Every Woman's Journey

Join Me Here . . . !

2008-04-05T07:25:00.000-07:00

Receiving Grace/Reflecting God

New blog, new book, new project -- all about you!
Hope you'll be part of our new adventure:

See you there!
Many blessings,
Karon

My favorite day of the year!

2007-12-31T13:22:00.000-08:00

Greetings to you and best wishes for a fabulous 2008!

New Year's Day is always my favorite day of the year. It's pure optimism and hope and faith. The past seems farther past than it really is, and the future touches me like hot sunshine when I close my eyes. I don't know what will happen, but the first day of a new year lets me believe it'll be great. I have a blank calendar and a million dreams to corral into it. I have definite goals and work to do, but I also let myself daydream to the unlikely, believing that with a whole year ahead of me, maybe some of those dreams will come true . . . this year. Maybe this brand new, unafraid and untarnished year will be when everything good God sees in me will come out to you. I can't wait to find out . . . how 'bout you? :-)

I invite you to join me as we look forward to this new year and new blessings only our Father can imagine and give to us to share. Happy new year and happy *every* new year!

Many blessings,
Karon

New Review

2007-11-26T07:35:00.000-08:00

From Faithful Reader.com . . .

I'm so proud to announce the posting of this new review of Pursued by the Shepherd by Michele Howe at Faithful Reader.com. It's HERE. Hope you enjoy and thanks for reading :-)

Many blessings,
Karon

So very thankful…

2007-11-15T05:43:00.000-08:00

For every birthday, anniversary, Christmas or any other time for gift-giving for the past 5 years, when my husband asked me what I wanted, I’ve had the same intangible response: to MOVE! It took forever but we finally sold our house this past June and we’re in an apartment now. We bought a little property and the man with the big skidder and bulldozer began making the road this week.

We’re still a long way off from our tiny home that’ll give a new meaning to the term “minimalist” [as in, severe lack of funds, lol], but we’re on our way to the reality we’ve waited so long for. And I am so very thankful.

I can look back now through everything and see God’s mighty hand in it all. Of course, “keeping the faith” was hard through all the tears and fits I barely survived, but He and I grew closer and closer during that time. He never wavered, but He held me tight when I kicked and screamed for days and sometimes even forgot to love Him back. He’s like that, you know – patient, steady, focused on the good things even when we’re temporarily mired in the not-so-good ones.

This Thanksgiving season, I’ll be saying what I’ve been saying for the past several months, what I want to say every day: THANK YOU, Lord, for your many blessings and for always being in charge.

I wish you and your family a beautiful and blessed Thanksgiving holiday!

ps: here’s a photo of me hugging a tree that had to be sacrificed for our little cleared out spot. We’ll plant many more :-)

Many blessings to you,
Karon

An interview about our book!

2007-10-26T04:02:00.000-07:00

Hello, all :-) For a little while, you can listen to an interview about Pursued by the Shepherd that I did recently with Joshua Michael at the Author's Corner, KNEO. It's grouped with a couple other interviews, but you might enjoy those as well! Go here and please let me know what you think. Have a great day!

Many blessings,
Karon

ps: And remember: The leader's guide for Pursued by the Shepherd is free for you to use with your ladies group or Sunday School class. You can download it here. Thanks!

"Ask," He says...

2007-08-30T11:25:00.000-07:00

So often, maybe always, God makes things so much simpler than we do. We want a flow chart or a multi-colored map or a 26-point plan to mark the way for us when we're confused. But no, He says we don't need all that. We just need to ask Him what's best.

Ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls.
Jeremiah 6:16

"Ask," He says, but He isn't satisfied with just giving us the information we need. He promises something for our obedience and trust -- rest for our souls. I know sometimes we have complicated problems that require lots of work and effort and lots of time to resolve, but don't you think we can give God's simple approach a try? What can it hurt? At the very least, we have a place to start -- at His knee, listening, waiting. And that's always the best place to start.

