One of my favorite places is the botanical gardens at our local university.
On my last visit a few days ago, the garden was bursting with color and scent. Masses of peonies bloomed in magenta and cotton candy pink, tiger lilies flamed red, purple spikes of delphinium towered tall, and the fragrance of rose and mock orange sweetened the air…
I came across this acronym the other day: T.H.I.N.K.
T: is it True?
H: is it Helpful?
I: is it Inspiring?
N: is it Necessary?
K: is it Kind?
Apparently it was created to encourage people to think about what they say before posting on social media, with the aim of preventing internet bullying…
Read MoreThis week, I’m talking about something a little bit different. Though this isn’t a health blog, being healthy is part of having a vibrant life. The life, if you read my blog, I believe you are longing for. So today I’m diving in to an important piece of the health puzzle: Exercise.
I know exercise is not something we always want to do (at least I don’t) and just the word might even bring up some negative feelings like guilt or embarrassment. But if we really want to live life to the fullest, it’s important to address all aspects of self-care: spirit, body, and soul…
Read MoreThis week is a big one for my hometown of Fairbanks, Alaska, as we celebrate Summer Solstice. Though June 21st is the longest day of the year, it’s happily only one of over 70 days on which we receive 24 hours of daylight…
Read MoreThe other day I took a little stroll down my driveway to drop a letter in the mailbox.
As I walked, warm air pillowed me like a cocoon, and soft rays of sunshine caressed my skin. Bird song echoed through the woods, and a gentle wind rustled the treetops. My senses were further delighted by fragrant forest smells: warm earth, tangy sap and the sweet perfume of chokecherry blossoms…
Read MoreI don’t know about you, but when I struggle with a worry, besides feeling anxious and uncomfortable, I also often deal with guilt and disappointment because I know that a life of worry is not what God wants for us. I feel like if only I had stronger faith or was a more mature Christian I wouldn’t have these struggles…
Read MoreSometimes, try as I might, peace eludes me. I do all the things that usually help ease worries: thankfulness, deep breathing, journaling, planning, praying, reading the Bible, making sure I’m getting enough rest and exercise…But like a stubborn dandelion, the worry keeps popping up…
Read MoreWhat dream has God placed in your heart? Is it so big or beautiful or power-packed that you wonder how it will ever come to pass?
It seems that God loves to draw us into things that stretch us beyond what we think we are capable of. Think Abraham and Sarah having a child, Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt, or Gideon rescuing his country from the Midianites.
All these people questioned their ability to fulfill the call on their life…
Read MoreAll I remember about the sermon is that the pastor wanted a Winnebago motorhome.
As he talked about how cool it would be to have a giant transportable abode, the pastor’s eyes were bright, his face animated.
But then he started disparaging his desire. I’m not sure of his exact words, but, as I recall, he said something along the lines of how ridiculous his desire was, asking, incredulously, “Why would God want me to have a Winnebago?” and ending with “It will never happen.”…
Read MoreIn his book, Let Your Life Speak, writer and teacher Parker Palmer describes how he spent several years working as a community organizer. Though he felt a deep desire to teach, meeting the needs of the inner city seemed the proper path.
But in time, he realized “there was a fundamental misfit between the rough-and-tumble of organizing" and his "overly sensitive nature."…
Read MoreIf I asked you to name someone who had a calling on their life, who would you name?
Mother Theresa?
Billy Graham?
Martin Luther King, Jr.?
What about yourself?
I believe every one of us has a unique, individualized calling and purpose for our lives. But before we can fulfill it, we have to first recognize it exists…
Read MoreDuring one of my morning devotional times last week, I read something that surprised me. In Colossians, the Apostle Paul wrote:
"Let the peace of heart that comes from Christ be always present in your hearts and lives, for this is your responsibility and privilege as members of his body. And always be thankful." (Colossians 3:15, TLB)
Peace is…our responsibility?…
Read MoreImagine it’s your 100th birthday. You’ve just spent all day celebrating with a big party, and now you’re resting quietly in your bedroom. Friends and family linger, taking care of after-party clean up.
Against the backdrop of household sounds—the clatter of silverware on china, the tinkle your great-grandchildren’s laughter, the chatter of guests—you reflect on the last century. Suddenly, you’re drawn from your reverie by the sound of your name. As you strain to listen in, you realize your friends are talking about you...
Read MoreA couple months ago, I attended a showing of the Banff Mountain Film Festival.
The show was a series of short films featuring extreme outdoor adventures. Viewers were dazzled by feats of strength and daring, including a trio who kite skied 1,000 kilometers across the Greenland ice cap, a mountain biker who ripped down trails and rocketed over rocky mountain ridges, and an Alaskan woman who climbed Denali (formerly called Mt. McKinley, the highest peak in North America)...
Read MoreRecently, in response to some of my thoughts on how I grew to be more confident, a friend commented on her desire to overcome some of her personal insecurities. “I have such a long way to go!” she lamented.
Our exchange got me thinking about how we actually develop confidence, and I noticed a paradox...
Read MoreAs a kid, I had a pretty simplistic view of Easter.
When I was really little, it meant spring time, chocolate cream eggs, and a new dress for church (I remember one dress in particular with a strand of plastic pearls sewn to the collar—it made me feel so pretty and grown up). As I got older, Easter came to mean “Jesus died and rose again so we can go to Heaven.”...
Read MoreWhat is a calling?
It’s a term we hear tossed around frequently, but what does it mean, really?
The dictionary defines calling as “a strong inner impulse toward a particular course of action especially when accompanied by conviction of divine influence.”
Leadership expert Michael Hyatt asserts that it is comprised of four factors: It comes from outside yourself, it’s unique to you, it’s something you want to do, and it’s optional...
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“What are you passionate about?”
The question was posed by a trusted mentor. We were midway through a pizza dinner, and I can still envision her sitting across from me, her face bright and expectant.
I imagine my face looked disconcerted. I was about 21 years old, and I was at a loss for words...
Read MoreIt's not always easy being ourselves. Every day, we’re peppered with messages about how we “should be.” Tossed upon a sea of opinions, we sometimes question ourselves or even feel badly about our core characteristics that define who we are on a deep level.
But when we muster our courage and decide to live from our authentic selves, there are some amazing benefits...
Read MoreHave you ever tried—and failed—to change your natural preferences to fit what someone else thought you should be?
When I started my counseling internship years ago, I was preoccupied with learning to dress professionally.
I watched hours of What Not to Wear, and like a marathoner guzzling Gatorade, I gulped down Clinton and Stacy’s advice on how to be fashionable and polished. I learned that bright colors and patterns were compelling; neutrals were boring. Well, I didn't want to be boring...
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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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