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I Can’t Keep Quiet: 2 Ways I Stand With Jesus Christ

Quiet, photo by MichaelCFriday.comPlease be quiet! 

Shushed. It happened in elementary school. And at the library.

My mom insisted I be quiet in church—the right thing to do. So, apparently the preacher could yell. But me? No freedom of speech from the pew. True, I didn’t have the floor or the stage.

As a child, I remember when grown-ups asked for a little peace and quiet—for their sanity.

Oh, if we rewound the tape, there’s more examples of attempts to silence me. Instead, let’s fast-forward to present day.

I Can’t Keep Quiet

I’m a woman now. Sure, certain scenarios in life call for silence…for no talking. When my husband’s watching one of his favorite TV shows or wants to hear something on the news. I get that. I need to hush.

Still, the world and culture want to silence me. They whisper, “Shush.” But there’s one thing I can’t keep silent about. No way. No how. Never.

My name is Karen Friday and I refuse to be quiet about my Lord.

Frederick Buechner said, “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”

Engaging an audience through speaking brings me deep gladness.

I’m called to speak. To share my story and God’s story. 

I find joy in not only the spoken word, but also in the written word.

I’m called to write. To share my story and God’s story. 

So whether speaking, writing, or blogging, my fondness for words and adoration for God’s Word runs deep. I’m called to know Jesus and make Him known.

The world’s hungry for real hope. And real hope, my friend, is only found in God. #hope Click To Tweet

The “And” Factor

I want to show you a Scripture passage.

“Then I looked, and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads and myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!’” (Revelation 5:12 ESV).

Next, let’s consider two brief word studies:

Myriad: “A countless or extremely great number.” Google.com

And: Relays the idea of connecting words, phrases and thoughts together—continuing. Meanings, “then, also, at the same time, then again; repeatedly.” Dictionary.com

Now, let’s re-read Revelation 5:12, with this mental picture including the power and force of our two words.

“Then I looked, AND the living creatures AND the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads AND myriads AND thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power AND wealth AND wisdom AND might AND honor AND glory AND blessing!’” (Emphasis mine).  Quiet, photo by MichaelCFriday.com

I Stand With Jesus in…

Way #1: Speaking

Way #2: Writing

Myriads and thousands worship Him. I worship Him.

I’m with Jesus in spirit. I believe in Him. And I’m on team Jesus.

There’s no other name I’d rather showcase in my heart and life. No other name I give all the glory and honor to in my speaking and writing.

Christ is worthy to receive all from me. He’s mine and I am His.

I’ll continue to speak AND write AND work on my upcoming book. It’s all about Christ.

World, you can’t shush me…not about this…not about Jesus. You need Him.

As long as I have breath, I’ll tell my story and God's story. #story Click To Tweet

I. Stand. With. Jesus.

© 2016 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved

Over the next year, I’ll engage audiences with the theme of my upcoming book. For more about this theme, my speaking and events calendar, and to download my speaking flyer, visit my Speaking Events page.

Photo credit/my son: photographer, film-maker, digital media specialist. Visit Michael Caleb Friday.

Frederick Buechner’s quote accessed on Goodreads.

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January 12, 2017 at 8:00 am | Uncategorized


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Joyce Page says:

Karen this is a great article. I agree we should always stand with Jesus and as you do, tell others about him. We should always pray before meals even in a restaurant, while often others look at us if we are weird. He died on the cross that we might have everlasting life and we so often we take Him for granted. I get so many comments from my friends about how your articles have inspired them and given them peace in a number of situations. I have a friend that’s going through some trials and she looks forward and in her words (can’t wait for Thursday to roll around so I can read what Karen Girl Friday writes to inspire many)!
You just get better and better and better in your writings and I’m so proud to be your mom.
Taking twins to church was a challenge to keep two quiet but you two were so cute I had lots of help from my friends asking to hold you all!
I love you! Mom

Karen says:

Thank you, Mom. Yes, culture often wants to silence us in our spiritual beliefs such as praying. And the truth of God’s Word. But we’re called to be different than the world. To pursue God with a whole heart. That’s my calling, to know Jesus more and to make Him known. That’s awesome my articles are making a difference in people’s lives. To God be the glory. And it’s nice that people wanted to hold us when we were little. Thanks for your sweet comment. Love you.

Joyce Pahd says:

Karen this is a great article. I agree we should always stand with Jesus and as you do, tell others about him. We should always pray before meals even in a restaurant, while often others look at us if we are weird. He died on the cross that we might have everlasting life and we so often we take Him for granted. I get so many comments from my friends about how your articles have inspired them and given them peace in a number of situations. I have a friend that’s going through some trials and she looks forward and in her words (can’t wait for Thursday to roll around so I can read what Karen Girl Friday writes to inspire many)!
You just get better and better and better in your writings and I’m so proud to be your mom.
Taking twins to church was a challenge to keep two quiet but you two were so cute I had lots of help from my friends asking to hold you all!
I love you! Mom

Amen, friend. I like how you said you realized you were being silenced as a kid (like the enemy wants to hone in and shut us down from the get go) and it resonates with me as my identity and another area was attacked since a child. Now I have the desire to help others find their gifts and I have no clue where God is taking it, but I am 31 and just now seeing some of how my hardships can help others. It is wild and I hope He will open doors for me to continue to pull out the gold in others as He is too, leading you to speak for his glory!

Your neighbor @ #HeartEncouragementThursday

Karen says:

Thanks, Meghan, for your words of encouragement and for commenting. Joining you in prayer that the Lord DOES use your words, your experiences, hardships, and every page of your story to tell others His-story. Jesus and His glory is written on each page of our lives. Blessings!

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