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The Joy of the Lord… on The Joy of Christmas 
The Joy of the Lord… on Stealing Back Joy katycarpenter26 on I’ll Carry a Part of You katycarpenter26 on Remembering Mom katycarpenter26 on Making Sense of Biblical … Archives
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Tag Archives: Prayer
Slow Down
In “Slow Down,” Dave opens with a heartfelt confession: he’s addicted to hurry. Drawing inspiration from the book “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry” by John Mark Comer and Scripture, he explores how our fast-paced culture undermines what matters most—faith, family, friendships, and health. Through honest reflection and vivid storytelling—from hurried walks in NYC to soul-nourishing moments with photography—Dave examines the tension between his values and the pace of his life. He challenges himself (and readers) to unplug, be fully present, and find intimacy with God not in the noise, but in the stillness. As he rediscovers the beauty of slowing down—especially in prayer and daily walks—he begins the journey of recovery from a life of relentless busyness. Continue reading
Posted in Christian Living, Faith in Practice, Purposeful Living, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Reflection
Tagged Christian priorities, Confession, Dallas Willard, Faith, Faith and Busyness, God, Hurry Sickness, Jesus, John Mark Comer, Luke 5:16, Matthew 11:28-30, Prayer, Presence, Psalm 46:10, Quiet Time, Slow Living, Spiritual Disciplines, Stillness, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
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From Ashes to New Life
Ashes symbolize death, mourning, and loss—but in God’s hands, they also represent renewal and transformation. Explore how the themes of Ash Wednesday, the phoenix legend, and the resurrection point us to the hope of new life in Christ and remind us that with God, we are made new. Continue reading
Posted in Bible Study and Devotion, Biblical insights, Biblical Reflections, Biblical Symbolism & Lessons, Biblical Teachings, Biblical Truths, Christian, Christian encouragement, Christian Faith, Christian Living, Daily Devotional, Devotional Reflections, Encouragement, Eternal Perspective, Faith, Faith & Salvation, Faith and Encouragement, Faith and Grace, Faith and Inspiration, Faith and Spiritual Growth, Faith and Spirituality, Faith Reflections, God's love, God's Love & Grace, Hope, Hope & Renewal in Christ, Inspirational, Jesus's teachings, Lent & Ash Wednesday, Life Challenges, Personal Growth, Personal Reflection, Salvation and Grace, Scripture Reflections, Spiritual Encouragement, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Reflection
Tagged Ash Wednesday, Ashes, Ashes to ashes, Beauty from ashes, Biblical symbolism, Christian Transformation, Ephesians 4:22-24, Faith, Faith Journey, God’s renewal, Jesus, John 15:5, Lent, New life in Christ, Phoenix rising from ashes, Prayer, Resurrection hope, Rise like a phoenix from your ashes, We can rise from the ashes
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Rejoice, Pray, Give Thanks
Introduction Life presents us with a series of highs and lows, victories and struggles. It’s easy to find joy when things are going well, but what about when they aren’t? How do we maintain a heart of gratitude when life … Continue reading
Posted in Biblical insights, Biblical Teachings, Christian, Christian encouragement, Christian Living, Contentment and Gratitude, Daily Devotional, Dependence on God, Faith, Faith and Encouragement, Faith and Inspiration, Faith and Trust, God's love, God's provision, Inspirational, Personal Reflection, Prayer and faith, Prayer and Worship, Serving Others, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Reflection
Tagged Christian encouragement, Faith, Faith Journey, God, Gratitude in Difficult Times, Prayer, Prayer Life, Rejoice Always, Trust in God
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Ask for Help
Introduction Spending time with my 2-year-old grandson (and his mommy and daddy) has been one of the greatest joys of my life. Watching him grow and learn is a privilege, and it constantly reminds me of life’s simplest yet deepest … Continue reading
Posted in Biblical insights, Biblical Teachings, Christian, Christian Living, Christianity and Mental Health, Daily Devotional, Faith, Family Relationships, Jesus's teachings, Mental Health and Wellness, Prayer and faith, Prayer and Worship, Self-Improvement, Spiritual Encouragement, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Reflection, Trust in God
Tagged Asking for Help, bible, Bible study, Community Support, Encouragement, Faith, Faith in Action, Family Relationships, God, Jesus, Jesus' teachings, Mental Health, Mental health and Christianity, Prayer, Wisdom and Strength
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The Lord Bless You and Keep You
Introduction In a world that often feels tumultuous and uncertain, finding a source of true peace and enduring comfort can seem elusive. In church this morning, though, I was reminded of a blessing in Scripture that has been spoken over … Continue reading
Posted in Biblical insights, Biblical Teachings, Christian, Christian Living, Christianity and Mental Health, Daily Devotional, Faith, Miracles, Prayer and Worship, Self-Improvement, Spiritual Encouragement, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Reflection, Trust in God
Tagged Aaronic Blessing, bible, Christianity, Community Blessing, Diving Peace, Faith, Faith and Trust, God, God's protection, God's Favor, God's love, Grace of God, Hope, Jesus, Light in the darkness, Prayer, Reflection and Meditation, Spiritual Comfort, The Blessing Song
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Where Does My Help Come From?
Introduction Last year, my wife, father-in-law, and I moved from Colorado to Florida, the flattest state in the US. I love Florida, so I’m glad we made the move, but I miss my friends and family still living in Colorado, … Continue reading
Posted in Biblical insights, Biblical Teachings, Christian, Christian Living, Daily Devotional, Faith, Life Transitions, Nature and spirituality, Poetry, Self-Improvement, Spiritual Encouragement, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Reflection
Tagged bible, Christian Living, Comfort and Encouragement, Faith, Faith and Trust, God, God's help, God's protection, Jesus, King David, Mountain and Majesty, Moving and Settling, Nature's Inspiration, Personal Testimonies, Personal Testimony, Prayer, Psalm 121, Unanswered prayer
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A Father’s Wisdom: Understanding God’s Good Gifts
Introduction As Father’s Day winds down, I’ve been thinking about fathers’ pivotal role in our lives—providing, protecting, guiding, and loving us. This reflection invited me to consider our Heavenly Father’s role in our lives and His deep desire to give … Continue reading
Posted in Biblical Teachings, Christian, Christian Living, Daily Devotional, Faith, Jesus's teachings, Spiritual Encouragement, Spiritual Growth, Trust in God
Tagged Answered prayers and unanswered prayers, bible, Christianity, Divine wisdom, Faith, Father's Day, God's love, Jesus, Parenting and faith, Prayer, Prayer and faith, Wisdom to discern God's answers to our prayers
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Poop Happens
My apologies in advance for such a crude title–how’s that for the name of a Christian blog? I’m not trying to be sensationalistic, but I try to be real, so I thought I’d say it like it is. Basking in … Continue reading
Posted in Christian, Faith, Miracles
Tagged bible, Faith, God, Holy Week, Hope that is sustaining and empowering, Jesus, Jesus goes before us, Jesus rescues us, Life Happens, Poop happens but so does resurrection, Prayer, The transformative power of love and sacrifice, Valleys and Peaks
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Staying Steadfast on the Solid Rock
Renewing a Steadfast Spirit Last week, I wrote about God making us (and all things) new. An ongoing, continuous process. We’re like old-fashioned wooden pencils — God sharpens us and we write nice and cleanly, crisply, again. But over time, … Continue reading