Living with Integrity
Carol Carol

Living with Integrity

Do you know someone who lives with integrity? I’m referring to that rare individual who always seems to do and say the right thing. It’s refreshing to know people like this, isn’t it? But here’s something we need to understand: people who live this way do so by choice. You see, integrity doesn’t just happen. It’s not a personality bent, a spiritual gift, nor is it something we strive to be. Instead, living with integrity is something…

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Life‑Altering Moments
Carol Carol

Life‑Altering Moments

I was on the phone when I glanced at the TV and saw that a plane had just crashed into one of the World Trade Center towers. In an instant, everything shifted—in our nation and in my heart. I hung up the phone, stunned and unable to process what I was seeing. All I wanted was to reach my husband and hold my children, both still in grade school at the time.

There are moments in life—like 9/11—that change us forever. Moments that…

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A Better Way to Work
Carol Carol

A Better Way to Work

I hope your work, essentially whatever you do, feels meaningful, brings you joy, connects you to purpose and satisfaction. The truth is work is a gift, something God entrusted to us and created us to do.  That being said, work is still work. And whether you work in an office, your home, a ministry, or as a volunteer, some days work feels hard—less like a calling and more like labor. When it does, we can easily become discouraged, worn out, even weary.

Yet this is not a place we have to stay…

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The One Thing We Can Rely On
Carol Carol

The One Thing We Can Rely On

When was the last time you relied on something and it failed you? Maybe it was an appliance, a vehicle, or an electronic device. Perhaps it was a provision, a position, or success. Or maybe it was something far deeper—a relationship, your health, your family, or even your church community.

It’s disheartening, sometimes heartbreaking, when things fail. But the truth is…

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Created for Community
Carol Carol

Created for Community

Most Sundays I am genuinely glad to go to church. This past Sunday, however, I wasn't feeling my best—and to be honest, slipping back into my pjs and watching church online sounded pretty good.

Have you ever felt this way before? I think perhaps many of us have….

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Rejoicing
Carol Carol

Rejoicing

Just as our bodies need to be replenished with rest, our minds need to be renewed with truth, and our hearts need to be restored by grace, our souls too need to be recharged with joy. I share this as I think we sometimes underestimate the biblical mandate to rejoice…

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The Author of Every Story
Carol Carol

The Author of Every Story

I love a good story—don’t you? Especially the ones filled with meaning and purpose, the kind that inspire and leave us feeling hopeful. In fact, just this past month, I was blessed by several impactful life stories at a writers’ conference, from individuals in my community group, and most recently over coffee with a new believer. And while each of these stories is wonderfully unique, they all share a common thread: that moment when their lives intersected with God—the Author of every story.

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Walking Like Jesus
Carol Carol

Walking Like Jesus

I enjoy walking, primarily for exercise, but also to connect with nature, meet neighbors, pray, and begin my day. I’m in good company among many walkers, including my 86‑year‑young mother‑in‑law who walks several miles every day. Impressive, right? Yet no one’s walk continually inspires, challenges, and motivates me like Jesus’s does. Yes, Jesus was a walker…

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Walking Through Challenges
Carol Carol

Walking Through Challenges

It would be nice if life were problem-free—if every day were sunny and nothing was hard or hurtful. But that’s not reality. The truth is, we live in a world where beauty and brokenness coexist, and challenges are part of everyone’s story. And when—not if—challenges come, our only and best response is to…

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Walking in Love
Carol Carol

Walking in Love

For the most part, we don’t give much thought—if any—to the way we walk. It’s something we do naturally, habitually, so why take time to examine it?

There’s actually a good reason to do this. In Scripture, a person’s walk speaks to far more than physical movement. It describes their…

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Walk Worthy of Your Calling
Carol Carol

Walk Worthy of Your Calling

Have you ever heard someone say they felt called by God to do something specific? Maybe start a business, launch a ministry, serve the homeless, or return to school. Some of us have had “God moments” like this—others haven’t. But here’s the beautiful truth: every believer…

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Truly Free
Carol Carol

Truly Free

What makes us truly free? Some believe it’s where we live, what we possess, or what we can control. Others are convinced it’s the right to choose—to govern ourselves and make our own decisions. And some say it’s the absence of restraints and restrictions. While there is an element of freedom in each of these scenarios, the truth is…

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Welcome to the Neighborhood
Carol Carol

Welcome to the Neighborhood

When Jesus was asked, “Who is my neighbor?” I notice that He did not give a definition that fit neatly inside comfortable lines. He told a story…

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Knowing God as Father
Carol Carol

Knowing God as Father

Long before Chris Tomlin ever sang about a “Good, Good Father,” God was already that. A Father—good, compassionate, merciful, and true. This is who He has always been and who He will forever be. In Jesus, the Father’s goodness was made visible, tangible (John 14:9), and ultimately accessible to us all (Ephesians 2:18)—which is more than incredible. But it gets even better when we understand that…

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A Certain Hope
Carol Carol

A Certain Hope

I was pulling out of the grocery store parking lot when a bumper sticker caught my attention. It read, “I hope everything goes your way today.” A sweet sentiment — a positive well‑wish. But that’s all it was, a wish. A desire for things to go well.

As I drove away, I realized…

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Sing These Songs Now
Carol Carol

Sing These Songs Now

There are certain songs that speak directly to our souls. For me, Andrew Peterson’s Is He Worthy? is one of these songs. I appreciate this song because it acknowledges the undeniable brokenness of the world while reminding us of Jesus, the worthy Lamb of God. Two truths that aren’t in opposition—but rather coexist in the world we live in…

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We Have a Helper
Carol Carol

We Have a Helper

There are certain things we never outgrow and always need—love, acceptance, encouragement, and care. And throughout our lives, in different seasons and for countless reasons, we will also need help. Yet in a culture that prizes independence and self‑sufficiency…

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This Gift is for You
Carol Carol

This Gift is for You

Giving gifts is one of life’s joys. Yet finding just the right one can be challenging. We choose what we think is best, hoping we’ve chosen well. But with God, it’s completely different. He’s never uncertain about what to give. He knows exactly what we need, and His gifts always flow from His infinite wisdom and perfect love. And without a doubt, His greatest gift to humanity was…

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It’s Actually Not All Good
Carol Carol

It’s Actually Not All Good

There’s a certain pop phrase that has become something of a cultural mantra. It’s what we say—almost reflexively—when life gets hard. The phrase? “It’s all good.” I’m confident you’re familiar with it. You may have even said it, perhaps more than once. While I appreciate the sentiment behind those words…

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