Take care of yourself. And rest :-)

Many blessings,
Karon

ps: It's finally here! The leader's guide for Pursued by the Shepherd is free for you to use with your ladies group or Sunday School class. You can download it here. Thanks!

What I see...

2007-08-06T09:29:00.001-07:00

I just finished an interview with a Florida radio station -- what fun! I love to talk about Pursued by the Shepherd because every time the person I see before me...is me. I've been there so many times -- lost and alone and afraid of what was going to happen next. And then, amazingly, He's been there, too. My Shepherd has reached for me with only the desire to hug me close and comfort me. And even with my disheveled appearance and the minimum I have to offer, He remembers His mission -- and somehow I have a part to play.

And the cycle continues. So right there next to me, I see...you. If you don't feel lost right now, then God's growing you in some remarkable way to help those of us who are. And if you are lost now, know your Shepherd is in pursuit of you. Will you let Him find you . . . . ?

*Coming soon: a Study Guide for your group! I'll post the link as soon as it's available!

Many blessings,
Karon

In pursuit of me...

2007-07-27T12:44:00.000-07:00

My husband and I are in pursuit of a huge goal in our lives – to move. The selling-our-house part took forever. I whined about it to anyone who would listen and squeaked like the most broken wheel ever to God about it all the time. Finally, it happened! And while we’re not to our goal yet [we’re in a small apartment temporarily and our stuff is stored], the hard part of selling our house is history! I’ve never been this happy and relieved about too many things in my whole life.

The ordeal was a test of sorts for me in many ways, but it was a lighthouse, too. And my Shepherd’s love was the beacon, always watching for me, always wanting my care and safety. Of course, a bit removed from the drama of my house horror, I can see how God was always in control – I know, big surprise – and how I shouldn’t have worried so. But He knows me and understands my many weaknesses well. And perhaps not in spite of but because of them, He remained constantly in pursuit of me through it all.

He talked to me and answered me and tried to explain things to me [big job], and He never walked away, never failed to listen to my same questions and complaints. I hope He hears my gratitude now, and I wish I had been more trusting in my trauma, more willing to be grateful then for His control. Sometimes I can do that and sometimes not.

I’m like a baby sheep who’s been dropped on another planet where nothing is right and nothing works and the memory of what is right has faded like the moon at daybreak. But another planet or another problem – it’s all the same to our Shepherd! He is unmoved by my stumbles and need for more assurances, my actions and reactions that belie what I know and explode out of my pain. I can see Him just sighing quietly, knowingly, without anger or disappointment. Compassion is His calling card.

He says, “I won’t let go, little one, no matter what.” And that’s what I need to know.

Hitting the road...

2007-06-05T10:20:00.000-07:00

Greetings my friends :-) Wow, things have been busy around my house lately, and I'm packing for a couple upcoming trips. This weekend, June 8 and 9, I'll be part of the Women of Worship Conference at Bridgeway Community Church in Columbia, Maryland. And then June 15 and 16, I'll be teaching at the Southern Christian Writers Conference in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

I have lots to do and prepare for, but no matter how scattered I get sometimes [and that can be p-r-e-t-t-y scattered, lol], I try to remember to walk through my day in God's company. Of course, He's always near me, but when I stop to pay attention, listen, breathe and practice my trust, everything seems ok even if it's not on the outside because I know He's still in charge. And thankfully, He's way smarter than I am and can see what my nearsighted, control freak self can't. Ahhh, what would we do without our Father God?? Take a break now and have a chat with Him, I know He's available :-) Have a great day!

Many blessings,
Karon

Finally...!

2007-05-15T06:29:00.000-07:00

Finally, my whining is over :-) Thanks to all of you, my loyal well-wishers who've waited with me for this book! Pursued by the Shepherd: Every Woman's Journey from Lost to Found is finally available, and I hope everyone will be as happy with it as I am. It seems like it took f-o-r-e-v-e-r for it to finally rest on a book shelf, but it made it and I'll stop all the moaning and groaning. You're welcome :-)

I've not only been whining during this time. I've actually written another book. It doesn't have a publishing home yet, so I don't know what its story will be, but I'll keep you posted.

