karin madden

  • Home
  • Sunrise With A Six Pack (Blog)
  • Meet Karin
    • Truth In The Details {4×4 of 4 things about me}
    • Hear My Story
    • Food Allergies
      • Recipes for the picky ones
  • 31 Days Series
    • 31 Days of God’s Promises
    • 31 Days of Good Deeds
    • 31 Days Of Walking The Path
  • Essential Oils
    • What’s The Deal With Essential Oils?
  • DIY
    • DIY Deodorant
    • DIY {easy} Facial Toner
    • DIY Liquid Laundry Detergent
  • Contact
  • Subscribe and Free e-book

October 21, 2012 by Karin Leave a Comment

Start Acting Like a Child (#21)

PROMISE #21 ~ THE CHILDREN AND THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

Stop it!

Don’t do that!

I heard older sister holler in the direction of her little sister.

You can’t write in that!

Distraught, the recipient of the reprimand, my little artist-in-the-making came running to mama.

Time-out called.  Referee mom enters the field in order to evaluate the play… (we are well out of time-outs this morning).

What’s going on?

My wide-eyed young one hands me her book.  A book of The One-Eyed Giant based on the travels of Odysseus.

I scratched out the capital letter “G” on all these pages and made them small.  

The pages in question were the title pages of each chapter (the title in all caps).  The referenced letter “G” was the start of the word “GOD.”  Over and over she had scribbled the letters black and replaced them with lower case “g.” 

Sixteen months more seasoned, my older mama-in-the-making…

Mama!  She shouldn’t write in a book!

The accuser exclaimed this, I am certain, with memories of little ones found in remote corners from time to time, joyfully shredding a library book or two.  The library… I’m not sure if there is a list for repeat offenders (especially since we are now the proud owners of every re-taped and bandaged book), but in our defense… the offender was a new little one every time.

So, they have learned not to mutilate books.

Why are you doing that?

I wondered, surprised that this little artist would scuff such a lovely page.

Mommy!  They are capitalizing the name of the Greek gods…

and they aren’t the ONE TRUE GOD!

So, I fixed it.

Mama jaw drops.

Oh.

Well, who would have thought?  Just when I thought my little one needed to stop acting like a little child…I realized it might be better if we all started acting a little more like little children.

 

PROMISE #21 ~ The kingdom of heaven belongs to the children and the child-like. (Those with the faith of a child).

Matthew 19:14

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Filed Under: Brothers and Sisters, Faith, Family, God's Promises, Motherhood Tagged With: faith, God's promises, like a child, sisters

October 14, 2012 by Karin Leave a Comment

Sitting on the fence (#14)

PROMISE #14 ~ HE IS THE ROCK 

Sitting on the fence.

It’s a great way to see one side… and the other.  It’s a nice place to be.  Safely undecided.  Above the radar.

I can see the black pavement on one side.  Smooth for the most part, a few potholes, a blur of masses mingling in and out of life’s messes.

Sitting on the fence.  It’s pretty safe here.  If I just hold still.

The other side of the fence…the green pasture.  It beckons.  But, what if the grass gnarls under the blistering sun?  What if I go to the field and there is no one to greet me there?  What if I jump from my fence into the dewy grass… only to find I am alone and the field does not hold all that it promises.

I glance back to the pavement.  I know the pavement.  It is not particularly fulfilling.  It is not filled with immeasurable joy.  It is a bit humdrum.  Safe.  Comfortable.  But, there has to be more.  Is it possible that the answer might lie on the other side?

I have spent much of my life on the fence.  It has been said that no decision is a NO decision.

Is it perhaps time to say YES?

Yes to invisible promises… yes to gentle nudging… yes to a new place, a new direction, a new life.

What if I just say yes?  What if I leap, no matter how my soul trembles?  What if I jump from this safe fence that sits above indecision, clinging to fear of rejection, safe in the arms of obscurity?  What if I just jump?

I glimpse at the outlined souls in the field… arm in arm.  Strength in numbers.  The ones who have boldly gone there, beyond the fence, beyond the doubt… no matter the cost.  I recognize a few of the faces, some are not yet known to me… though they appear familiar ~ a family resemblance.  The smiles I know… an enveloping warmth… they draw me in, beckoning me… encouraging me.  This is what those in the field do… they do this for one another… they do this for ones lost on the pavement.  They call… I see sisters (and I thank God for them ~ you know who you are…), brothers… waiting.  Building the tribe… the family… strength in service to Him.

