Come EXPECTING to be BLESSED!

Friends, as many of you know, we have the 1^st ever Strive for Greatness Women of Purpose Conference coming up this weekend, Friday & Saturday, February 3^rd & 4^th!  The event theme is From Bondage to Freedom:  How to Live a Life of PEACE, PURPOSE & PASSION.

“3” words that come to mind when I think about the Conference…RAW, AUTHENTIC, examples of REAL-LIFE!

You may ask, “What exactly do you mean by RAW, AUTHENTIC, examples of REAL-LIFE?”

Well, our event speakers are NOT going to pretend that just because we’re Christians we have it all together!  The fact of the matter is NO ONE’S life is perfect, including our own; therefore we’re going to address real-life issues like insecurities, depression, loneliness, broken dreams, desperation & sadness, just to name a few!

You may be thinking, “Wow, that’s heavy stuff!”  Yes, you are correct, it’s heavy stuff and it’s REAL-LIFE!

I think it’s about time we GET REAL and stop pretending that our lives are trouble free!  Jesus said in John 16:33 …In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."  Jesus didn’t say that we may have trouble; He said that we will have trouble, every single one of us!

You may be wondering, “How will Getting Real help women?”

First of all, women need to know that they are NOT alone; YOU are NOT alone!  We “get” where YOU’RE coming from, we’ve been there!

MOST IMPORTANTLY our speakers are going to share exactly HOW God EMPOWERS them daily to TRIUMPH over their challenges to lead fulfilling lives, which will equip YOU with real-life tools that can be applied in your life so that YOU can do the same!

Whether you’re a stressed out mother &/or business women, facing relationship issues, struggling financially, facing health issues or have recently lost a loved one, I believe that God will set you free and give you a greater sense of PEACE, PURPOSE & PASSION in your life!

Come EXPECTING to be BLESSED!

Eph. 3:20, 21  20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

I look forward to seeing you this weekend!  Sincerely, Karen

Isn’t it about time we GET REAL?

“3” words that come to mind when I think about the upcoming Strive for Greatness Women of Purpose Conference…RAW, AUTHENTIC, examples of REAL-LIFE!   

 

Isn’t it about time we GET REAL? 

 

Why are we, especially Christians, so afraid to admit that our lives are NOT perfect?  Is it because we are “supposed” to be VICTORIOUS in Christ at all times therefore we don’t want to admit temporary feelings of defeat because it may make us look less spiritual? 

 

The fact of the matter is NO ONE’S life is trouble free!  Jesus said in John 16:33 …In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  Jesus didn’t say that we may have trouble, He said that we will have trouble, every single one of us, no one is exempt!  

 

I don’t care how strong one may seem or how perfect one’s life may look, reality is that each and every one of us have an enemy, his name is Satan and he wants to bring us down; THEREFORE we must be prepared for BATTLE! 

 

At the upcoming Strive for Greatness Women of Purpose Conference, our event speakers are going to share real-life stories of struggles and exactly HOW God EMPOWERS them daily to TRIUMPH over their challenges to lead FULFILLING lives!!!

 

Following is an example:

 

(Real-life Struggle)  As I think about HOW I’m going to do what the Lord has called me to do, the weight of responsibility becomes paralyzing. Feelings of inadequacy fill my mind.  I wonder if it was His voice that I heard; doubt creeps in.  “Lord, I don’t know if I can do this?” He says, “I AM with you.”  “Lord, I don’t know how I’m going to pull this off!”  “You’re not, I AM!”  His words give me the confidence to keep going. 

 

Has God ever prompted you to do something that in and of yourself seemed virtually impossible?  Have you ever experienced fear or doubt as you have stepped out in faith & obedience to Him?  I HAVE! 

 

What’s most important is that we recognize that we are fighting a spiritual battle.  God’s word says, For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Ephesians 6:12 NIV

 

(HOW to TRIUMPH over our challenges to lead a FULFILLING life!)  Take heart; be BRAVE & COURAGEOUS in the Lord!  Speak God’s word over your life!  Claim VICTORY in the name of Jesus!

 

Satan is already a defeated enemy! His legal authority was neutralized by the finished work of Christ on the cross.  As a Believer YOU have Authority over Satan in the name of Jesus.

 

When engaged in a Spiritual battle, we must fight back using God’s WORD, just like Jesus did when he was tempted by Satan in the Wilderness!  Jesus WON the battle by speaking His Father’s word to Satan!  “It is written…”  Matthew 4:1-11

 

(Sample prayer filled with God’s word)  “Satan, I take authority over you in the name of Jesus!  I apply the blood of Jesus over my life and where the blood of Jesus has been applied, Satan, you must pass by!  Lord, your word says that YOU will never leave me nor forsake me, I thank you that I am NOT alone and that you are with me ALWAYS!  Lord, I thank you for your FAITHFULNESS.  I thank you that you have gone before me and prepared the way!  I am confident in you, Lord.  I speak BLESSINGS into my life; I am the head and not the tail, I am blessed coming and going.  I claim it right now in your precious Holy name!  Thank you, Jesus!”  

