swim meet. That innocent moment of looking up after the race to see where she had finished turned into something epic. Instead of being there to be a part of the race, she was now ready to win the race because she knew she could. (photo by Doug Mills NYT)

920x920

What makes the difference for you?

For me it is prayer. God taught me who, what, when, where and how. He gave me several amazing examples, but one that holds my heart is BSF leadership.  I remember many a cold morning on my knees praying with these sisters. I don’t think there is anything on this side of heaven like it. Then He strengthen my prayer muscles by having me exercise them. He taught me that to communicate with Him is the best way to live this life.

I have never really thought about being a prayer warrior until someone said something.  There are a list of people I pray over daily. Some are life timers, while others are just for a season. (the longer the list, the earlier I have to get up. enough said.) I revisit the list every quarter. Sometimes I move people off, but it is not God’s intention that they are off. For example there is one person I have been praying for, and I moved her off the list because it had been years since I have seen her. But every morning, the Lord brings her to mind. (His way of telling me she is still on the list.)

Another example is my oldest brother. For years I thought he was dead because we had not seen him in years, but prayed for him anyway.  I remember praying “Lord, he is with you. Why is he still on my list?” Turns out he wasn’t dead, and obviously needed those prayers.

20160813_183339

Tonight, I was having dinner with a fellow empty nester and she said, “You are a prayer warrior.” Kinda like Simone, I looked up at her to see what she meant. Then I got it.

Once you know you are in a race to win, you swim differently than when you are just glad to be in the race. I realized not everyone is called to pray like I pray, but I am going to treat it like an Olympic event. I am going to do it with all I got.

Rio-olympic-medal

Personal Note

/ Psal121 / Leave a comment

It has been a good week.

In addition to making it to both bible studies this week, I also got to see Beth Moore on television Wednesday night.  Nothing beats listening to this woman explain chiastic structure. We know God will turn a situation around, thanks to the lovely study of Esther.

2

I had a great first time experience at Loc Stars salon in Arlington.  It had a very urban city feel and the owner is passionate about healthy hair. I love seeing people do things they are passionate about. And there is nothing better than a good hair washing and a glass of sweet tea. (yes, I am southern)

1

In the midst of writing my magnum opus, I have found inspiration in the strangest places, but it only makes the story better. Sometimes I try to rush a story along to fill a deadline. But it flows the way it wants to. I started this story 20 some odd years ago and I am amazed at how it evolves. Loving it.

And I am all about a good story.

At the beginning of my work week, other members of my team started some training that I had requested months ago. I was a little twisted when I found out one of the people who was being trained had never requested it.

3

And I said, “Really, God?” Yet I decided I was going to be happy for him. He really needed the break.  But he kept coming by my station on his breaks to chat.  “Really.” Not only do I have to be happy, but I have to watch him rub it in. I decided I was going to enjoy where I was. I was not going to complain to my manager about choosing people who didn’t even want it. I was going to wait for my turn, quietly.

The next day, I bump into another one of my team members going through this training. Again, people are going through training who did not request it.

“Not fair, God. But You know what you are doing.” I am going to shut up.

I had decided that God knew what He was doing even though I didn’t. I wasn’t going to throw a fit. I was going to wait my turn. In the meantime, I had a revelation.

I am at a moment in my life where I like God. You know how you can love someone, but not like them? For example, you love your parents but sometimes you might not like them because of interactions with them. Where it not for the Shekinah Glory and those scary creatures guarding Him, I know The Most High and I could sit over coffee and have a good chat.

When I get to work on Friday, there are no stations available for several of us. I look at the QB and ask what are the options. to make a long story short, two of my friends and I started training on the thing I had wanted all week. Not only do  I get the training I want, but I also get it with my friends. “Wow God!”

We had the best day. And all day, I thought God knew this was going to happen. Things did not start the way I thought they should. But He had it all planned. I just had to trust Him. It turned out way better than I planned. Amen.

4

Here are my harsh words

/ Psal121 / Leave a comment

This is a letter to my Facebook Friends,

For all the folks who thought my FB posts were harsh. Here is harsh. Only three of you left, and I really thought more should go. You can follow me and not be my friend if you just want to keep up with what I am doing. After all you haven’t been my friend in a long time.

