Caryn & Jeremy in the Morning

I think a lot of us are like ducks (stay with me here). On the surface, we’re gliding along, looking calm and collected, but underneath, we’re paddling like crazy just to stay afloat.

Some days just hit harder than others. You’re trying to keep it together, but then you have to run an errand, and you’re a complete mess in public – ugly crying in the checkout line or sobbing at a stoplight. Not a great feeling. That’s where this woman found herself, rolling through a Burger King drive-thru in Stillwater, Oklahoma, having one of the saddest days of her life. When she pulled up to...

I wasn’t part of the popular crowd in high school, but I really wanted to be. I remember watching the cool kids from a distance, wishing I could fit in – even though, if I’m honest, a lot of what they were doing probably wasn’t what God would have wanted for me. It took me a while to realize that fitting in isn’t always the best thing, especially if it means stepping away from what God has for me.

At 99 years old, Harry Humason probably never expected to be celebrated as a hero again. But that’s exactly what happened when a town in the Czech Republic invited him to their 80th anniversary of liberation – a freedom Harry helped secure as a young soldier in World War II.

I think a lot of us wonder if God can really use someone as imperfect as we are. I know I’ve felt that way. But then I remember how Jesus worked with what seemed like ordinary, even inadequate, things. He used plain water and turned it into wine. He used a handful of bread and fish to feed thousands. He even used a little bit of dirt to heal a blind man’s eyes. It’s a reminder that He doesn’t need...

When Olivia met Bradley, she couldn’t believe his last name was Blizzard. You know, like the Dairy Queen treat. Turns out, that’s his real last name – and a pretty great perk, too. 

I love 1 Thessalonians 5:18 – “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.” But if I’m honest, that’s easier to read than to actually live out sometimes.

I’ve been thinking about how some things in life just take time. Like the old saying goes, “You don’t get to eat the fruit the same day you plant the seed.” It’s true for the garden, and it’s true in my prayer life.

There’s something beautiful about the way a child reaches up for you, completely trusting that you’ll hold them. No hesitation, no doubt – just pure faith that you’ll hold on tight and not let go. I think that’s a picture of how God loves us. When we reach up for Him, He’s already reaching down to hold us, and His grip never fails. Our security isn’t in our strength, but in His unbreakable love.

Graduation is such a big moment – standing in your cap and gown, hearing your name called, and walking across that stage. It’s a rite of passage, a moment of pride and accomplishment. But for some students, that moment almost didn’t happen.

Waiting is a purposeful pause. It’s choosing to hold back, not out of laziness, but out of faith – because I trust that God’s timing is better than mine.

Lightning struck their Oklahoma home, and within moments, smoke started pouring in. Mandy, just 11 years old, didn’t even hesitate. 

Studies show that people who attend church regularly are some of the most flourishing folks on the planet. The more often you show up, the better you tend to do in a lot of areas – emotional, social, and even physical health. But if you’ve ever tried to wrangle a couple of kids into church on a Sunday morning, you know it can feel like a battle just to get out the door.

I’ve definitely had surprise Amazon packages before, but nothing like this. Holly opened her door to find 30 giant boxes - over 70,000 Dum-Dum suckers - thanks to her second-grade son and a little too much access to her phone. 

I read something the other day that stopped me in my tracks. It said, “If you chase butterflies, they’ll fly away. But if you plant a beautiful garden, they’ll come to you.” That made me think: what kind of “garden” is my life? 

There are some moments in grief where all the emotions just hit at once - and that was me the other day. I was weepy, irritable, and overwhelmed… and I felt bad that Jeremy was having to carry the weight of that with me. But during one of the songs, I apologized to him, and he stopped me. He said, “You're going through a lot. I think you're going through more than you realize, and it’s okay.” And...

Hugo is a mailman in Charlotte, just doing his job and trying to make ends meet like the rest of us. One day on his route, he stopped by a local dental office - Providence PDO - and left a handwritten note. He explained that he’d lost his retainer, and wondered if there was any way they could help.

When Jacen Phillips was born, he had a twin brother named Nathan. Nathan had serious medical complications and passed away when they were just two years old. At Nathan’s funeral, instead of flowers, their family asked for stuffed animals to donate to the hospital that had cared for him. And Jacen never forgot.

If God gave you enough to pay off all your debt – and someone else’s too – who would you choose to help? Now swap “money” for “mercy.” That’s where it gets a little harder, right?

I’ve always leaned on humor... sometimes in serious moments, too (which doesn’t always go over well). But I used to wonder, why am I wired this way? Comedian Jeff Foxworthy said he wrestled with that same question when he was younger.

Waiting can feel like the hardest part – especially when you’re waiting on an answer from God. James 1:5 says if you lack wisdom, ask God, and He will give it. But here’s what I’ve noticed: it doesn’t say how that wisdom will come… or when. And if you're anything like me, that “when” part can really test your patience.

There’s dedicated... and then there’s pajamas-at-10pm-plugging-in-Chromebooks dedicated.

Sometimes I wish I had a dashboard light that could warn me when my heart’s getting off track — like a little “pride building” or “forgiveness overdue” message. But as I was thinking about that this week, I realized God has given me a warning system: it’s the fruit I produce.

You know that awkward moment when you accidentally say "love you" at the end of a phone call... to your boss or a client? It happens!

Getting the flower beds ready for spring has me thinking about roots. I planted some new shrubs, and the instructions said they needed well-drained soil – because even a healthy plant, sitting too long in bad soil, will develop root rot. The plant might look fine on the outside for a while, but damage is happening underneath.