Devotions

Getting out of hand. So I realize not everyone can relate to this blog post. Some because they just can't, some because they have other lifestyles, and some because I'm just so weird of a kid that very few people actually relate to my struggles. But anyway, here's my dilemma. I looked into a mirror at work the other day, but for once I actually LOOKED into it. I didn't glace at myself in passing like I normally do when I'm in a hurry or when I'm having a bad hair day. No, I was tired, and quite frankly wanted a break-- even if it was a brief one-- so I got a little closer to the glass and looked at my face. My pores were really big, as expected after a long, sweaty shift. My hair was frizzy for similar reasons. But what really startled me, and what really "inspired" me, I guess, were my eyebrows. Please don't quit reading now even though this blog seems to have no meaning-- I promise there is a purpose to my random ranting about my face. ...

Worms on a sidewalk. So I'm just going to start out by saying I get joy in the seriously weirdest things ever. Like, seriously. I love when songs are remade into Spanish. I love when couples have the same hair color. I love seeing old people in love. I love seeing movie stars act like normal human beings. And for some reason, when I was walking into school the other day, I got such a sense of profound hope when I saw all the worms crowding the sidewalk to escape the flooded grass. It's weird, but I was so engrossed in why they were there, how they got up onto the sidewalk, and whether or not they'd make it with all the busy students trudging through the puddles. I got inspired, let's just say that. So when I started thinking about the little creatures, I began to realize what a marvel it is that they were able to even find the sidewalk! Aren't worms blind or something? They can't see clearly, and they move like a foot an hour... and somehow, when it starte...

Waiting for the light to turn green. I oftentimes find myself at traffic lights. Maybe because that's how my town is set up, a couple long streets with a ton of lights every few blocks. Maybe I think there are a lot because I'm impatient. But either way, I find myself at them quite often, and when I do, naturally an over-thinker like myself tends to put a metaphor behind it. I do that a lot. I think I will have a few more posts about that kind I thing-- finding deeper reason and meanings behind seemingly insignificant endeavors. Things we overlook. We never really look for how God can teach us things through each and every day because we get too caught up in the motions. The schedules. The routine. The "being on time" and the penalties of showing up late. Maybe I sound like a hopeless philosopher, but for some reason when I was sitting at a stoplight, waiting for the light to turn green, I got inspired. Call it Divine, call it a girl with an incredibly small attenti...

FAITH RANTS This is the section of Devotions by Carly where I simply rant about things going on in the world and somehow relate it to God's view instead of the one forced upon us all. I really don't like selfish people. The worst part is, if I could change one aspect of my faith and work to better myself in one area, it'd be in my selfishness. I get so self-consumed, and so incredibly obsessed about making myself look good-- doing what benefits me-- making sure people see me, love me, approve of me......... It's exhausting. What really kills me is how much the Bible talks about humility and submitting yourself to the work of the Spirit. And here I go, making my own selfish choices and decisions that somehow seem to only benefit me, me me. Some days, I wake up with a "Go spread God's message, not yours!" attitude, and that quickly fades as I'm racing past others cars in a 35 speed limit zone, checking my hair in the reflection of my mini-van. ...

Service I'm about to head to Pittsburgh on a mission trip. I'm excited, like always, but I'm a little nervous, too. Doing God's work is NOT a vacation, it's time to devote your entire being to Jesus and let Him use you to accomplish His mission. I'm nervous because I know how easy it is to make these trips all about me-- a chance to show off, to flirt, to buy stuff... it may sound silly but trips away from your normal life can be distracting sometimes! I need to remember that the Spirit of the living God lives inside me! He will act and I will move where He wants me to go. The act of surrendering your life to something greater can be scary sometimes! But I need to take peace, knowing that I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength (Philippians 4:13) Philippians 2:13  NIV for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. God works in me. Ephesians 2:10  NIV For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ...

SUMMER TIME!!!!!!! I want to figure out a way to make the most of my summer. I'm not sure what that looks like or how I will act in order to achieve this. In fact, I'm actually really confused. I think until now, my summer has just been laid out to me on a silver platter: you'll go to church camp this summer. Next summer you'll run VBS drama department. You'll go on vacation. I guess everything was just kind of... there. But now that I'm driving, and now that I am mature-ish enough to make my own decisions as to what I'm going to do and where I'm going to spend my time... I don't know... I'm a little lost. The first world view is "HAVE FUN, CARLY! That's what life is all about-- having crazy wild summers that give you something to talk about once school starts again." And I would partly agree-- I want to have fun this summer! But somehow I want something more. I want something with more purpose-- something that gives me fulf...

Love is a great thing. That may be the understatement of the century for some of you. That may be the cheesiest, most ridiculous lie you’ve ever heard, too. But I think that when God was creating us, He instilled a wonderful, magnificent capacity inside our hearts, and then created everything else to work with it. It’s not like He created humans and then added a little love potion, and we were complete. No, I think that he created us for love. He gave each and every person love in their hearts, and then He created our bodies. Our minds. Our spirits. Our souls. It all started, though, with the amazing love that He has for us. You can’t honestly tell me that love comes from anything but God, and that we come from anything other than His love for us. It’s just a fact. We were made out of His love for loving. That’s why it feels so good to love someone—to buy someone lunch, or congratulate your friend. To pick someone up after they’ve been knocked down. To hug someone. To c...