Comments on: To be or not to be… http://karensippswrites.com/to-be-or-not-to-be/ Encourage ~ Equip ~ Empower Tue, 27 Feb 2018 10:02:41 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.38 By: Karen http://karensippswrites.com/to-be-or-not-to-be/#comment-6 Mon, 06 Dec 2010 14:07:26 +0000 http://karensippswrites.com/?p=147#comment-6 Just a quick update to this particular blog. Not only is my new venture with Thirty-One gifts taking off (I was promoted once in May, and again in August, but we’ll blog on that another day!), I also had a missionary email me out of the blue. She had stumbled upon my children’s website while looking for Christian stories for children, and asked if she could take my stories from the children’s website with her to read to the children at an orphanage in Nepal she was visiting! What an awesome blessing is that? To be a part of that ministry is amazing!

(And thanks LE for the encouragement! It was much needed!)

]]> By: LME http://karensippswrites.com/to-be-or-not-to-be/#comment-4 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:14:27 +0000 http://karensippswrites.com/?p=147#comment-4 Hey Karen, I don’t know if I can say anything to help, but just know that you are not alone. I think that the majority of women, especially Moms, feel pulled in way too many directions. I know I have been having a mini meltdown of my own here lately, too. You wrote that you don’t know if God can “save you from your poor choices”, but I wish you would not feel that way because I don’t think you have made poor choices at all. I know that you think you may have missed the boat on becoming a teacher, but I think some of that confusion may be coming from the demanding position that you currently hold in the field that I believe God intends you to be in. Currently, you are keeping hours that don’t mesh well with your goals as a Mom and teaching seems like a good fit because of the hours teachers get to keep. Since I struggle with my career choice from time to time (I have the teacher certificate, but don’t use it. Do you want mine? haha), how about we both pray that we focus less on the “I have to have my career life figured out” and more on making a difference in our spiritual lives. That’s all that matters in the end, anyway, right? Then, we will pray specifically that God will give you a new job that takes pressure off of your home life, no matter what that job is and whether it solves the problem of paying off loans, supporting the current lifestyle, etc. As far as the second job goes, if you continue to not have a peace with that then I think it is not God’s plan. If he does want you to continue with that, don’t allow guilt to get a stronghold because you and God both know it is only for a season and that you do have the bigger picture for your family in mind. Also, you have the call to write your stories, and I also believe that is a true talent of yours but you have got to stop making that a burden by feeling like it should be at a certain level, as well. That is your art and it is supposed to be fun. Work on it when you have the time and if you don’t publish your first book until your 80, then so be it! There are no time/age limits! If God chooses your stories to be your teaching ministry, then He is going to make it happen on His timetable, so quit trying to get in the way! (haha).
Also, know that your family loves you even if you don’t fit that “Mom greets me at the door” model. You work hard for them every day, come home to them every day and are involved and present with them in the time that you do have. There are tons of husbands and kids out there that wish they had someone like you.
If your heart continues to desire more time in your home life, I know that with time and prayer, God will open the doors needed to make that happen. I will be praying for you and in the meantime, don’t put so much pressure on yourself to have it all figured out right now!
I get like that, too, and God has to pull me back to reality, so I know what I’m talking about! :)

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