Karmen

By Maria C. Taylor

Have you ever seen an angel or heard the voice of God call your name? Has He allowed you to see visions and dream dreams? Does this really happen? you may ask. Karmen is having those questions answered in her life in a wonderfully exciting way. She's experiencing how exciting it is to have Jesus Christ as her Savior no matter where you live. God is working to will and to do His good pleasure in her life, and her desire for God's love and grace to abound in her family and in her neighborhood becomes essential to her. The section of the city that she lives in is not the most appealing place and can at times be dangerous. Yet God is empowering her to walk supernaturally in the power of the Holy Spirit to be a difference-maker. With her belief in heart that happy endings in life can happen, she sees things not as they are but as they can be.

It says in Acts 2:17, "'And it shall come to pass in the last days,' saith God, 'I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.'"

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 2, 2023
• ISBN: 9798885406109

Book preview

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Karmen

Maria C. Taylor

ISBN 979-8-88540-609-3 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88540-610-9 (digital)

Copyright © 2022 by Maria C. Taylor

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

All scripture quotations in this book are from the Amplified, Common English Bible, English Standard and King James Versions of the Bible.

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Sunday Morning

Fountain of Life Church

Memorial Hospital

The Police Station

The Alley

Dakota

Insightful Week

The Power

From Karmen

About the Author

To my husband, Richard; my daughter, Nicole; my friend Beverly, my daughter-in-law Heather and niece Melissa whose help, continued encouragement and prayers helped me to finish this book in memory of my niece Carmen, whom the book is named after—you died far too soon.

Chapter 1

Sunday Morning

Karmen

I awake to the bright summer sunshine laying like a soft blanket of grace upon my face. Its warmth awakens me as it peeks over the roof of the building across the street, saturating my bedroom with a comforting glow. The way I feel right now, so loving and peaceful it moves me to put my arms behind my head, and for an instant I let my imagination carry me away to a place where the love of God flows freely, a place that is filled with His peace and grace. My heart lifts to Him in thanksgiving for this new day, and I honor Him for His wonderful love that is filling my life every day. I acknowledge Him as my Savior and Lord and yield my will to His for today, thanking Him for this tranquility I'm receiving from meditating on Him and the pleasant feelings from the warmth of the sunshine.

Lord, in the morning you hear my voice. In the morning, I lay it all out before you. Then I wait expectantly. (Psalm 5:3)

Moments like these are precious to me because they don't happen often since there's always some kind of turmoil inside and outside the walls of my household. There are far too many neighborhoods like mine in every city that are without jobs and career opportunities, low-quality schools, and very few businesses that help improve the quality of everyday life.

However, at this moment I would settle for a place that was safer and more prosperous, where we could live comfortably and not always have to be concerned about the constant dangers lurking around every corner.

Opening my eyes to the reality of being in the 49th Street walk-up apartment I'm sharing with my family, I'm not ready to let this moment go; savoring this warm loving moment is bringing joy to my soul. I'm very thankful to have the peace of God in my heart, but what I'm enjoying right now does not negate the fact that there is still much turmoil in my own household, knowing that each day brings new and often unwanted challenges to deal with. So I'm welcoming this time to lay and enjoy the wonderful peace and serenity that I'm being given.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)

Suddenly it dawns on me it's Sunday morning. I realize it's time to get up and get ready for church! Praise God, my soul utters without me opening my mouth.

I'm so grateful for my church and the friends I've made there. I love to attend church; it's one of the most exciting times of the week for me. Wow, I'm actually getting excited about attending church. Remembering back not so long ago, I wanted nothing to do with church or its people, but now that has all changed.

Our church has a great young adults' ministry that is very helpful to me. In fact, church has become one of the few places where I always feel free and safe expressing myself and my love for God. The Word of God has become so precious and exciting to me. I'm getting an understanding of God's love and purpose for my life. It's encouraging to always come away from services with new strength and a reason for hopefulness in my life. I'm loving this newfound confidence that I have; it's helping me to take on new challenges that I would have previously allowed to overwhelm me. I'm so thankful for my faith in Jesus.

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25)

Suddenly, the blaring of my alarm clock interrupts my thoughts. That's strange, I awoke before the alarm went off. That seldom happens. I smile. I guess the sun was my alarm clock this morning.

With four of us in this small apartment and only one bathroom, my intentions are to always get up and get there before anyone else, so I set my alarm a little earlier on Sunday mornings so that I can. Jumping up in hopes of being the first one in this morning, since I want to get to church a little early, I grab my robe, down the hallway I scamper only to find my mom already in there.

Mom! I yell, I'm waiting to get in.

I'll let you know when I'm done, she replies as I hear her turn on the shower.

Walking back to my room, I reflect about how great my mom is and how blessed we are to have her. She's like the rock of our family; she loves and cares for us, always helping, and seems to know just what is needed in different situations in our everyday life. Her strength in the Lord and prayers for us have made a great difference in all of our lives. I now understand how important her instructions and encouragements have been to me. It hasn't been easy for me to resist the temptations that come my way, but I know her prayers for me have helped and are still helping.

Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue, is the law of kindness.

She looks well