Karen Dawkins

Proverbs 31:13-16, Day 10

2012-01-27T09:16:00.000-05:00

13 Bloggers, 13 Topics, One Great God As our journey through Proverbs 31 comes to an end, I pray that it has blessed you at least as much as it has blessed me. I know spending ten days on this passage has helped me understand it more than I ever thought I could. Honestly, I usually prefer to skip over it and not even try. (Just being honest.... Who really wants the pressure of living up to the

Proverbs 31:13-16, Day 9

2012-01-26T14:18:00.000-05:00

Out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. Proverbs 31:16 I'm not a wine drinker, but my friends have told me that different flavors come from different wine making regions. California grapes taste different than French or North Carolina grapes. Not only that, certain grapes grow better in different climates. Taking a California grape to France would just confuse the grape, leading to a muddled

Proverbs 31:13-16, Day 8

2012-01-25T07:35:00.020-05:00

She considers a field and buys it... Proverbs 31:15 In "these parts," we have lots of fields for sale.When we moved here, tobacco fields covered most of the county. Our main streets are even named after tobacco terms. Today, though, many of those fields lie fallow, sprouting nothing but for sale signs. I've considered those fields, but I would never buy one. Not without God's prompting, that is.

Proverbs 31:13-16, Day 7

2012-01-24T07:58:00.003-05:00

...She provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.Proverbs 31:15 Friends, this is my favorite! I read these words and fill with warm fuzzies. A Proverbs 31 woman provides for her family and for her "servant girls." Day five's discussion talked about soul food -- not literal food for the family. This verse takes that idea just a little further. The Proverbs 31 Woman provides

Proverbs 31:13-16, Day 6

2012-01-23T07:26:00.002-05:00

She gets up while it is still dark... Proverbs 31:15 Have you ever read my blog before? I know I have mentioned more than once that I am NOT a morning person! I do not like mornings, Sam I am. I do not like them east or west. I do not think that they are best! (My apologies to Dr. Seuss). I could write a post on how important it is to rise early and get things done before your family rises, but

Proverbs 31:13-16, Day 5

2012-01-22T08:05:00.003-05:00

bringing her food from afar. Pro. 31:14 My first inclination is to write on healthy eating. Undoubtedly, the Proverbs 31 woman provides wholesome nutrition for her family. She is willing to scour the farmer's market for the freshest fruits and vegetables and serves whole grains every day. She would not be the type of woman who uses the McDonald's drive through on a regular basis. Nor would she

Proverbs 31:13-16, Day 4

2012-01-21T07:58:00.028-05:00

She is like the merchant ships, Proverbs 31:14 Women and merchant ships: what could they possibly have in common? Other than being included in this verse, you might think they have nothing in common at all! I know that as I studied and prayed over these words, I struggled. Merchant ships... plural. Merchant ships aren't mentioned often in the Bible. Reading commentaries, most scholars

Proverbs 31:13-16, Day 3

2012-01-20T07:55:00.079-05:00

...and works with eager hands. Proverbs 31:13 Look at your hands. Go ahead. I'll wait. Are they cracked and dry from spending so much time in dishwater? Do they show your age (as mine do)? God gave you those hands. They are the outward extension of your heart. They are your tools of love. When your child gets sick, those hands offer comfort with an ice pack and a cozy blanket tucked up under

Proverbs 31:13-16, Day 2

2012-01-19T08:19:00.001-05:00

She selects wool and flax, Proverbs 31:13 Close your eyes and imagine with me… WAIT! Don’t close your eyes. You won’t be able to read along…. but do imagine with me. It’s 350 B.C. You dress in your traveling robe and fasten your sturdy sandals at your ankles. You secure your worn, leather money bag to the braided rope around your waist. You grab a woven basket, draping the handle over your left

Proverbs 31:13-16, Day 1

2012-01-18T07:49:00.003-05:00

Hello my friends, For the next ten days, several bloggers are working together to write a series of posts called "10 days of Proverbs 31." We hope every reader is blessed by a deeper understanding of the “Proverbs 31 Woman.” If you are unfamiliar with Proverbs 31:10-31, I encourage you to read it today. Then visit the participating blogs each day to learn more. May God bless you as you pursue

When the words won't come

2012-01-16T11:23:00.000-05:00

There's a blog post hidden in my heart. I've tried writing it five times these past two days, but the words won't come. I used to get frustrated when the words failed to form, but I am learning that maybe, probably, God's just not quite done teaching me. So today, the words sit. Silent. Waiting. I will listen. Quietly. Expectantly. Knowing that one day, maybe soon, maybe not, the words will come

Touched by your response

2012-01-13T12:23:00.000-05:00

Dearest friends, Thank you for allowing me to share from the deepest part of my heart yesterday. New friends, I used to be a criminal prosecutor doing what I could to help domestic violence victims (and their abusers) break free from that cycle. As the lady in yesterday's post shows, though, not all the women were able to see beyond their circumstances. I couldn't convince this one that filing

"I forgot to take the dog out."