I know you applaud the people who say we all share in the responsibilities for racism. But you are white people. You run the world. You own most of the stuff in it. You messed it up. Put your big girl panties on and take some responsibility for it.  Stop trying to make black people take responsibility for being shot by cops.

We see black people being shot on video by the ones who is supposed to protect them and then hear, “Let’s wait for the investigation.”

Here is the investigation many of you will be experiencing.

You will be standing in heaven before our one and only. You are saved from damnation, but He will say, lets look at your “love” life.

And you will be “Well I needed the IRA for retirement, the vacations for my family, a new car every two years, my wardrobe needed updating, and but I did go on some church retreats.”

He will say “It’s okay. women and children in your neighborhood died of starvation, without shelter and simple medical procedures. But that just let them get to me sooner, right? You were working for the gospel.”

“Lord, I made donations.”

“You mean the stuff you didn’t want, like you gave me.” I think the Lord is going to belly laugh on that one.

I don’t care if you don’t like me, I am going to always hit you between your eyes with the truth. When I was hungry you did not feed me, when I was thirsty, you did not offer me a drink. I have gone through probably two of the hardest years of my life and not one of you called. So take all of your talk about Jesus teaching love and go somewhere. When you start living the love Jesus talked about, then I will listen.

You become like the people you surround yourself with. I don’t want to be like you. I thank God for that revelation. Even though I love you all, I don’t want your faith and definitely don’t want your love because there is so little to it.

Recently I have been working with people who are poor but have faith to move mountains. I love hearing them encourage each other on what Jesus will do.  I love being a part of them because they believe God for much even if it is just a meal or a place to live. My favorite homegirl tells everyone poor is a state of mind.

I know God is calling you to do something else, but you are waiting for all the circumstances to be right. They aren’t ever going to be right. That is what faith is all about. Stop being an idiot and go do what God called you to do. It is not going to be easy. Everyone is going to talk about you. But Baby, let me tell you the only one who counts is the one who is sending you.

There will be a check by my name in heaven because I will have said everything He told me to say!

I used to be afraid of failure. But now, I just let it go. As long as I am here, God will continue to use me. God continues to pour people into my life who really love him and live like it.

Go find a Lifegroup. Find a group of people and really live life together.  Make an investment in each other.

When God prunes, it is so that growth can occur, so I am not offended by you leaving my Facebook page. I know for everyone that leaves, God is sending two back.  Go find yourself a new black friend. (And be nicer to them than you were to me.)

Peace

Five Things to Pray for Your Kids as They Leave the Nest

/ Psal121 / Leave a comment

Even though your kids have reached the status of young adults and are leaving the nest, you should continue to pray over them. I have found it very effective to pray God’s word over mine. He is faithful.

1  Pray that Their Mind, Their Thoughts will value God’s Word over the world’s values

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 

Philippians 4:8

My daughter is entering college and will be inundated with all types of information. I pray that she will focus on the things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable to God. It is very easy to focus on all the negative in life. It will be difficult not to focus on the trivial in our society.  I pray that God will focus her mind on praiseworthy things.

 

1

.

2

 

2  Pray that they will not be anxious but trust God in each situation

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

The thing that gets me anxious is sitting in traffic.  I lose control of time and am at the will of the people in front of me. I hate it. When parents are not around, I know anxiousness will rush in to the hearts of our young adults and try to set up house.  Pray that each situation they encounter they will take to God and make their requests. Pray that God’s peace will rule over their lives.

 

 

7

 

3 Pray that they will have Godly friends and faithful family

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. Proverbs  17:17

My first college roommate brought a young man in the room while I was in bed asleep.  I woke up to the two of them across from me.  My innocent Southern Baptist upbringing had not prepared me for that. Our young adults will encounter thousands of people, most of which will not be good for them. Pray the God will surround them with Godly friends and influences.

6

 

 

4 Pray that the Lord will enlightened them to their Calling

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people. Ephesian 1:18

At a time in life when many set out to make millions or become wealthy, pray they will focus on what God is calling them to in this life. Pray they will understand that it is far more profitable to be in God’s calling than to make their first million.

