From Trash to Treasure

By Dr. Karen L. Donald

From Trash To Treasure is an account of Dr. Karen L. Donald's past that caused her hurt, trauma and self destruction. In her first book, she shares the portion of her life that brought her pain and empowerment. Her story begins at childhood to her present. She is an international Life Coach, Intervention Specialist and Dr. of Spiritual Counseling specializing in lifestyle transformation. Her words of transformation and hope are heard around the world through her many media appearances, live events, mentoring clinics and writings.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: May 27, 2014
• ISBN: 9781312196544

Book preview

From Trash to Treasure

From Trash to Treasure

{Forward}

"Throughout my 24 years of Pastoring I have seen God do the miraculous in the lives of His people but the transformation of Karen Donald is truly proof that Miracles Still Happen. Karen L. Donald’s riveting testimony will change the lives of anyone that hears it. God has surely brought Karen out of the bondages of the past and set her life on the road to success. God has transformed her life and I believe that through this book He can transform yours too.

In the real world, real situations happen to real people, but this powerful book, From Trash to Treasure, is a testament that you too can learn from your mistakes, rise above opposition and be the treasure that God has called you to be.  It is my desire that when you read this book that you are prayerful and allow the Holy Spirit to minister to you. It is also my prayer that this book will greatly impact your life."

Apostle Wayne T. Jackson, D.D.

Senior Pastor of Great Faith Ministries, Intl.’

Overseer of Greater Works of Christ International

Dedication

This book is dedicated to those who never had a chance to believe in themselves. 

Today is your day of 2nd chance!

Special Thanks:

Apostle Wayne T. Jackson and Dr. Beverly Y. Jackson, my children, Kristoffer and Keli Donald, My Mom, Catherine Donald, L’Oreal Tillman, family and friends

In memory of:

My Daddy, Ruben F. Donald

A great Man of God

July 22, 1935-February 20, 2013

Introduction

In January of 2003, during a corporate time of fasting and consecration, God gave me a vision. I was going through a major trial. This was a time when I was trying to understand who I was. However, most importantly, I was experiencing an intense feeling of wanting to understand more of who I am in God. 

As I continued to pray, He (God) simply showed me a picture of what seemed to be a trash dump or junkyard. It was not just cars or just trash; it was everything that was dirty.  Everything was the same colors; black and gray. So, here I am in prayer, seeing this big thing in front of me, saying, Ok God, I’m really not getting this one! 

Then, all of a sudden, He had me to look deeper and there was a small twinkle in the midst of the trash, and I heard God say, "That was you." Oh, how I began to cry. Instantly, I began to see how God has been with me before I really knew who He was. The times that I should have suffered from a drug overdose, a fatal gunshot wound, death from abuse, and many other things, He was there all along!

This revelation changed my life and started me on my way to becoming a better person.  I also began feeling more deserving of the blessings of God.  This was such an important day for me.  My eyes had to start opening to the understanding of the ministry and mission that God has given me.  Not how to put together workshops, conferences, books, and tapes, but who God called me to be!  There is a big difference.  Many people want to host an event, but the event without purpose will be nothing to those who attend. Our desire in ministry must line up with the Word of the Lord.  Everyone is not called to pastor, teach or evangelize. However, everyone is called to minister, which is to be a servant of God.  If you are not doing what God said to do, you are not serving the people, only yourself. 

How many speakers have you heard in workshops or seminars that you cannot remember what they spoke about after you left?  I have, what seems like, hundreds of workshop folders that contain little to no substance nor bear any fruit of my participation.  I never want to present myself that way if at all possible.  I want to speak and present what is in me; what God put there even with such a torrid past that I have attached to my name.

I remember the first time I was asked to share my story publicly.  It was the spring of 1991 for a taping for my pastors’ television show.  I agreed to offer my story on the broadcast taping and followed the directions.  Inside, I was feeling like my life would probably really end after anyone, including my family, heard what had been going on in my life.  I’d gone through so much without ever telling anyone what I was really feeling or experiencing.  You will find out later that other people thought they knew. However, some of them were going through things too. Ultimately, many people are and will always be clueless to the lives of others and their emotions.

After the broadcast, my pastors were so excited about the response. There was a flood of phone calls that came into the church regarding the haunting details of my life.  I remember Pastor Beverly Jackson saying, I would not have been able to do it! I had great admiration for her. As long as I had known her, even when we were young ladies in grade school, Pastor Beverly always appeared to be brave and courageous to me. Her statement said two things to me. First, to hear her say that meant to me that sometimes the things you see in others that seem impossible for you to achieve, will rub off on you as you continue to operate in love despite your thoughts and feelings of inadequacy.  Secondly, it also made me see that this story, which was now my life, was deeper than I had once really understood. It just so happened that I was in it.

There was a time that I thought that I was finally safe.  I remember thinking that thought; only God knows how many times over the last 18 years of my time of deliverance by God.  It was only really the beginning of defining who I really was created to be. 

Everyone has a story to tell.  Whether you tell it or not, it is really up to you.  Yes, really!  You create your own platform, stage, and audience.  How many times have you been in the grocery store, local entertainment center, airport, or bus station and someone just started talking to you?  I know what you said…"what do they want?!"  They want what is deep inside of you; there before you were born.  All those things that you feel are not good qualities about your life, are the mission of your life.  Your handicaps cannot be hindrances unless you let them bind you. 

The most innocent touch I have ever felt was from a blind man. The most beautiful words were from my children before they could talk.  The person who always seemed to walk to the edge of the earth for me did not have legs and in a lonely world, I meet new faces everyday because of our divine appointments.

We all need someone to talk to. Most of the time, our answer will not come from the one we think it is coming from.  My friend and dear sister, Myrna Morris, was the person used in my life to pull the words out of my mouth.  It was not a deep surgery, mystic charade, ESP moment, or a biblical counseling session.  She just looked at me every time she saw me and said, I wish you would get it together because there is something inside of you that I need to hear! Well my girl, here we go!

As you come to the end of this introduction, let me leave you with words to ease your minds and hearts.   My parents and all of my family have always been loving and giving people.  They are the keys to my survival and will to move on with life.  My mom and dad have always taught me about honoring God and having prayer.  When I had to endure my test and trials, it was also them that prayed for me.   Our entire family has always stuck together through thick and thin.  There are sometimes areas in everyone’s lives that cannot be explained or expressed to everyone.  My life is a perfect example of how we will encounter things that hurt us and impact us.  It has to be either positive or negative; there is no in-between. Everyone has secrets. Whether they decide to share them is personal. I chose to share this information because to date I have been able to help hundreds because of my experiences.  Whether you or I ever tell our story or share our secrets, who you are and what you have gone through shows in your daily walk; even when you love and serve God. There are children who need to have someone see their faces