Karen Dishman Jantzi 
~ Founder of TWN, Author, Speaker, Wife, Mother, CEO
To My Treasured Sisters........
Throughout life's journey, I am always amazed at how God takes what I think are my greatest mistakes and uses them for His higher good. After walking with Christ for 40 years now, I know His Word is true when it says He will "use all things for our good". He has certainly proved Himself faithful to me and I know He will to you as well.
I was blessed to be the 2nd of 3 children born to a sweet and loving Christian couple, Jim and Beulah Dishman of Orlando, Florida, married for 40 years. My father instilled a love for business in me from an early age and all I can ever remember wanting to do was to own my own company. My parents gave my brother, sister and I a wonderful, Godly upbringing and I know that was mercy on my life from the start. It is that strong biblical foundation that has kept me standing on God's Word through some difficult times in my life.
At the age of 27, I married Chris, a Canadian businessman, and moved to Toronto to began our life together. My mother died suddendly of cancer 10 hours after my first child was born and my dad had a stroke, so we moved back to Florida to help my family. Life was busy and exciting with a husband, children, ministry, a Holy Land Tour and Travel business and family obligations. In 1991, after the birth of my youngest daughter, my health hit a major obstacle, as I was diagnosised with fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis, two chronic and debilitating auto immune diseases. I spent many months bedridden and years in chronic pain while trying to fulfill all my responsibilities at home, work and church. Many times, I just wanted to give up hope. Taking care of life became almost impossible at times .
My marriage had been very difficult for many years and things got progressively worse. The stresses and difficulties associated with a public ministry had a devastating effect on our family. I was trying to please everyone in my life at any cost. I know many of you can relate to what I am saying. I felt that to be the faithful wife, mother, daughter, daughter-in-law and business partner, I had to almost perform at a superhuman level to please the ones I loved the most. In trying to do that, I damaged my health, both emotional and physical, to the point that I just went through the motions of life and completely lost any sense of my own identity outside of my responsibilities.
In 2004, my marriage came to an end. God released me and the restoration of KAREN began. As I went through divorce, He taught me to do so according to His Word. In the past ten years, TWN has walked beside many other women going through the same process and teaching them to do it in a Godly manner as well. By obeying God and His instruction, today my former husband and I are good friends and co-parent extremely well. God has always seen to make provision for the children and me.
The Lord restored me, emotionally and physically, and brought me to the realization that the only true and lasting value I have is in Christ Jesus. He taught me to be the person He created me to be and I allowed myself to embrace her.......flaws and all! God's servant's heart remains in me, but I am no longer a victim or a martyr. He gave me my dreams back and formed aa passion deep within me to help other women restore theirs as well, though His Holy Spirit. He held my hand as I became single again and walked with me as the Husband He says He is to us in Isaiah 54:5.
Revelation 12:11 says "And they overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimonies". Many times when I am weary, God will bring this verse to mind to remind me how powerful EACH of our testimonies are as we seek to stop the enemy of God, Satan, from destroying the Lord's Beloved......you and me! Today, I stand firm and proclaim His hope to you and every woman that He has created for His enjoyment and companionship. My life today isn't perfect, but it IS purposed! I have owned a management consulting firm for the past eight years and now the Lord is preparing me to enter the field of Life Coaching, which I am passionate about. I have given TWN to Him and am letting Him chart its course. He has more than given me my dreams......He has given me HIS dreams for my life! UPDATE - on June 12, 2009, I married the most amazing man of God, Ross Jantzi, the husband I had desired in my heart and stood in faith for several years. God's promises are true and He is mighty to answer prayers prayed in His will. He brought Ross to me and blessed us with a love that only He could have created. I give all praise and honor to Him for the precious gift of my husband!
He has dreams of HIS OWN for YOU too! And as you draw closer to Him, no matter what you are facing today, He will rescue you.....He will make a way for you..........why? Because of His great love for you. That is why He sent Jesus to the cross......for you and me! His power opened the tomb and filled Christ with life once more......just as He promises each of us. The choice is always ours. I chose Him and it was the best decision of my life. Won't you allow Him the chance to show you just what He is dreaming for you? I will be praying for you, Beloved Sisters. Email me with your decisions, your questions or your needs and we will pray and seek Him together. Thank you for allowing me to sharing a bit of my story with you today.
Love in Christ Always,
Karen
*Are you interested in learning more about having Karen share at your church or group? If so, please call TWN at 407 / 687-5988 or email Karen directly at pabride2009@gmail.com.
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