4

 

 

5 Pray that they will Trust the Lord leading them on the Path

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
 in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

In order to trust God, one has to know God. You get to know God by studying His word. God gives us all a passion. Pray that they will spend time in God’s word and come to trust Him. As they come to trust, He will make clear the path they should take.

5

Pray God’s word over your young adult and watch what God will do.

It Is Not Going To Stop

/ Psal121 / Leave a comment

So at my work, when you are talking to someone and they are telling you about a situation that requires a whole lot of work and effort to be resolved, usually the conversation will end with:

“But this is my overtime day, so that is not going to happen.”

You feel for them. You get it. They have put in their regular work week and have added some to it. For them to go so far over the top would be ridiculous.

So it was my overtime day. It was set up perfect!

1

I was on my favorite floor, in one of the best locations (by the breakroom and the restroom). And there was a fan close by cause these are the 100 degree days.  To top all of this off, one of the coolest supervisors was on the floor. It was going to be a chillaxing day.

Super Christian that I am, I was encouraging others. Saying this is going to be a good day. We are going to make it happen. There were high fives, fists bumps, etc.

About 30 minutes into my shift, cool supervisor came by and said, “You trained in (another department)?”

“I don’t want to do that today. This is my overtime day.”

She said “Cool. If they don’t call back, we good.”

I sent up my quick prayer. Fifteen minutes later she showed up and said I had to go.

Crap! This is my overtime day.

Needless to say I go to another department. It started out okay, but not my chillaxing day I had planned.

After lunch that job changed.  It was something ten times harder than anything I had done. I worked harder than I have ever worked. My back called me names that were not polite and would probably make you blush. I sweated so hard I was soaking wet down to my underwear. This was so opposite of what I had planned.

But I learned something new about work and about me.  It was hard. It was fun. It was worth it.

In this world, when we pray for peace and for God’s intervention, that is what we expect.  We expect God to reign peace down on us because we are praying for it, kinda like I expected a chillaxing day. Yet it seems like the harder we pray, the more violence breaks out.

We have visualized a world in our minds that really doesn’t exist. Kinda like my chillaxing day.  In order for us to have peace, everyone has to leave their chillaxing behind and go to work in another department. We are not giving up our comfort zones to meet others where they need us. I don’t believe we are there. We don’t sound like it yet. White people want black people to change. Black people want white people to change. Until we all change I think the violence is only going to get worse. We are heading for very dark days.

3

Until we are all broken, I don’t believe God will do anything with us. Our hearts are not contrite. We are still lost in darkness. We are still finger pointing and wanting it to be someone else’s fault. We are still mourning in different camps. Some mourn for the officers, some mourn for the victims.  God is waiting for us all to mourn together.

This morning at church, Stephen Rickels reminded us that the way that God thinks and the way that man thinks are different. We often think we know what is best because of how it feels to us. God knows what is best and has a plan in motion to deliver us. It is going to be hard. We are going to sweat. It is going to be worth it because we will all do it together.

2

When we break sweat together we will know what our God is up to. As long as we stay in our separate camps we are doomed. He warned us about these days. It was not an accident we studied the Book of Revelation last year. We need to believe Him.

Some of us are not going to make it through this violence. Stop living your life like this doesn’t affect you. We have been a nation sheltered from this kind of violence, but we have chosen to be free of God who had politely stepped back and given us over to it. Until then I think we will find we live in a dangerous environment that we help create.

The good news is that this isn’t the end of the story. When Adam and Even sinned and separated themselves from God, He had a plan for reconciliation. You see God loves us more than we can imagine.

His plan was for Jesus to come to earth as a man, live a perfect life and be the sacrifice we needed to reconcile us with Him.

1

Jesus suffered death on a cross for us. He rose from the dead after three days. He promised that if you believe in Him, you will have everlasting life. You see the devil doesn’t win if you believe in Jesus.

You want to know how to stop the violence, make sure everyone around you believes in Jesus.  Even if they are absent from the body, they are present with Lord. Amen. We win.