So often, like vines creeping over stones, the stuff of life—cultural messages, childhood trauma, our own ego and misconceptions about ourselves and our gifts—obscures the core of who we are and the people God intended us to be, sometimes to the point that our purpose is completely unrecognizable…
Read MoreAre are you feeling stuck in a wilderness season and crying out to God to rescue you from your sorrow and distress?
Maybe there’s a dream that your heart aches to see fulfilled, yet it feels so far out of reach. Maybe like I did, you’re pleading with God to see your sorrows, feel your pain, and save you from your distress.
If so, I want to encourage you…
Read MoreAs we pursue our purpose plus tend to the demands of everyday life, it’s easy to feel pressed for time. There’s so much to do and only so many hours to do it in.
But what if God can multiply your time?
Read MoreMaybe life has been happening to you, too—you have a family member who needs extra support, your body needs to rest or recover from an illness, or the demands of work have overwhelmed your schedule.
If, as a result, you’ve been feeling discouraged about how life has been slowing, or even halting, progress on your goals, I just want to remind you that, to use Harper’s words, “It’s okay to take longer than you planned to finish the thing.”
Read MoreHave you ever heard a Christian leader/speaker say something like, “The last thing I wanted was to be a missionary (or pastor, etc.), so of course that’s what God called me to…” Then smile wryly and declare that “God sure has a funny sense of humor!”?
I heard this multiple times when I was growing up, and it always sounded to me as if they were saying God was going to call me to do something I wouldn’t like (like go to Africa)…
Read MoreOn this five-year anniversary of Covid, I want to share something I wrote during that time that I hope encourages you if you are wrestling with the sadness, fear, or frustration that can come with postponed plans…
Read MoreThough we may face obstacles, the fact remains: If God has set a goal in our hearts, it has value and is worth fighting for…
Read More…Whenever I think of da Vinci and his hand painting, I can’t help but think of Ephesians 2:10, which says that “we are God’s masterpiece” (NLT).
Just as da Vinci personally and carefully formed the Mona Lisa with his fingers, so God tenderly and intentionally molded and formed you into His great masterpiece…
Read MoreI’ve been convicted that if I don’t start asking more intentionally, specifically, and regularly, I risk not fully accomplishing the dreams in my heart and the good work God has called me to do…
Read MoreDo you and God have a unique love language that makes you feel special and seen?
Read More...Is it time to say goodbye to something in your life? Leaving can be hard because it can feel like losing—and sometimes it does come with a loss.
But so often what we let go of is vastly outweighed by what we gain when we open our hands in trust...
Read More...There was actually a good reason for my distress: I was trying to fit into a role I wasn’t meant for. Once I recognized this reality and adjusted course, the emotional storm inside settled down.
Since then, I’ve learned that as uncomfortable as it is, anxiety is a signal worth paying attention to.
Sometimes it signals an underlying medical condition, an unhealthy work environment, or unresolved emotional wounds or trauma...
Read More...You can be sure that next time, I’m going to make sure my lighting is better and my earrings match. But I’m also doing my best to break up with the idea that perfection is what gives my work power. Because it’s not by might and self-striving but by God's Spirit that the work He’s given me to do will be accomplished...
Read MoreImagine a robin who decided her beak was better used for digging holes than making music—what a waste it would be! What a loss of a gift that reveals God’s glory and brings joy to so many!
It might be a silly example, but we often neglect our gifts in a similar way. We decide it doesn’t matter what we want—as long as we’re doing something “practical” or “productive…”
I wanted to write something for you on Mother’s Day, but I wasn’t sure what to say…but this morning, three days after Mother’s Day, these are the words that settled in my soul…
I had put a lot into growing and developing my career and leaving it would come at a loss.
But my career was also costing me: It was draining my joy and sapping my energy, which impacted my marriage and held me back from following God’s call to write…
Unbelief whispers that if we don’t expect too much, we won’t be disappointed. But what it doesn’t tell us is that if we don’t expect anything, we reduce the likelihood that we’ll receive anything. In other words, by choosing not have an expectant outlook, we often miss out on good things…
Read MoreYour monthly round up of resources to help you connect with God, make a difference, and live with joy.
Read MoreDon’t worry if your course isn’t conventional or doesn’t make complete sense. God knows exactly what you need for the next leg of the journey, and the experiences that come with today’s twists and turns just might provide the tools you need to navigate tomorrow’s temptations, challenges, and opportunities…
Read MoreYour monthly round up of resources to help you connect with God, make a difference, and live with joy.
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Hi! I'm Carina, and I'm here to help you connect with God and discover and share your unique gifts.
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