Author Archives: Writing & Photography by David K. Carpenter

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About Writing & Photography by David K. Carpenter

Photographer of Light and Life, Writer of Life as it finds me

Walking with God When It Feels Like Nothing Is Happening

Posted on January 25, 2026 by Writing & Photography by David K. Carpenter

What do we do when we’re praying, reading Scripture, and trying to walk faithfully—yet it feels like nothing is happening? This reflection explores seasons of spiritual waiting, the quiet work God often does beneath the surface, and why God’s silence may actually be a sign of deeper presence rather than absence. Walking with God, even when it feels ordinary, may be one of the most faithful things we ever do. Continue reading →

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God’s Abiding Presence—and Our Sin

Posted on January 18, 2026 by Writing & Photography by David K. Carpenter

God’s concern with sin isn’t about rule-keeping or behavior modification—it’s about closeness. In this reflection, I explore how God’s holiness protects relationship, why obedience flows from intimacy rather than fear, and how Jesus makes nearness possible even in our brokenness. A meditation on holiness, grace, and the kind of closeness that heals. Continue reading →

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Walking with God

Posted on January 11, 2026 by Writing & Photography by David K. Carpenter

Enoch didn’t leave a résumé. Noah didn’t avoid the storm. Yet both are remembered for one thing: they walked with God. This reflection explores how faithfulness is measured not by impact or recognition, but by closeness—and how God repeatedly provides a “container” of preservation for His people, culminating in Jesus Himself. Continue reading →

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In the Beginning…God With Us

Posted on January 4, 2026 by Writing & Photography by David K. Carpenter

Beginning with Genesis and ending with Jesus’ promise to be with us always, this post traces God’s unwavering desire to dwell with humanity. Even when sin tempts us to hide, Scripture reminds us that God’s presence restores rather than condemns—and invites us to abide instead of run. Continue reading →

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A Prayer for the Year Ahead

Posted on December 31, 2025 by Writing & Photography by David K. Carpenter

A simple prayer for the year ahead—inviting God’s presence, guidance, and peace as we step into the unknown with trust and hope. Continue reading →

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Carrying God’s Comfort into the New Year

Posted on December 28, 2025 by Writing & Photography by David K. Carpenter

As the final Sunday of the year arrives, I reflect on a difficult season marked by loss, remembrance, and renewed clarity about what truly matters. Though much remains unresolved, I step into the new year with hope—anchored not in certainty, but in God’s faithful presence. This post looks back with gratitude, forward with trust, and invites us to journey into the year ahead grounded in faith, family, and love. Continue reading →

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God With Us

Posted on December 24, 2025 by Writing & Photography by David K. Carpenter

A simple Christmas blessing celebrating the mystery of the Incarnation—God stepping into the world not with force or spectacle, but with humility and love. This short reflection reminds readers that Emmanuel has come, that God is present in both joy and grief, and that the Light has entered the darkness once and for all. A prayerful invitation to receive Christ’s peace and remember that we are deeply loved. Continue reading →

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Love Helps Us Remember… and Forget

Posted on December 23, 2025 by Writing & Photography by David K. Carpenter

In “Love Helps Us Remember… and Forget,” the author reflects on his first Christmas without his parents, exploring how love reshapes memory—softening pain while preserving what truly mattered. Through childhood Christmas recollections, a recent prolonged power outage, and the quiet paradox of the manger, the post reveals how God’s love reframes brokenness, power, and grief. Christmas is shown not as a display of force, but as the arrival of divine love through humility. Readers are invited to trust a God whose gentleness is stronger than domination, and whose love remembers us not by our failures, but by who we are becoming. Continue reading →

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In the Midst of It All, Rejoice

Posted on December 14, 2025 by Writing & Photography by David K. Carpenter

In “In the Midst of It All, Rejoice,” the author reflects on the biblical nature of joy—distinct from happiness and often found not after hardship, but within it. Drawing from Isaiah’s Advent prophecy, Paul’s conversion from darkness to light, and personal moments of faith, loss, and redirection, the post explores how true joy emerges when we recognize our need for Christ and trust His guidance through life’s winding paths. With the hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” as a musical metaphor, readers are reminded that even quiet, trembling, minor-key rejoicing is still real joy—because the Light has come, and the darkness will not win. Continue reading →

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The Time Between

Posted on December 7, 2025 by Writing & Photography by David K. Carpenter

“The Time Between” invites readers to reflect on the sacred tension Christians inhabit between Christ’s first arrival and His promised return. Drawing from Delighting in Jesus by Asheritah Ciuciu and the Advent themes of Hope and Peace, the post explores what it means to live in this “now and not yet” world—where victory has been won but not fully realized. Through Scripture, reflection, and prayer, readers are encouraged to anchor their hearts in Christ’s promises, embrace His peace amid the world’s chaos, and live as bearers of light during the Advent season. The post concludes with thoughtful questions for personal reflection throughout the week. Continue reading →

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