Recently, I’ve felt God asking me to cut back on certain activities, and, to be honest, letting go has been hard. But those previously pruned and bounteous berries remind me of an important truth: Pruning is an essential part of bearing excellent fruit…
Read MoreOne kingdom key to enjoying a deeper relationship with God and succeeding in the good work He’s called us to do is having a childlike heart—one of curiosity, playfulness, and willingness to learn and dream…
Read MoreWe all have an innate desire for our lives to matter, and I think most of us believe that we have a purpose and hope to accomplish that purpose. We know the Bible says God has good plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11) and that He has called us to do good works (Ephesians 2:10).
But when it comes to actually understanding what our purpose is, many of us struggle. We do our best to help others and serve God, but we often feel unfulfilled and are left wondering if we’re really doing what we’re meant to do…
Read MoreAs Christians, we often hear and talk about bearing fruit. But this concept, though lovely, is sometimes a little vague, and you might wonder, What exactly does it mean to bear fruit?
To help answer this question, I'm sharing an article I wrote for iBelieve.com that goes over four types of fruit found in the Bible and some tangible ways they can be expressed in our lives…
Every month for the past 40 months, I’ve written “devotions due” on the 15th of my calendar—a reminder to submit my two monthly devotions to The Joyful Life Devotion Team.
But at the beginning of this year, I felt God prompting me to step down from this particular team.
I wrestled with this decision because I enjoyed being a part of this group of writers; I love the friendships I’ve formed there and the publishing opportunities I’ve been given. I also worried that I was mishearing God. Being on this team was a good thing, and letting go of it didn’t really make sense. What if I’m wrong and I release something I’m meant to maintain? I wondered…
When we’re first learning a new skill, we often face feelings of failure, discouragement, and doubt. But I was reminded recently that we develop skills in stages, and it’s okay to be in the beginning stages.
Read MoreYou are the salt of the earth, and if you are abiding in Jesus and following the leadership of the Holy Spirit to the best of your ability, you can’t not make a difference in the world…
Read MoreAs purposeful women, we have goals and dreams we’re doing our best to steward, and this is good. But God doesn’t want us to get burnt out. He understands the toll tough seasons can take, and like the stressed moose who are drawn to the easier walking paths, it could be that He is inviting you to take it easy for a bit…
Read MoreAre you feeling demotivated or discouraged, particularly when it comes to setting goals, planning, or dreaming, and you’re just not sure how to get your zest for life back?
If so, it could be that there is unfinished business—perhaps unresolved grief, a damaged relationship, or a disappointed dream—that needs attention…
All my life, I’ve felt the need to hurry. But now I find Jesus giving me the same invitation He gave Alan Fadling: Slow down.
So I’m doing my best to unhurry my life and my heart. I’m learning to accept my slower-paced nature and to walk with my Shepherd beside quiet—not frenzied—waters. I’m learning to find rest in the rhythms of the One Who never hurries His sheep.
Your monthly round up of resources to help you connect with God, make a difference, and live with joy.
Read MoreYour monthly round up of resources to help you connect with God, make a difference, and live with joy.
Read MoreYour monthly round up of resources to help you connect with God, make a difference, and live with joy.
Read MoreWhen the end of the year rolled around, I contemplated what persistence had looked like for me over the previous months. As I did, I realized a truth that may seem obvious, but I had never thought much about before: Persistence isn’t pretty…
Read MoreMy home lies under a flight path used by a group of local ravens. In the mornings, they fly south over my house, heading toward the city, where they scavenge for food. Come evening, they return north to roost.
One day, I was watching the ravens fly by, and the word "provision" came into my mind. I was a little surprised since this was not a word I normally associated with ravens…
Our culture often distrusts emotions—we tend to look down on people who are “emotional” or who base decisions on how they feel. Being guided by logic is touted as the more responsible and realistic way to move through life.
But, as we seek to grow closer to God and move forward in our purpose, what if our emotions are just as important as our minds?
Read MoreThe last couple of months have been crazy busy, and in my desire to get all the things done that I’ve needed to get done (and soak up as much summer sun as I can while I’m at it) I’ve found myself neglecting the practices that make me feel most refreshed and rested (like reading and quiet time at home), as well as some of the projects God has called me to do…
Has God given you a mission but you're not sure how you'll accomplish certain aspects of what He's calling you to do?
Today, I'm sharing a devotion I wrote for The Joyful Life that I hope will encourage you as you pursue all God has in store for you—no matter how impossible it seems…
Read MoreRather than impulses to be resisted, our dreams and desires are often signals God uses to lead us into His purpose and callings for our lives. However, while our desires often do point us in the right direction, not everything we want is necessarily God's will. So how can we tell if a desire is truly from Him?
To help answer that question, today I'm sharing an article I wrote for The Joyful Life Magazine. In it, I reveal five questions I’ve found helpful to ask when I’m trying to determine whether what I want lines up with what God wants…
There’s a gardening proverb that goes like this: “The first year they sleep, the second year they creep, the third year they leap!”
This little adage is a reminder that you won't see much outward growth in the first year after a perennial (a plant that lives for multiple years) is planted…
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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