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23 Wow or Fun Christian Quotes and Blog Award

23 Wow or Fun Christian Quotes and Blog AwardSome quotes make us say wow or laugh out loud.

I love quotable lines from others bringing a smile to my face or causing a belly laugh. Or, words stirring a deep sense of awe.

Last week, I attended the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference in Black Mountain, NC. It was my fourth time to attend.

And it didn’t disappoint. The directors, Edie Melson and DiAnn Mills, put together an amazing agenda.

Five days viewing God’s beautiful landscape, networking with other writers, and worshiping Jesus together. Also, making new friends while seeing old friends (like Denise, a friend since childhood, pictured left).

I spent time discussing my current book project with my agent who also attended and met with other industry professionals.

Yet, one of the conference highlights always includes wonderful keynotes, workshops, and classes. A notebook filled with pages of content confirms the Lord used the time to speak to my heart. Still, not just messages about writing, but points applicable to other areas in life.

So, I wanted to share my favorite quotes with you. I organized them by faculty member/speaker. For their complete bios, I provide a link at the end of this post.

Quotes that make us smile, laugh, or say wow.

Wow or Fun Quotes from James Watkins 

(1) “There’s a lot of nuts in the Lord’s fruitcake.”

(2) “Sometimes a giant wins the battle but never the war.”

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May 31, 2018 at 8:45 am | Uncategorized


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Am I Lovable? Storyline Video Reveals My Answer

Am I Lovable? Storyline Video Reveals My AnswerEver wondered if you are lovable? Or, maybe like me, you’ve questioned what it takes for others to consider you lovable.

Because we use the term love for everything from possessions and food to our favorite sports teams and celebrities.

We love ice-cream, brands, songs, books, and our favorite movies.

How to Define Love

Honestly, I use it to describe my affections for cinnamon rolls, pasta, Chai tea lattes, boots, the Hallmark Channel, and sunsets. And that’s only a few of my loves.

Still, we struggle to define love—a feeling, an emotion? In hard moments, we lose the loving feeling.

And abandonment extinguishes the emotion. Like when my dad vanished from my life for a few years.

Yet, culture woos us with a love that fades when hearts break. My heart broke after friendships dissolved and family members died including a baby in utero. I lost hope in love.

Shiny Things and People

So, for a portion of my life, I wondered, Am I lovable?

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May 24, 2018 at 9:00 am | Uncategorized


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The Basics of Christianity: 26 Truths A-Z

The Basics of Christianity: 26 Truths A-ZSometimes we lose sight of the basics to our faith. Those elements of Christianity setting us apart from the world and other religions.

And the basics helping us live out our Christianity.

So, here’s the ABC’s of the Christian Life.

A-F Basics of Our Faith

Abide in Christ. “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” John 15:5, ESV.

Believe God. What He says and who He is. When the journey turns bumpy, our Christian beliefs carry us over life’s potholes. “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” Romans 4:3b, NIV.

When the journey turns bumpy, our Christian beliefs carry us over life's potholes. #Christianity #beliefs Share on X

Confess. Confession of sin and when we go in the wrong direction. Because sometimes we fall into sin or we fail to walk in the direction God instructed (Proverbs 28:13 and James 4:17).

Declare God’s ways. We declare it to others and ourselves. In other words, preach it. Then preach it to the choir. “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!” Psalm 96:3, ESV.

Encourage other believers. “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up” 1 Thessalonians 5:11, NIV.

Forget what’s behind. Looking back on our life helps us move forward. But Jesus never intends for the past to paralyze us (Philippians 3:13-14).

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May 17, 2018 at 8:30 am | Uncategorized


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Mother’s Day: The Mom of a Savior

Mother's Day : The Mom of a Savior, created in Adobe SparkThe moment He took His first breath, I became His mother. And I celebrated my first mother’s day.

Overjoyed with my child. My baby boy.

A newborn placed in my arms. My life forever altered.

Swaddled by cloths, though adorned with royal titles.

Wonderful. Counselor. Prince of Peace. Holy King. Immanuel (God now with me). The Ancient of Days.

Barely minutes old and seemingly fragile. But this baby embodied the fullness of the Godhead.

Power demonstrated years later when He cast out evil spirits and raised the dead.

As I gazed intently at Him, the goodness and greatness of God spilled out.

Mother’s Day for a New Mom

I studied every feature.

His eyes. They gazed into the hearts of men. I watched His mouth as He yawned and cried. Life-giving words were later spoken by Him. Words commanding even the winds and waves to obey.

I laid my hand on His chest. The rise and fall of breaths ladened with grace. A strong heartbeat surfaced. But the day arrived when His heart—broken and betrayed—offered forgiveness.

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May 10, 2018 at 8:30 am | Uncategorized


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Front Row Seats for Heaven on Earth

Front Row Seats for Heaven on Earth, Adobe SparkHeaven on earth? Really, Karen?

Is there even such a thing?

Why, yes. Yes, there is! And we have access to front-row-seat tickets.

Yet, I’m not talking about things or situations we attribute to the phrase, “It was heaven on earth.” Such as food, trips, or any experience we feel was heaven-like.

We are so limited in what we imagine for heaven. It’s much bigger and carries more awe than we realize.

A New Heaven and Earth

But the new heaven and earth will one day replace this fallen world we live in.

Look at how it’s all described in Revelation 21:

“Then I saw ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes.

There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’ He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true’” (Verses 1-5, NIV).

How wonderful this is what we have to look forward to. Still, in the present, there’s moments of heaven touching earth and touching our lives.

Moments of Heaven Touching Earth

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May 3, 2018 at 8:30 am | Uncategorized