I'll try to do a better job with this blog...computer work is hard for me . . . kind of like cooking . . . but I don't think my typing ever made anybody sick...wish I could say the same for my cooking...

Thank you again for your support and interest. If anyone has any questions about our new book or writing or anything, I'll do my best. Have a great day, everyone!

Many blessings,
Karon

Moving slowly...

2007-02-14T09:44:00.000-08:00

Well again, I'm so behind in posting. I confess -- partly it's a computer thing. I love it. I hate it. I love it when I'm writing a book or hearing from a friend. I hate it when I have to navigate screens and clicks and other impersonal trappings I don't understand. I admit it. I'm almost computer illiterate and it shows. And I've been moving slowly lately . . .

The Southern cold goes through to my marrow. Lots of news I'm waiting for still hasn't come and I'm discouraged. Other stuff I won't bore you with consumes me. But I do have something comforting I want to share with you.

Keri Wyatt Kent's new book, Oxygen: Deep Breathing for the Soul, is a slow moving devotional, so maybe that's why it's so right for me right now. It's a quiet peace to read about days in Jesus' life and how He responded to those around Him, how He kept an even pace because He knew His place, Lord and Savior, always in control. I need that now. I need Him now. And so we move slowly together.

He loves me

2006-11-09T05:51:00.000-08:00

Perhaps God’s love is painfully obvious to you, but maybe because I needed to hear it deep down, He’s been telling me lately how much He truly loves me. Me. As much as anybody else, flawed and incomplete as I am, He loves me. It’s not that I doubted His love before, but just that He seemed to think I needed to be reminded, to stop and take notice of how deep and true it is.

I think it might be because I’m a big scaredy-cat. I write and speak about overcoming fear all the time, but I think I’m the one who needs to hear that message the most. Worries and challenges in my life right now make me afraid, but I never stop that ongoing talk with God. I know He’s right here beside me, listening to me, always prepared with what I need to learn or relearn. I try not to question His choices [though sometimes I wish He’d use *my* idea, lol], and just accept His deep love because that gets me closer to Him, and from there, we can do anything. He loves me and that isn’t going to change. I got it.

Learning...

2006-09-14T12:27:00.000-07:00

Whew, I’m tired. I just finished another round of edits on my manuscript for Pursued by the Shepherd that comes out in May. I know that’s a long time off, but the process is lengthy and takes much work along the way. If I wasn’t so computer illiterate, I’d post the cover online somewhere, but I’m afraid email taxes me now and then…maybe I’ll be a computer whiz in my next life, lol.

As I worked on the manuscript, I read and re-read each word, every sentence. I worked for months choosing the words and the order of the words carefully, deliberately, thinking of my reader all the time, hoping for a connection through paper and ink. I’ve been blessed to hear from lots of readers and I want that again, with this book, too. I want to know that my mistakes and missteps – and God’s tender care as I recover from them – can lead someone else on her challenging path. I want to know I’m not alone in this quest to grow ever closer to God and surrender to Him. Sometimes it’s hard, but I’m learning. And I want you to learn with me.

Unfaithful

2006-08-07T07:07:00.000-07:00

That’s me. I’ve been terribly unfaithful to my blog. I didn’t forget, but you know how it is sometimes. I could give you the list of all the stuff in the way lately, but I’ll spare you the ugly details. We’ll just say there hasn’t been enough of me to go around…or maybe it’s just not enough of my mind to go around…yep, that’s more like it.

Sometimes we just think too much. My husband asks me what’s on my mind sometimes, and I always answer truthfully – “about a thousand things.” It’s so hard to let go of all the issues and concerns that have my attention. It’s hard to stop trying to figure everything out and plan and understand all that’s going on in my head.

But we don’t have to work so hard.

