The subtitle of this book is what really grabbed my attention: Trading proximity for intimacy.
I don’t just want to know God, but be intimately close to Him on a heart level, and I’m passionate about helping others develop that kind of closeness too…
Read MoreWhenever you listen to the birds, ramble through a forest, or marvel at the mountains, perhaps, like me, you can ‘hear’ the songs of praise and adoration for our good Father. You may find it easy to see how nature displays God’s glory.
But what about when you look at yourself? Are you filled with the same wonder and awe? Our culture’s constant provocation to personal discontent and our tendency toward self-criticism can make it hard to recognize, but you too are part of the symphony of creation declaring God’s majesty…
Read MoreWhen we hit an obstacle, we may be tempted to grow discouraged and maybe even give up. Losing a job or having a dream put on hold can be extremely difficult. It’s certainly okay to express sadness, but we also don’t want an obstacle to stop us from progressing. If we can resist the temptation to stall out and instead pivot, our obstacle can turn into an opportunity…
Read MoreMany times in my journey of pursuing my purpose, my dreams, and my goals, I’ve struggled with a feeling of powerlessness. I’ve felt the frustration of knowing I needed something—be that skill, wisdom, connections, or financial resources—and feeling unable to attain what I knew I needed.
But regardless of how I might feel in any given moment, the truth is, the Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives inside me…
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…🎶
Okay, maybe not where you are, but here in Fairbanks we’ve been getting tons of snow over the last several weeks—and there’s more in the forecast.
A few weeks ago, all the fresh snow was putting me in the Christmas spirit…
During this crazy season of the coronavirus outbreak, I think we’re all asking some variation of the same question: What does the future hold?
We're wondering how long this pandemic—and the mandated social distancing—will last. We're wondering what will happen if we or our loved ones get sick. Many are wondering how long they will be out of work and how they will pay the bills. Together we're wondering: What’s going to happen next?
Yesterday was spring equinox—one of only two days of the year when the Earth’s axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the sun. Because of the Earth’s unique position on equinox, the length of day and night are nearly equal worldwide. So whether you’re in Alaska or Antarctica, Germany or Jamaica, we all experience roughly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night…
Read MoreDo you ever feel that because God is so big your dream, goal, or need must be big in order to warrant His attention?
We know we can pray for healing, or help with our finances, or guidance in choosing a career. But what about when the grocery store runs out of your favorite coffee and you're desperate to get more? Is it okay to pray for something so small?
Recently, I dreamed I was sitting in a comfortable living room. Seated on an adjacent couch was woman. Without any preamble, the woman said, “That was 1998—don’t you think it’s time to let it go?”
As happens in dreams, I knew exactly what she was talking about without her saying another word. While the woman looked on with a benign smile planted on her face, I spent the several minutes defending my grudge, trying my best to convince her why what happened in 1998 was actually a really big deal...⠀
Do you know God loves you but struggle to feel it?
I can relate.
I remember driving home from church one dark winter night in my twenties, my heart troubled by my lack of experience of God’s love on an emotional level. I knew God loved me, but sometimes, inside, I felt as cold as the shimmering snowbanks flying by my car. I longed to actually feel, warmly and deeply, God’s love…
We all want to be loved.
I think the popularity of Valentine’s Day (I hope you had a great one, by the way!) is a testament to our intense desire to belong to a special someone who will love us unconditionally and make our hearts complete.
I’m well acquainted with that longing for love, and I’ve tried for years to fill my heart with the of love friends, family, and my husband. But as wonderful as these relationships are…
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…
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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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