The truth is… the fence is temporary.  Eventually it will rot away… fade into a distant memory.  Passage of time will swallow the fence… and I will find myself here.  Somewhere in the middle of nowhere.  Missing the adventure… the journey.

The truth is… when the fence disappears, when there is no longer a divide… there will be only One place.  One place of Life.  The rest will all fade away…

The truth is… He has held true to every promise from the birth of promise itself.  The field awaits.  The ground is sure… The Rock is solid.

The fence is no place to stay.

Are you sitting on the fence?

What is keeping you there?

Will you take the leap of faith?  Just say…

Yes

 

PROMISE #14 ~ God is the rock.

 

Psalm 62:1-3

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.  He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.  How long will you assault a man?  Would all of you throw him down – this leaning wall, this tottering fence?

Filed Under: Brothers and Sisters, Community, Faith, Family, God's Promises, Hope, Together Tagged With: faith, God's promises, sitting on the fence in faith

October 12, 2012 by Karin 12 Comments

Race (for 5 minutes this Friday) (#12)

PROMISE #12 ~ THE CROWN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Race.

My mind races with thoughts of time, and the thoughts of time wasted.  Time well spent.  Time unrecoverable.

I race to finish… every little thing I have started.

I hear a voice whisper… The only Voice.

Be still

I race to be still.  The promptings overwhelm.

Be still in Him… race only to please Him… race only to love well… race only to serve… race only to become just like Him.

In the rest…

Be still

in the RACE…

R emember why you are here… and if you don’t know… ask Him

A nchor your race in His will… see the time slow to fit all of His plans

C all to those who are racing in circles… band together to focus on the center… Up.

E mbrace the journey, the race… finish it well.

 

PROMISE #12 ~ God promises the crown of righteousness.

 

2 Timothy 4:7-8

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Brothers and Sisters, Community, Faith, God's Promises, Perseverance, Together Tagged With: faith, finish well, five minute friday, race to God

October 4, 2012 by Karin Leave a Comment

The truth (it will set you free) (#4)

#4 ~ FREEDOM

How hard is it to speak the truth?

The truth as we know it and believe it?

The most difficult place to tell the truth… the place of our own birth.  The most uncomfortable home for truth, the Truth given by Him, is the home of our own flesh and blood.

I used to be one of those who believed, on the periphery… the outskirts.  I believed quietly in the capsule of my mind.  I did not feel the need, understand the need, actually… believe the need to share this belief with anyone else.  

it’s a private, personal thing

belief

Personal, that it is.  Private, there are times for that.  Passing the belief on… well, it’s not only important… it’s the most important.  When I finally, completely, believed… that’s when my sleep walking eyes opened to this most important need of all.

Speak the Truth.

In love.

Sharing what I learn about our Savior is probably the most uncomfortable experience in my life.  It does not come naturally to me… I was not raised in this vocal faith.

A dear sister, under attack…

I just spoke the Truth

We can expect such attacks… His beauty is not always welcomed with open arms in this place.  As He does, He whispered to me a word for her…

If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you (1 Peter 4:14)

The conversation made me think… about truth.  About speaking the Truth.  No matter the places it brings us in our earthly skin.

Why are we afraid to share the Truth?  Why do I hesitate to share what my newly born eyes have seen?  It does, after all, sound just a little bit, well, nuts.  To someone whose eyes remain covered.  This, not a judgement, but a recollection of my own blind eyes.

Truth.  

Why don’t we share it?

  1. Someone will not like me… the Truth… or both
  2. I will be cast out (of a crowd that has been so comfortable)
  3. I will look like a fool
  4. They will not believe it anyway, so what’s the point?
  5. I will be vulnerable to self-doubts, and worse… God-doubts

The thoughts that sweep through my mind… when I just want to sweep them away (and not just under a rug for re-surfacing tomorrow)

My questions, my reasons, beg for answers.

