Sometimes when I’m confronted with challenges or hard decisions, I find my heart falling into a place of discouragement. Idling in the undercurrents of my mind are thoughts that go something like this: I need help, but there’s no one to help me. I need to figure this out, but I have no idea how…
Read MoreSoaring 35,000 feet above the ground, I gazed out of the tiny plastic window, enthralled with the view. Eager to capture the moment, I pulled out my new notebook—a squat, square, spiral bound tablet with a yellow cover…
Read MoreWith what appeared to be every ounce of his strength, the newborn reindeer calf pushed himself to a standing position. His spindly legs trembled and his entire fuzzy, brown body shook with the effort of remaining upright. Close behind, mama reindeer hovered protectively, keeping watch over her baby’s progress. The calf took one halting step forward—then tripped and tumbled to the ground...⠀
Read MoreI’ve been thinking about blood lately. No, I’ve haven’t been reading Dracula or watching horror films (which I NEVER do anyway—yuck!). But I have been reading The Power of Communion by Beni and Bill Johnson…
Read MoreThere have been many days when I’ve felt dwarfed by the enormity of my dreams and skeptical of my ability to accomplish my goals. When those days roll around I like to encourage myself with something Theodore Roosevelt once said…
Read MoreLast month, I wrote a post in which I said that most setbacks are temporary. But what do we do when they just seem to go on and on?
Read MoreTo connect to the internet at my house, I use an old-fashioned Ethernet cable. One perk of this arrangement is that when I have a project that requires high concentration, such as writing a blog post, I can unplug the cord. Without access to the internet and its myriad distractions…
Read MoreYesterday morning, I was feeling worried about some things in my life. I opened my Bible and found myself reading in Luke where Jesus says, “Never worry about any of your needs…
Read MoreMy soul was thirsty, dry, and weak. I felt like I’d been put through a wringer and every last molecule of moisture had been wicked away.
For years I struggled with a chronic condition, and for years I ached for a breakthrough. After yet another disappointment, I was weary from the effort, the wondering, and the waiting…
Surprise! This word has rolling around in my heart and mind lately. I’ve been thinking about how God is God of surprises.
He surprised Pharaoh’s daughter with an infant in a basket made of papyrus.
He surprised Moses with a burning bush.
He surprised Samuel with a still small voice in the quiet of night...
Read MoreTryphena. Tryphosa. Persis. The names sound like something you’d find on the back of a bottle of amino acid supplements. But, actually, they’re the names of women who served the ancient Christian church…
Read MoreAs I shared last week, Fairbanks got a lot of snow in April. After having our warmest March on record (which resulted in the snow being almost completely gone by the end of March), it was a bit of a letdown to have such adverse weather in April. But, by the time I wrote my last post, which was less than a week after our last big snowfall, almost all the snow had (re)melted…
Read MoreIn Alaska, snow in April isn’t that uncommon. But it’s never welcome. By the end of our long, cold, dark winter, we’re practically ravenous for dirt and sunshine.
So when I woke up to six inches of snow last Tuesday, I wasn’t exactly celebrating…
Read MoreI somehow have this subconscious perception of God as stoic, serious, and stern. Thankfully, God has done a lot over the years to change this perception, but sometimes I still find that when I’m in emotional pain or am struggling with a problem, I feel guilty. Deep down, I think I should be stronger and I fear God is displeased with me…
Read MoreI just turned 34 on Sunday, which is cool, but also weird. How am I almost (I’m not claiming mid-thirties until I’m 35! So almost!) in my mid 30s? I guess getting older probably never stops feeling weird.
Anyway, a couple months ago I shared about how God once told me that He loves the day I was born. It touches my heart so deeply to know that not only did my family rejoice when I was born, but God Himself was celebrating…
Read MoreI’ve been on a long quest to feel good and function at my best, not just so I can enjoy everyday life, but so I can have the strength and energy I need to accomplish all God has called me to do.
In my health journey, I’ve learned about environmental toxins and the harmful effects they can have on our bodies. Sadly, many of these toxins can be found in personal care products…
Read MoreLast spring, I visited a friend in California. I live in Alaska, so it took a couple plane rides and a few hours of driving to get to her. Before I arrived, I asked for her address and directions to her house. With my course clearly mapped out, I was able to find her house without a problem.
But what if, when I asked how to get her house, my friend had simply said, “It’s in California”?
Read MoreOur cold winter has finally come to an end, and, with temperatures here in Fairbanks inching into the 50s, I’ve been opening the windows and drinking coffee out on the deck (🎉 yay!).
Last night, I took a short stroll down the driveway after dinner, just to get some fresh air. It was so refreshing! As I made my way back inside, I marveled at how something as simple as fresh air can make you feel so good…
Read MoreA couple of weeks ago I mentioned that I used to write mean things about myself in my journal. This week, I decided to get really real and share a few actual quotes.
So (deep breath), here’s a peek at what my 15-year-old self was saying:
“Why am I like this…?”
Read MoreAs a child, Amy Carmichael was bitterly disappointed by her brown eyes. She so longed for blue eyes that she prayed repeatedly that God would change her eyes from brown to blue. To her dismay, He didn’t.
But, years later, Amy developed a newfound appreciation for how God created her when she became a missionary to India. There, Amy worked to rescue young girls who were enslaved as temple prostitutes…
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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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