 

Friend, I encourage you to take heart; be BRAVE & COURAGEOUS in the Lord!  YOU can do all things through Christ who strengthens you!  (Phil. 4:13)  YOU are more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus!  (Romans 8:37)  YOU are VICTORIOUS! 

 

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  1 Corinthians 15:57

 

Now take that, Devil!  Ha!  Stomp, Stomp, Stomp!  YES!  We have overcome by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimonies!  (Revelation 12:11)  Praise God!  :-)

Karen Rae's CBS Radio Tampa Bay Interview 01/05/12

Click to listen to Karen Rae's CBS Radio Tampa Bay Interview 01/05/12 with John Sipos! 

Topic:  Melanoma AWARENESS & Strive for Greatness Women of Purpose Event

Sarah Rachel Hill and several other gifted Christian Authors & Speakers will share their real-life stories of struggles and exactly HOW they became EMPOWERED by GOD to TRIUMPH over their challenges to lead fulfilling lives.  

If YOU are INSPIRED to learn how YOU can become a Woman of PURPOSE join us Friday, February 3rd & Saturday, February 4th at the beautiful TradeWinds Sandpiper Beach Resort on St. Pete. Beach. 

For more information, please visit http://www.striveforgreatness.com

Getting REAL!

Happy New Year & BLESSINGS to YOU!  

It’s a New Year, a time for NEW BEGINNINGS!  It’s an opportunity for a FRESH START; however before we can START ANEW, we have to let go of the past!  (Isaiah 43:18)

My cousin posted something over a year ago that has stuck with me and it is this, “We can’t hope for a better past, but we can hope for a better future!”  I love it!  And it’s so TRUE!    

Today I want to talk with you about the disappointments that each of us have faced in our lives and the choice that we have had to make to “get back up” and “keep going,” regardless of the heartache that these disappointments have caused. 

I think about what my Grandmother said after she lost her son.  She was lying on the sofa experiencing unexplainable heartbreak; the pain of her loss was so great that it was hard for her to take her next breath.  The Lord spoke to her and said, “You can lay here and die OR get up and LIVE!”  The loss of her son wasn’t going to change, he was gone.  She was the one left living, so she had to choose to LIVE her life or DIE!  The Lord presented her with her options; it was up to her to choose her response to a tragic situation.  My Grandmother CHOSE to get up off her sofa and LIVE!  

I think about myself as well as the people that I know and the different situations we have faced over the past year. Whether we faced cancer, death of a loved one, loss of a pregnancy, a cheating spouse, divorce, a defiant child, job loss, financial hardship and the list goes on; each of us have faced disappointments.   

Have you ever felt like giving up?  Have you ever felt so DEFEATED by life that you felt as if it wasn’t worth living?  I know that I have!  There was a time when I felt as if I didn’t have the strength to lift my pinky finger, much less get out of bed and “make it through the day!”  

I remember lying in my bed and thinking that I could CHOOSE to snap out of it, but it wasn’t as easy as that!  I tried, but I couldn’t do it on my own!  That’s the key!  WE are NOT STRONG ENOUGH to WIN THE BATTLE on our own!  We NEED the Lord!  He is our STRENGTH when we are weak!  (2 Corinthians 12:10)

If you are feeling defeated, YOU ARE NOT!  YOU are MORE THAN A CONQUERER THROUGH CHRIST JESUS!  YOU CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS YOU!  YOU ARE THE HEAD AND NOT THE TAIL.  YOU ARE BLESSED COMING AND GOING!  YOU HAVE OVERCOME BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB AND THE WORD OF YOUR TESTIMONY!  (Romans 8:37, Philippians 4:13, Deuteronomy 28:13, Deuteronomy 28:6, Revelations 12:11)

BELIEVE God’s Word and His PROMISES!  

Place your TRUST in Him!  LOOK FORWARD from this day forward and EXPECT HIS GREATNESS in YOUR LIFE!  

With great resolve, REFUSE to allow the enemy to win the battle for your soul!  Take authority over the enemy in Jesus’ name and choose to WALK IN VICTORY; overwhelming VICTORY is yours through Christ Jesus!  (Romans 8:37)  

Jesus said, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33 (NIV)  PRAISE GOD!  

I wish YOU BLESSINGS BEYOND MEASURE in 2012!  I can’t wait to hear YOUR testimony!  

Sincerely & With Love, Karen