Do you want to run the race of life to the best of your abilities? When you get to the end, do you want to hear, “Well done!”?
I know I do, and I’m guessing you do too! Today I'm sharing a devotion* I wrote that I hope encourages you as you push forward in passionately pursing your purpose…
Read MoreFor years, I immersed myself in my job as a professional counselor, doing work I knew was good, work that mattered and made a difference in people’s lives. Because I knew it was good work, I couldn’t understand why I didn’t find more enjoyment and fulfillment in it.
Finally, one day, while pouring out my heart to God with all my questions and struggles, I had an epiphany…
Read MoreUnapologetically herself.
This phrase came to mind while I was thinking of a lovely acquaintance. She’s enthusiastic, genuine, vulnerable, and warm. She’s not afraid to share her unedited thoughts and feelings. She is delightful, refreshing, and unapologetically herself.
Unlike my friend who seems to effortlessly express herself, sometimes I have to work at allowing my true self to come out…
New Year’s Eve 1999: I’m spending the night at my best friend Tricia’s house, counting down the hours until the new millennium. We joke about Y2K and wonder what will happen if the computers glitch and the world really does fall apart, as so many fear it might. But being in one of the last time zones on earth to enter the New Year, we pretty much already know nothing is going to happen.
We also speculate about what 2020 will be like…
Read MoreAs I laid in bed on a cold November morning, cocooned in my downy white comforter, I contemplated the impending end of another year. Ten months prior, I’d felt God speak the word “Blossom” as my word for the year, but I struggled to see how that word had been fulfilled. This had not been a year of blossoming—at least not in the ways I’d most hoped for…
Read MoreThe New Year always feels like a fresh start--a chance to dream big, make plans, and push forward in goals. But I know it can also be a tough time. Maybe from where you're sitting, the future doesn't look so bright and beautiful. Maybe you're facing fears about what's to come or disappointment about what didn't happen in this past year…
Read More“Are you willing?”
I felt God ask me this question recently. Over the last few weeks, it’s continued to echo in my heart, and as I’ve reflected on the Christmas story, I’m in awe more than ever of Mary, a woman who was willing…
Read MoreSometimes we face situations so bleak, we wonder how we'll ever make it through.
As we assess the gap between our dreams and goals and the reality of our present circumstances, fear hovers over our shoulder, whispering, “You’ll never have enough.”
Thankfully, fear is a liar…
While I’m a big believer in dreaming big, I’ve learned that I have to be careful not to let my hopes for the future overshadow my awareness of my present blessings. I’ve found that reminding myself of the simple things is one of the best ways to stir gratitude and spark joy in my heart…
Read MoreHave you ever dared to pray a small prayer? So small, that if it were to be answered, you would know without a doubt God was listening?
I want to share a time this happened for me, all through the visit of a humble groundhog…
We never know ahead of time if or when our efforts—our seeds—will bear fruit. Sometimes we see results right away, sometimes we never see tangible results (this side of Heaven), and sometimes results come but take longer than we expect…
Read MoreLast week I shared about how God has been giving me an extra strong reminder of the importance of relationship with Him. One of the reasons relationship with God is so vital is that it’s only through Him that we can find our true identity and purpose…
Read MoreIn recent weeks I’ve felt an extra strong impression from God about the importance of spending time with Him. One of the coolest things about this has been that, though I certainly have a role to play in setting aside time for God and developing our relationship, a big part of what He’s been revealing is how much He wants to spend time with me…
Read MoreI’m about to do something I’ve never done before. Tonight and all day tomorrow I will be teaching a four part series on purpose for my church’s ladies’ retreat.
I’ve been planning and preparing for this for months, and now the day has finally come! I am excited! And, although I feel pretty well prepared, I have to admit I feel a little nervous too…
Read MoreSarah explains what Christian meditation is, some reasons why we struggle with our thought life, and how meditating on God’s Word can help us grow in our relationship with God.
Read MoreI adore fall time. I love it so much, in fact, that I like to say in Heaven I’m going to have a house that is surrounded by a perpetually autumn landscape. Recently, I was joking with a friend about my future autumnal home, and this question arose: If fall, as wonderful as it is, is a season of loss and decay, could there actually be fall in Heaven?
Read MoreI stood at the baggage claim in the Sacramento airport, praying that my duffle would magically materialize. After flying all night, I was exhausted. I still had a two-hour drive ahead of me, and I wanted nothing more than to collect my luggage and get on with my journey. Finally, after watching the carousel rumble by for the 100th time, I accepted that my bag had not arrived…
Read MoreThough I do my best to start each morning off slowly and peacefully with some quiet prayer and Bible reading, once the day gets going things speed up. I often find myself swept into a steady stream of activity as I bustle from one project, conversation, or responsibility to the next. By mid-afternoon, I can start to feel tense, like a wind-up toy that’s had its spring turned a few too many times…
Read MoreHave you ever had someone ask you to fill a role or do a task, and because you were capable, you felt you should say yes? If you're like me, you want to be helpful and make the most of the opportunities God has given you. But how can you know if an opportunity is actually from God? Just because we can meet a need, does that mean we should?
Read MoreRecently, I had a song from a children’s film stuck in my head. It would pop into my mind at the most random times, and often I’d end up singing it out loud, to my husband’s chagrin. I was getting pretty tired of it, so, jokingly, I posted about it on social media and asked for advice on getting a song unstuck…
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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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