Reasons to tell the Truth:

  1. There will always be someone who doesn’t like me… the Truth… or both.  There will others who do… and there will always be One who loves.
  2. When I am cast out of one place… I am cast into another.  Just the place He wants me to be.
  3. I may look like a fool here.  To be a fool for Him… is the only kind of fool to be.
  4. They may not believe… yet.  It’s God’s job to change the heart.  It’s our job to speak His truth.
  5. …Stop doubting and believe (John 20:27).  Enough said.

What is God’s promise?  

PROMISE #4 ~ He will set you free.

John 8:31-32

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Filed Under: Brothers and Sisters, Faith, Family, God's Promises, Love Tagged With: faith, family, God's promises, the freedom in truth

September 25, 2012 by Karin Leave a Comment

Through the eyes of a child

I open my eyes.  This new day cracked through the sky to reveal the glorious sunlight.  I hear my mother, my father… they are speaking to someone outside these mud walls.  I hear my mother… joyous tears.  My father… with a voice… different.  I have not heard this sound from him before.  Hope?

 I hear the animals.  We have two.  The bleating goats… a milk provision.  My brother and sister like to walk with them.  I hear the stirring of the land.  This land of ours used again and again, by my father and his friends… in hopes that it will yield… something… anything to give us a meal.  I hear the gathering of my friends.  It is time to walk for the gathering of our water.

The night is done.  I am relieved.  I am afraid in the night.  The darkness smothers our two room hut.  The sounds of the night here pierce my skin and frighten me.  I pray for morning.  I pray for the sun.  This morning… different.  I hear the voices.  I sense… this change.  Joy?

I smell the waste.  Our village has no good place for waste.  The smell of it rises with the sun.  The heat burns the odors into the air.  I have always known this smell.  I wish I could wash it clean.  My mother runs to wake me.  I smell the salt of the tears on her cheeks.

Wake up 

Wake up

She whispers in my ear.  I smell her warmth… the dirt driven deep into skin by years of labor.  Working to keep us alive… fed… sheltered… clothed.  We can not pay for school.  I wish I could read.  I have heard of others… a few… who have this chance.  I have heard them speak of Jesus.  I want to know this Jesus that they speak of.

someone has come!

someone sees us!

someone sees you!

They have come to tell my parents of a sponsor.  Someone has seen me.  Someone has chosen me.  Someone has brought a new sound of hope to our life.  Someone has brought a smell of joy to this home.  Someone has seen us.

I follow my mother.  To see this visitor.  I see.  I see the smile.  The joy in my parents.  I feel a hope.  I have not known this hope before.  I look into the eyes of our visitor.  I see love.  I see compassion.

 

C atch the ones who have fallen aside, unnoticed, alone, forgotten, afraid, hopeless

O ffer a hand, a heart, a hope

M ove the despair from the eyes… replace it with joy

P repare a new heart for a new faith… a new birth into a great Kingdom… the only Kingdom

A ccept the prompting from Him… a nudge… a beckoning to open hands… fully

S ee the person… the child… behind the suffering

S hare the love of Christ

I gnore the lies that it will not make a difference… every. one. matters. every. single. one.

O ffer a chance to learn… to leave the poverty behind

N urture a desperate soul… in desperate need… of love.

 (photo credit – Compassion International)

1 Corinthians 13:13

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Filed Under: Brothers and Sisters, Compassion, Faith, Hope, Joy, Love, Mercy Tagged With: child's eyes, compassion sponsorship, hope, joy

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • Next Page »

Meet Karin

Hi! My name is Karin Madden. Writer. Warrior wife. Mom of six pack. Homeschooler. German-blooded southerner. Welcome to the place where I explore what it means to grow stronger - spirit, soul, and body. I write to inspire and encourage - to remind you we are not alone. By being bold with grace and speaking truth in love, we can become who we are meant to be. I'm glad you are here.

Connect With Me

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Search the Sunrise

What I Write

Sunrise Archives

Pinning at Sunrise

Visit Karin's profile on Pinterest.

Recent Sunrise Posts

  • When You Have A Promise To Keep November 9, 2016
  • When You Are In The Secret Place April 21, 2016
  • When You Need To Hear – Do Not Be Afraid April 6, 2016
  • The One List We Need To Write January 1, 2016
  • The Dance May 29, 2015

Sunrise on Facebook

Sunrise on Facebook

Copyright © 2025 · Executive Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in