Spiritual Growth

Journey North Character: New Look; Same Heart

Posted on August 17, 2012 by Karen Thomas Olsen

Welcome!  We’ve been on summer break, and now it’s time to rev up this blog again!  I hope you like JNC’s new appearance!  I’ve been writing for Journey North Character under the leadership of Troy Christian Schools in Troy, Ohio.  Since I am now “retired,”  JNC was recently released to me to manage independently.

I hope that you will continue to join me on this journey.  First, we want to make sure we know why we’re here.

JNC exists to encourage Christians to walk closer to Christ,  becoming more like Him. Continue reading →

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A New Chapter Begins

Posted on June 28, 2012 by Karen Thomas Olsen

The Grand Canyon: Sunset or Sunrise?

Journey North Character will begin a new chapter in August. When the school year ended, I did not communicate with you our summer plans because I did not know them! After prayer and after conferring with the administration at Troy Christian and with my technical assistants, we have finally made some important decisions.

First, we have decided to move the blog, Journey North Character, from the Troy Christian Schools website to Accentmarks.org, my personal website.  Please note that I do not plan to post new articles until August in order to have the month of July to prepare.

I have Continue reading →

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“How’re Ya Doing?”

Posted on May 24, 2012 by Karen Thomas Olsen

When you’re raising children, no matter their age, every week is a big week.

“How’re ya doing?”

“Oh, we’re hanging in there! We’re busy.”

You hear that a lot, don’t you? I can imagine Continue reading →

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Devotional Thoughts on Forgiveness

Posted on May 22, 2012 by Karen Thomas Olsen

Approaching the end of the school year, we look back over the year, remembering where we were at the beginning, considering  highlights — both achievements and disappointments — that changed us.  It is good to consider how we are different today in comparison to last August.  Are we stronger in our faith? Are we better in character: kinder, wiser,  more Christ-like? Are our changes energized not from a prideful “I can do whatever I dream” spirit, but from the Holy Spirit? Continue reading →

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In a Fallen World, We Can’t Live Without It

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Karen Thomas Olsen

The school year is almost over, so it’s time to explore our last character-driven theme of the year. In a fallen world, no one can survive without this quality. Beyond survival, no one can thrive without it. We learn the need of it even before we go to kindergarten. I suppose it’s like the white cells in our blood stream – necessary in order to keep us clean, protected, and alive. You’ve probably figured it out. Continue reading →

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Character Steps on a Journey Northward

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Karen Thomas Olsen

We are like the box top picture on a 5000 piece puzzle: our children get the idea of what life looks like through the pictures of our lives. Other people also provide box top pictures of life for us and our children. We’ve considered Sokvannarra (Sy) Sar, a young man from Cambodia who came to America and has become a classical ballet dancer. Sy’s life demonstrates humility, loyalty, tenacity, selflessness, perseverance, kindness, respect and honor. Recently, we’ve been looking at some scenes from my story. What character qualities do you observe that God was shaping in me? Continue reading →

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A Fairy Tale Story Begins

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Karen Thomas Olsen

After four or five days of driving across the country and sharing special time together, my mother and I arrived in Scotts Valley, California, south of San Jose.  We pulled into Baymonte Christian High School’s parking lot in front of the superintendent’s office. I had never seen a school like this! Continue reading →

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Saying YES to God

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Karen Thomas Olsen

How has God changed you through the cross of Christ, the Word of God, and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit?  This is your story.  I asked you this question recently, and then began to tell you part of my story that relates to the character qualities of self-control, obedience, surrender, and love. I’ll pick up where I left off last time.

Continue reading →

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Saying NO to God

Posted on May 3, 2012 by Karen Thomas Olsen

I have to smile when I think of how impressed some of my high school students were that I had waited so long to get married.  When they saw the guy I was marrying, the girls were really impressed. Wow! Waiting is worth it!  To young people ages 14-18, we were so old — meeting at age 24 and marrying at age 26!  And I must admit that I thought I had waited pretty long too.

Now, I’m still holding you in suspense! Continue reading →

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Swirling Stories within His Story

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Karen Thomas Olsen

We were 24 years old when we met. Up until then, we had lived in different parts of the continent. He had never been to my region in his life, and I had never been to his. How did we ever meet? Thus starts our story. Continue reading →

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