#Throwback Thursday
# TBT
By Karen Friday
Hashtag it’s Throwback Thursday! #TBT
Pictured is me (left) with my twin sister (Sharon) and mother (Joyce). We are about seven years old and celebrating Easter with dresses, gloves, and hairdos. My mom pin-curled our hair with bobby pins that we slept in overnight. I have memories of this procedure when my head hit the pillow. Oh, what a girl has to do. Pin-curling my daughter’s hair on Saturday nights for church and special occasions became a throwback recollection and tradition.
I imagine my mom’s hairdo was professionally styled. Either way the decorated netting and up-do had to be “in.” No one has ever been able to accuse my mom of not being in style.
Posting content pertaining to the past (usually photographs) is a popular social media trend. Throwback Thursday is a wistful look back—a blast from the past. Pictures of yesterday, yesteryear, or many moons ago.
Taking ourselves, friends, and family back to a nostalgic time worth documenting:
March 26, 2015 at 9:07 am | Uncategorized
Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
By Karen Friday
He slid the note across a neighboring student’s desk, motioning to pass on to the intended recipient—that would be me. My name visible along the top fold of paper.
Feeling as though the world was ending that day and I would never survive this breakup. The quirkiness of seventh grade. When did I decide boys did not have cooties? (This should be re-evaluated.)
Many breakups would be scattered across my young life. I made it out alive. Yet, my heart was lacking resilience—as are most hurting hearts.
Breakups are hard. Heartbreaking. The larger the investment of time, the harder we fall. The song title, Breaking Up is Hard To Do, describes how sobering the experience.
Although painful, some breakups are in my best interest. Therefore, I’m composing a note to send, specifying the exact reasons I want out. If you are a neighboring heart, please pass on to the intended recipient.
To Insecurity:
March 19, 2015 at 9:02 am | Uncategorized
“Ta-Da!” Moments
By Karen Friday
“Ta-Da!” rolled off my tongue as if I were a magician performing a feat of extraordinary magnitude. The only audience member, my husband, was rather amused.
It was a fanfare moment since the last time I made cornbread something went amiss. Pulling the iron skillet out of the oven to execute the next part of the act—the great flip—turning the cornbread upside down onto a plate. This displays the mound of southern goodness for slicing and eating.
Instead of letting go, the cornbread decided to stick. Knowing I had been generous with non-stick cooking spray, I loosened the edges with a knife and tried again. Nope—stubbornness had made up its mind—the cornbread was not budging. To serve, I had to slice and dig leaving most of the outer crust behind.
March 12, 2015 at 9:32 am | Uncategorized
Are You Being Followed?
By Karen Friday
It was an acute case of the “heebie-jeebies.” A reminder I had been watched and followed.
The summer after my freshmen year in college was spent in ministry at Virginia Beach, VA with Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU). On a mission at the beach—somebody had to do it.
I was a young, crisp nineteen year old who wanted to spend summers making a difference in the world. Pursuing Christ with my whole heart and a passion to make him known.
Serving with college students from across the country and one from England, we completed training sessions to prepare us for evangelism. Sharing the gospel on the boardwalk several nights a week with Saturdays devoted to ministry on the beach among sand and surf. Crowd-gathering events like volley-ball and slow-motion football provided opportunities for proclaiming the message of Jesus Christ.
March 5, 2015 at 9:00 am | Uncategorized
Jesus Unedited
By Karen Friday
When we boldly proclaim the name of Jesus, we are storming the very gates of hell.
I’ve been deemed bold, opinionated, and creative in many aspects of life and ministry. Speaking has been a passion for decades, but I’ve only been writing for a year.
I can easily muster creativity in getting my thoughts down, letting the words flow as I type and take dictation from my soul. However, a great writer must become a student of another class—Editing 101.
February 26, 2015 at 9:34 am | Uncategorized
It’s Time to Draw a Line in the Sand
By Karen Friday
I’m chilled to the bone. In my neck of the woods here in Northeast Tennessee, a winter storm of snow and frigid temperatures has set in.
A beautiful snowy backdrop with blankets, hot chocolate, and my laptop should have brought a surge of writing ideas for my weekly blog. Instead, I have struggled with words to share as I try to remain cozy, comfy, and warm.