2012-01-12T11:30:00.002-05:00

Prosecutor's Office, 1993 The receptionist handed me the complaint form, her eyes reflected a knowing sadness. I scanned the form for the description of the incident: "I forgot to take the dog out and he hit me in the head." Processing that information quickly, I was certain I wouldn't be able to help, without a visible, documented injury there'd be insufficient evidence to "prove" abuse in

"Start Fresh"

2012-01-11T10:53:00.000-05:00

I don't know about your inbox, but mine keeps filling with ads, blog posts and book suggestions offering the opportunity to "start fresh." This morning, a clothing store sent a "start fresh" sales promotion. I'm tempted to run out and get a few bright sweaters to warm up my winter wardrobe, but... I got to thinking (that's how we say it around these parts), would a couple new sweaters really

The Green Eyed Monster

2012-01-10T09:41:00.001-05:00

We're puppy sitting this cute little guy this week. His name is Emmett, though sometimes we call him Ewok. He's absolutely adorable to all of us, except Daisy. Our darling Daisy likes him, but she doesn't like sharing us with him. Not. At. All. If she's in my arms, she will not share space with Emmett. When we pick him up to snuggle, she senses it -- no matter where she is in the house -- and

Memorial Box Monday: The Job

2012-01-09T10:20:00.000-05:00

Our almost-man heads off to college this fall. Mingled with the excitement that comes with acceptance letters is a healthy respect for the cost of college. We had a small college fund growing for him... right now, like the rest of the economy, it's struggling to get back to where it was a few years ago... so he wonders whether the scholarships will come. Listening as he shared his concerns last

Wrestling Demons

2012-01-06T09:18:00.000-05:00

Friends, These feelings of hurt and disappointment continue to press on me. I wonder why I battle these demons. As I said the other day, I know I should trust God with my life. Yet, I feel defeated. Worn out. Sad. Overwhelmingly sad at times. Why won't the demons leave me alone? Why doesn't God answer my prayers for comfort and peace? I wonder.... is it the demons I wrestle? Read this from

Please allow 10 days for processing

2012-01-04T12:36:00.000-05:00

A couple days ago, I shared my Clean Slate approach to 2012. In general, the junk mail clean-out has been a success. But... (There's always a but.) Some companies require a 10 day processing time. I'm not a techno-whiz, not by any stretch of the imagination, but I wonder what could possibly require 10 days in automated computer email. Anyone out there know what could take so long? As to the

Building Barnacles

2012-01-03T10:10:00.000-05:00

Barnacles, for those who never thought about them (most of us?), are crustaceans that build up on pier pilings and ship bottoms in shallow salt water. They fight with other crustaceans to survive and use two strategies to win the battle: "swamping" and fast growth. With swamping, a great number of barnacles settle in the same place at once, basically using a "safety in numbers" strategy to

Clean Slate!

2012-01-02T10:43:00.002-05:00

As the new year presents itself, fresh, clean, unblemished, I find myself assessing my life. The 2012 calendar is brand new, full of promise. If only people could throw away last year and start over so easily. Since I can't do that, I will start making a few changes to "clean up" my life. Not resolutions, mind you. Resolutions are made to be broken. And broken resolutions heap mess on us. Who

Ridiculous Resolutions

2011-12-29T12:59:00.000-05:00

My son's morning tweet says "Time to consider my New Year's resolution. My current top three are to start smoking, gain 240 lbs, or befriend a lion." He got me thinking of other ridiculous resolutions. I have never heard anyone say, this year I will... spend less quality time with my family. forget about budget and planning. It's the year to spend, spend, spend. focus less on others and focus

Peace at Christmas

2011-12-23T09:20:00.000-05:00

I'm having a tough time with Christmas posts this year. I had a plan -- I loved my plan. But life interrupted. Not the fun life of bows, wrapping, songs, baking, movies, playing. Our Christmas was interrupted by real life. Painful lessons we all must learn but no one really wants to go through. What happened isn't really important to this post. (If you're curious, sorry... That is a story for

Ellie's Prayer

2011-12-16T08:24:00.000-05:00

Rob worked late last night. Ellie offered our dinner prayer instead. Her prayer: Dear Jesus, Thank you for our yummy dinner. Help it to be good for us. Thank you that I am here. Thank you that I have a family. Amen My sweet girl.

Jesus with Skin On

2011-12-15T09:19:00.000-05:00

Hey friends, Ellie, 6, serving at With Love from Jesus Have you ever heard that phrase, "Being Jesus with skin on?" It's a cute way to say "live out" Jesus' command to love God and love others. That's my challenge to you! These last two weeks before Christmas, won't you show your love for Jesus by loving others the way He would? Here are some ideas to get you started: Don't complain about

MBM: Remembering

2011-12-12T16:32:00.000-05:00

A note to Linny, Thank you for helping me REMEMBER the good things God does and for your encouragement to us all to share them. I see the blessings now more than I ever have. Next week, I'll be sharing a NEW MBM story, but today, I remember this one. It's one of the most marvelous mommy provisions God has ever given me. A full tank. Don't miss the blessings!