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Karen Sipps Writes

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This morning as I was having some quiet time, I fl This morning as I was having some quiet time, I flipped a few pages back in my prayer journal. I read a note I'd jotted down, from a recent theology event I attended. It said, "Embedded in the call to build the tabernacle was the promise of God's presence." Do you ever get the feeling that you're not enough? I do. A lot of times, it's when I read eloquent words - like the ones above - that someone else has written surrounding doxology and theology. Immediately my thoughts were, "I can't write like that. That's not me. How am I ever going to do what you've asked when I don't sound like..." And the words that came whispering into my heart? "I'm not asking you to sound like that. I'm asking you to sound like you." We put these pressures on ourselves, don't we? Pressure to be like someone else or to sound a certain way? But that's not our calling. God calls us because He needs US, in our own voices, talents, gifts, and abilities. Don't let satan's shouts that you aren't good enough speak louder than God's whispers that you are. Cheering for you, Karen #doxology #theology #womenoftheword #hopewriters #youareenough #spiritualgifts
It's been a day today. Personally, we're dealing w It's been a day today. Personally, we're dealing with some things that I just know are spiritual warfare and my mind has not been clear enough to put two thoughts together. My heart wants to... but my brain says, "Do you really want to get involved? You know as soon as you do, satan will attack. What if the risk isn't worth it?" I got to thinking about Esther in the Bible, when her Uncle Mordecai had told her that Haman, an official to the King, planned to massacre all of the Jews. She sent one of her attendants to tell Mordecai, “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.” My ears hear Esther mulling, "Do you really want to get involved? You know as soon as you do, satan will attack. What if the risk isn't worth it?" A wife or concubine of the king could not approach him without being called - of they did, they risked death. But Mordecai reminds her, "Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther came to the same realization I did. It's worth it. She and all of the Jews in exile fasted for three days and said, "When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” Following God's call isn't always easy. There are risks. But if He's called you to walk through the valley, Psalm 23 reminds us of His promise to go through that valley with you. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." ~ Psalm 23:4
During my quiet time on my back porch this morning During my quiet time on my back porch this morning, I noticed several birds looking for food at the empty feeder. I went in to grab some food, and as I lifted up the feeder to dump it in I spot this snail - right on top of the feeder hook! *Dumb old snail, birds EAT you! What are you doing ON THE BIRD FEEDER!??* I moved him to the grass where he'd be less likely to become breakfast. Just like my new snail friend did, we sometimes find ourselves in really dumb positions as a result of choices we've made. How lucky we are that our merciful God rescues us before we're devoured. Psalm 32:7 (ESV): “You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance.” #hopewriters #myhidingplace #writersofinstagram #devotional #womenoftheword
As good of an example the Apostle Paul was, he sti As good of an example the Apostle Paul was, he still wasn't perfect. Like many of us, he says, "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." I feel you, Paul. He goes on to say, "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?" But look: here's the hope for Paul, and for every. single. one. of. us. Romans 7, verse 25: "Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Lord, my deliverer ~ Jehovah Mephalti ~ Psalm 18:2
This week on my FB page (link in bio), I shared wi This week on my FB page (link in bio), I shared with y'all about She-Ra, Princess of Power, the amazing twin sister of He-Man. Both were fictional characters and action figures from my youth. She-Ra had a sword and a tiara, and she was ah-maze-ing. But there is a real life Sheerah from history, and you can read about her 1 Chronicles 7:24. The Bible has just one sentence, "His daughter was Sheerah, who built Lower and Upper Beth Horon as well as Uzzen Sheerah." This one sentence is so significant. In a time where women weren't "out in the workforce" she was. Not only did she build these cities, what she built stood for centuries! What are you building? It doesn't matter if you're a business owner spending your days running meetings, a line worker running an assembly line, or if you spend your days washing and rewashing and REWASHING sippy cups. Hard work matters, and you are influencing *somebody*. No matter what, the foundation matters. Cheering for you, Karen #childofthe80s #allaboutthefoundation #1Chronicles #womenoftheword #HopeWriter #devotional #realhistory
This year for Easter, my husband bought me two Hib This year for Easter, my husband bought me two Hibiscus trees. I love them! They've lived for almost three months and I'm pretty proud of that. But one is not doing so well. We stepped away from home for a couple days and since we came back, one of the patio trees just looks dead. (The 100°+ heat has not helped.) The two are exactly the same. Same pot for transplanting. Same trees. Bought on the same day. Same amount, days, and time of watering. Both see the exact same amount of sun and sit in the same spot on the patio. The only difference is the soil. In one of the trees, I used really good potting soil with extra nutrients and vitamins to encourage growth. But because I underestimated how much I'd need, the second tree was supplemented with plain old potting soil. The soil makes the difference. It's that way with our kids, too. The environment we provide for them - their personal soil - can make the difference in whether they flourish or wither away. We are the homemakers. We decide if our home is filled with nutrients - encouragement, listening, discipline, and love or if it's filled with plain old "whatever's available" - anger, yelling, judgment, and strife. But having nutrient-rich soil is not something we can do on our own. Sometimes we can only do it through prayer, with the wisdom from Godly women who've walked before us, and from seeking God every day on behalf of our kids. They're worth it though. They're so worth it. Keep going mama. Even when it's hard. Cheering for you, Karen #momlife #HopeWriter #brownthumb #hibiscus #womenoftheword #devotional
Sooo that's it, huh? We're only reading ONE chapte Sooo that's it, huh? We're only reading ONE chapter today? . . . . #biblestudy #attentionseeking #sheonlydoesthiswhenistudy
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