karentrue.com

Getting Somewhere Good

Posted on11. May, 2010 by Karen True.

The Hebrew people thought the first things you do each day should be the most important things.

This recent comment from our pastor must have made an impression on My Boy. I was surprised when he came to my room Saturday morning and asked, “Mom, can we snuggle?” in place of the usual, “Can I play Wii?”

“Do chickens have feathers,” I thought.

So we snuggled and talked for probably 15 minutes, which on the 10-year old boy-o-meter is the mathematical equivalent of a lifetime. Then he fixed his giant brown eyes directly on mine and told me how it felt good to do the right thing. When I asked what he meant he gave this explanation…

Well, Mr. Randy (that’s our pastor) said you show what you think is important by what you choose to do first each day. I wanted you to know that you’re more important than the Wii, so I chose to spend time with you first.

This was followed by a big smile from My Boy. A dramatic pause. Misty eyes for me. And then the inevitable…

So, can I play Wii now?

I think we’re getting somewhere good.

Just Wondering: How do you start your day?

Visit:

Continue Reading

True Woman

Posted on04. Apr, 2010 by Karen True.

I spent last weekend at the True Woman conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee. No, the conference wasn’t named after me, but I did try to capitalize on it whenever could. The best part of the weekend was spending it with the true women in the picture above (Julie, Jennifer, Theresa and me). Jennifer’s Dr. Phil was there too, and it was great to see him, but I figured he’d consider it a compliment to be excluded from the list of true women.

Julie and I were there to “woman” the womensministry.net booth. Jennifer was there to speak at the conference. And Theresa was there to assist Jennifer. The occasion gave us all a chance to meet a lot of wonderful folks together and also to catch up on life. It was fun and totally exhausting and I’d do it again tomorrow if given half a chance.

We sat in on the conference, and I have to say that I had four highlights: Jennifer Rothschild, Keith & Kristyn Getty, a ministry called Prison to Purpose and Kay Arthur.

• Jennifer shared a message I hadn’t heard before, and though I can still laugh and cry over the stories I’ve heard her tell a jillion times, this one was overflowing with grace and joy, and it has affected me profoundly as I’ve pondered it over the past several days.
• Keith & Kristyn Getty write much of the music we sing in our churches, and it was my joy to hear them sing in person and to occasionally hear their Irish accents as well. They are a lovely and gifted pair who write modern hymns for the church and now have me as president of their fan club.
• The prison ministry I mentioned is called Prison to Purpose and was featured at the conference. The ministry is led by a former inmate who is leading others to Christ as she returns to serve as a prison chaplain. I’m trying to get my hands on the video they showed because it has one of the most powerful messages ever. Yes, I’ll share it here if I succeed.
• And well, hearing Kay Arthur again is, well, there really are no words. She’s Kay Arthur for crying out loud. 76 years old in spike heeled boots, parading the bold truth all over that stage at 10:00 p.m. while I can barely keep my eyes open. Honestly, I was so tired by the time she spoke that I cannot tell you much about what she said, but her person and her passion speak so loudly, I’m inspired still.

Since returning home, I’ve been pondering what it means to be a True Women. Here’s how I’d describe her…

• Unique: She knows to whom she belongs. God is her maker and master, and she finds her value and significance in knowing Him.
• Authentic: She lives for an audience of One, so she can live without being controlled by her emotions.
• Joyful: Her life isn’t perfect, but she knows joy that exists outside of temporary circumstances.
• Purposeful: Her eyes see beyond the moment, and her life reflects a perspective focused on eternal things.

These are some of my core values, and though I don’t always live up to them, I still find in them the basis for living life, making choices and building relationships. Last I looked, God still has His “Under Construction” sign hanging on the door of the soul of this true woman in the making.

I’m curious. How do you describe a true woman?

Continue Reading

Happy Birthday from Heaven

Posted on01. Apr, 2008 by karentrue.

My friend, Charla, called a couple of weeks ago to say they were coming to Houston and would like to pay us a visit. We could hardly wait. They arrived in San Antonio last night after a few bumps in the road…a vandalized RV, a sick son and two days of camping in a Wal-Mart parking lot while they waited for the repair of their out of commission truck! When they called to say they were about to pull into our apartment parking lot, we all rushed downstairs to meet them. I can’t even tell you how exciting it was to have them come for a visit. What fun! Almost as soon as they arrived, we left to show them our house and the new neighborhood where we’ll be living soon.

Then the fun really began. Today is Maddie’s 12th birthday. I’ve told her maybe a million times or so what a gift she is to me, and today I told her that I think God sent her a special birthday present by bringing the Campbell’s here just in time for her birthday. All the Campbell kids spent the night at our apartment, and we skipped school and celebrated the special morning with a birthday breakfast. We spent the day in the charming German settlement of Fredricksburg. We explored the shops and had a lovely day with lovely friends. Thank you, dear Lord, for sweet friendships like these…

Happy Birthday to my special girl. I’m glad you could share the day with friends…We haven’t had a birthday without Brittany in years, so it was especially wonderful to have her here to celebrate you!

Charla is one of the most creative and talented people I’ve ever met. We share a love of all things artsy and all things antique, so Fredricksburg was the perfect place to spend the day. Here we are at my Fredricksburg favorite, Homestead and Friends. I think we could move right in and feel at home…

Continue Reading