Paul told us in Ephesians 6:13, when he talks us about the armor of God, “having done all, stand.” Now the “all” is a lot – but when we’ve done all we can in our own human, finite way, it’s time to simply “stand” and get out of God’s way so He can do the rest. It’s a partnership, and our part doesn’t mean worrying and hurrying or trying to do more than our part. It’s that waiting we have a tough time with, and I’m in the midst of a long wait now (again), but my part – doing all and then trusting enough to stand – doesn’t change.

One of the hundred things I’ve been busy with lately is preparing for my speaking engagement next month. We’ll be talking about learning how to “wait purposefully” (based on this book), about trust and obedience and lots of other great stuff. I’m very excited about this opportunity! But all I can do is prepare and then leave it to God to unfold as He chooses.

And my son returns to school next week. He’ll be a junior, so he’s half way to that college degree. He almost never gets impatient or worried about anything. I wonder if he knows how proud I am of him.

So I’m busy still and again with a thousand things on my mind, but I can only do my part. And that’s enough.

My wise friend

2006-06-16T05:14:00.000-07:00

I talked with my dear friend yesterday, my friend who is so very secure in her relationship with God. She prefaces her every thought or action with how it relates to her faith. She trusts that whatever happens is somehow part of His greater plan that she's blessed to be a part of. She doesn't worry when things don't go as she expected or take longer than she'd like to materialize. We're separated by a couple thousand miles, but hearing her voice on the phone and taking a little part of her wisdom for myself is a blessing indeed. I want to be her when I grow up.

Many blessings,
Karon

A "sneak peek" introduction...

2006-06-08T07:10:00.000-07:00

Good morning :)

I learned this week that the publisher for my upcoming book, Revell, has come up with a new title. I thought it was going to be called "The 100th Sheep," but now it'll be "Pursued by the Shepherd: Every Woman's Journey from Lost to Found." Do you like that? I hope so.

Anyway, I thought now would be a good time to give you the introduction. Hope you enjoy!

Pursued by the Shepherd:
Every Woman's Journey from Lost to Found

Coming May, 2007

Introduction:

“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’”
Luke 15:4-6

How many times have I been the 100th sheep! How many times have I wandered away, alone and confused? How many times have I ignored the Lord’s map and followed directions to the wrong place? Just as many times, He’s come looking for me. I think God must have the world’s largest lost and found department. I’ve visited quite often, but it’s never a permanent move. I can never get so lost the Lord won’t find me.

We don’t usually get lost in the parking lot (well, I do . .. ), but we regularly get lost in our own sadness or guilt or confusion or misjudgment. We detour away from God’s grace and power and try to navigate for ourselves. It’s a senseless turn, and He comes to rescue us. He comes after me every time.

He follows me and speaks my name and waits for me to turn around in answer to His call. It’s as if He sees my broken heart far more clearly than all I’ve broken in my path. It’s my heart He pursues, my link to Him I feel I have no right to claim. But His calls get louder and more urgent, and my heart dares to believe again. I turn around and look at Him and, amazingly, He lifts me over the debris of my lostness and hugs me to Him. I am found, and the reunion begins. We can explore together, and He directs the growing and becoming of His faithful yet faulty disciple.

Jesus’ story says the shepherd called his friends and neighbors to share in his happiness. Wow. I’d think the Lord would want to hide me when He found me weathered and worn, at least until He could scrub me up pretty good and give me a bit of a makeover. But no, God doesn’t hide us no matter how pitiful we look after our lostness. Instead, He calls us to use, to work, that very moment, to be an example and promise of all that’s to come. The reunion isn’t a finish line, but a launching pad.

Have you ever been the 100th sheep? Probably so, because it’s easy to get lost, isn’t it? And it’s our own personal miracle when we’re found. We’re held close to our Shepherd, redeemed and changed, ready to walk with Him renewed and awakened, ready to follow our Guide who is never lost. Travel with me here for a while, won’t you? The scenery just keeps getting better and better.

