SIMPLE NOTIONS

A Collection Of Experiences and Observations

Posts by: Karen Sheppard

On Turning Forty

Another daughter turned 40 in 2016. I appreciate her tender heart. She has agreed to guest post on my blog. So, thank you, Erin, for this timely reminder of what’s really important.  I’m turning 40 this week and here is what I know: God…

You Are Mine

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;I have called you by name, you are mine.When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;when you walk through fire you shall not…

Finding Joy at the Table

Has the stress of the season worn you down? Could you use an extra measure of joy right about now? In Romans 15:32, Paul expressed to the church his desire to “come to you with joy … and be refreshed…

Dispensers of Joy

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from troubleand surround me with songs of deliverance.   Psalm 32:7 NIV Ten years ago, a malnourished, tiny baby was rescued from the streets of China and dropped off at a hospital….

Making Friends Fast

Life in a new country offers both opportunities and challenges. Stepping into the unknown can be a huge leap of faith, especially in a country where no one speaks your language. Making friends with expats in similar circumstances eases the…

Hands

Old hands, young hands, wrinkled hands, calloused hands, soft hands, freckled hands. I love to study hands. I don’t think I have pretty hands, but they are what God gave me, and He gave me these hands for a purpose….

Out of Darkness into Light

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. I Peter 2:9 NIV Today,…

Beloved Grandson of Mine

My heart ached as we reluctantly backed out of the driveway to begin the long journey back to our home in New Mexico. Tears, too many to contain, spilled out, streaming down my cheeks. Just three years earlier my husband…