Recalling my original intent for writing and blogging: On this site you will find my love for God’s word, expressing scriptural truths as life happens. Real. Authentic. Soulful.
So here it is—what’s stirring in my heart as life is happening right now: I. Am. Chilled. To. The. Bone. There’s a much bigger storm at large. A worldview has set in bringing an icy, cold-hearted assault on the family unit, the sanctity of marriage, and Christian beliefs.
A cultural war is here (in everyone’s neck of the woods) between Christ-followers and non-believers of Jesus Christ.
February 19, 2015 at 9:23 am | Uncategorized
How To Get Rid of the Valentine’s Day Blues
By Karen Friday
When February 14th comes near, I hear people say, “I’m skipping Valentine’s Day this year!” Heart-broken or disenchanted with the whole “will you be my valentine?” charm or its absence.
As a young and vulnerable heart, Valentine’s Day without a boyfriend seemed ghastly to me. The Valentine’s Day blues at its peak (a girl in love with love).
Why do we think being someone’s valentine defines us? At least thinking it’s the tell-tale sign of who we are in regards to having and owning love. Like the cliche’: “I’m lucky in love.”
For the security of celebrating the day-of-love holiday, I often see girls and women date someone who is not their “first pick” until the holiday is over. Guys do this too. Settle. To have someone fill the spot for grandiose images of candlelight, romance, flowers, and chocolate.
February 12, 2015 at 9:10 am | Uncategorized
Lord, please respond at MY earliest convenience.
Meg was outside a local store holding this sign
© 2015 by Karen Friday
Ah, convenience. The love and want of things easily obtainable.
Inconvenience is bothersome. Such as running errands on my to-do list—with many stops to make—while I’m out and about. When I can obtain the majority of my needs at the same location, it’s handy-dandy!
A Fitting Story (Scene 1): I stop at a local convenience store for car fuel. Hungry or thirsty (or both), I mosey inside for a snack and drink. Oh, while I’m here, if I pick up bread and milk, I won’t have to stop at the grocery store. It will cost more money but less time for me (I rationalize).
On a side note, I had to relinquish going inside the local BP gas station. A habit was getting the best of me—Snickers ice-cream bars.
The comfort of convenience. “Mrs. Friday, please contact me at your earliest convenience.” How nice! They care about my convenience.
Our society is a convenient place: stores, fast-food, walk-in medical clinics, a “no-waiting” business, and even relationships. But all come with a visible or hidden price.
February 5, 2015 at 9:18 am | Uncategorized
Stolen Identity
By Karen Friday
My name was exploited and personal resources at stake.
Robbed. Bamboozled. Deceived. A crafty thief stole from me. Stripping me bare of belongings and draining me dry. Utterly bankrupt and exposed to the most common scam on the planet. Information security failed, leaving me open to attack.
A victim of identity theft. Not the kind you hear about in the media. My identity in association with bank accounts and financial credit has never been damaged. No one has robbed me of ‘who I am” by posing as me online; running up a money debt for living pleasures—at my expense. To date, these areas remain secure and not breached.
But my identity was compromised. By a vile enemy. The thief who intends to kill, steal, and destroy. (John 10:10) He robbed me of “who I am” by strategic lies (both in my mind and labels imposed on me by others). He spent greedy time running up a debt, for his own pleasure, at my expense.
January 29, 2015 at 8:51 am | Uncategorized
DIY Myth: Pull Yourself Up By Your Bootstraps
© 2015 by Karen Friday
Imagine you are on a nice afternoon stroll through the countryside and you trip over a branch taking a tumble to the ground. You are alone. No problem. Firmly grab ahold of your bootstraps (only one finger fits through the loop) or laces and pull yourself to an upright position. Simple. A do-it-yourself task. You don’t need anyone to help you.
Now envision this same scenario taking place on the inside of you—deep within. The innermost part of you has fallen and you can’t get up. So go ahead. Do it. Pull yourself up by your bootstraps!
It’s an impossible feat. A complete myth. And I believe it to be a lie from the enemy. It doesn’t matter if you’ve lost your balance in body or spirit, a DIY project is not a suitable technique.
January 22, 2015 at 9:41 am | Uncategorized