Recently, I wrote this in an Instagram post:
“We tend to keep our expectations low, because we’re not convinced of God’s promise to do ‘infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes’ (Ephesians 3:20 TLB).”
In response, a reader asked, “Ephesians says God is 'able' to do infinitely more, but does that count as a promise that He will?”…
This past Sunday we celebrated Summer Solstice--the longest of our long summer days--and so this week I decided to share an article I wrote a couple years ago that was originally published in my local newspaper. In it, I reflect on the beauty of our light-filled summers and how they give us a glimpse of eternity to come…
Read MoreOur country is in crisis, and, in light of current events, I’m tempted at times to feel powerless. There are forces much bigger than me at play—forces that are overwhelming and even frightening to contemplate. I long for peace in our nation but question what I can do to foster it.
Perhaps you feel similarly.
If so, here’s some good news: Despite how we might feel, we are not powerless…
I’ve read two of Michael Hyatt’s recent books: Living Forward, which is about life-planning, and Your Best Year Ever, which is about achieving your most important goals. As a woman who desires to make the most of my life, I found both these books to be full of encouraging advice and helpful tips for living with excellence, direction, and focus. So when I saw Michael Hyatt had a new book, I was eager to read it…
Read MoreDo you want to become the leader in your home, church, or community that God created you to be?
With his book I Am David, Pastor Jimmy Evans has created a great source to help you do that.
Drawing examples from the life of King David—of one of the greatest leaders of all time—he teaches ten lessons for growing in greatness and becoming all God created us to be, even in the midst of formidable challenges…
Read MoreMy heart has been heavy the last couple weeks.⠀
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The news and our social media feeds are full of tragedy, grief, anger, fear and opinions of every variety. In the midst of all this, I’ve been wrestling with questions, working through emotions and having conversations… ⠀
Paying attention to our hearts matters. But how do we do it, exactly? As promised in my previous post, this week I’m sharing four practical steps you can take to connect to and attend to your heart…
Read MoreWhen I graduated from high school, I had high hopes—and a lot to learn about how to let God guide me into His plans for me. As I reflect on how my path has meandered over the last 17 years from high school graduate to professional counselor-turned-writer, I’ve been wondering: What advice would I give the 2003 version of myself?
Read MoreIn the journey of living a purposeful life, I think many people feel that finding their call is the hard part. Once they know what they’re called to, they think the rest will be easy.
But that’s not necessarily the case.
I believe it is not discovering but rather accepting our callings that is often the hard part…
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…
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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