Love talking to readers!

2006-06-06T05:13:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, I attended the Southern Christian Writers Conference workshop in Tuscaloosa, AL. What a joy! It was so much fun -- full of insight and inspiration. And I got to talk to some readers -- one of my most absolutely favorite things to do. And I don't just mean readers who read my stuff, but readers who love books so much they want to write their own. If you've ever thought that, I highly recommend Terry Whalin's blog, The Writing Life. And this post gives you an inside look at what an editor experiences at a conference -- and Terry's love and compassion for writers. Enjoy!

Many blessings,
Karon

A work in progress...

2006-05-30T04:40:00.000-07:00

I was reminded the past few days of how much work my Father still has to do on me. What a job. And I don't ever make it easy. I can behave as if I've never heard of Him, be ill-natured and selfish. Ugh. But I know He's always standing right there beside me as I stomp my foot and fuss and complain, waiting for me to calm down, take a breath, and say, "ok, let's begin again." And He's always so kind to teach me something new, something to help. He lets me know He's not finished with me yet, and once again, I see just a tiny glimpse of what He's got planned. The progress continues...

Many blessings, fellow work in progress :)
Karon

What a great weekend!

2006-05-22T05:20:00.000-07:00

Hello, all :) I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! I had a great time at my speaking engagement. It was Friday night and it was so much fun. They invited me to breakfast the next morning, too, and that was great -- and Saturday was my birthday, so I was treated to a rendition of Happy Birthday and lots of well wishes! The group I spoke to was so kind to me, and it's always such a pleasure to be around people who love God so much and want to talk about His power in their lives. Can't get enough of that!

Have a terrific week and thanks for stopping by :)

Many blessings,
Karon

Playtime!

2006-05-17T04:50:00.000-07:00

Ok, see if you can find this book of the Bible:

Clues:

This is an Old Testament book.

It's very short.

It's about a building project.

God reminds us of one of His greatest promises, not once, but several times in the brief book.

Extra Hint: Finish this verse: "Be strong, all you people of the land," declares the Lord, "and work, _________________________."

Many blessings,
Karon

"Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit," says the Lord Almighty.
Zechariah 4:6

Preparing...

2006-05-16T06:22:00.000-07:00

I'm giving a speech Friday evening. I've studied and prepared...and prayed. I know this material (actually, it's the basis for the second book in the "Every Woman's Travels" series) and I've picked out my clothes. I don't want to mess up. My mother will be there, the first time she's heard me give a talk. No pressure. I wonder what surprises and blessings God has in store? I'm thinking good thoughts and clinging to His promise to be with me. It's gonna be great :)

To Catch You Up...

2006-05-15T07:35:00.000-07:00

For new readers, titles available now:

The "woman's guide" series:

You're Late Again, Lord!
The Impatient Woman's Guide to God's Timing

Grab a Broom, Lord -- There's Dust Everywhere!
The Imperfect Woman's Guide to God's Grace

You Still Here, Lord?
The Insecure Woman's Guide to God's Faithfulness

~~~

Another Fine Mess, Lord!
Finding Simplicity, Order & Insight in a Complicated World

~~~For Stepmoms~~~

A Stepmom's Book of Prayer

The Stepmom's Guide to Simplifying Your Life

~~~

See info all about all the books at http://karongoodman.com/books.html

Getting started...

2006-05-15T07:10:00.000-07:00

Hello, all :)

I hope you'll join me on this journey. I love hearing from you, my readers, especially how God is working in your lives.

You often write to me and ask about new books. Well, I thought you might enjoy keeping up with me as my next book makes it to the shelves. It's the first book in a new series, the "Every Woman's Journey" series. It's called Pursued by the Shepherd: Every Woman's Journey from Lost to Found and will be released May, 2007. I know, that seems like forever, but things move slowly in the publishing world. You'll see :)

Thanks for stopping by!
Many blessings,
Karon