Coffee with Carole

Why is it we will immerse ourselves in our work to avoid the problems at home or immerse ourselves in a book or exercise to tune out what is going on around us?  Some of us immerse ourselves in our feelings and thoughts and end up sinking deeper into depression and overwhelm, right? If we want to see real change, we need to immerse ourselves in things that will create lasting change.  Wh...

In the days after Christmas, what is going on in your house?  Are you cleaning, reflecting, or sleeping?  Are you looking for places to put the new things you got and wondering why it takes so much preparation for a 2 hour event?  Are you preparing for New Year's or simply back to work and routine? I wonder what it was like for Mary and Joseph the days after Jesus' birth? The Bible...

I stood in line to get the party favor and when it was my turn, the host said, "I am so sorry.  We just ran out of favors, but we are so glad you came!  I will send you something if you will just put your name here on this paper." Has this ever happened to you? Sure, you enjoyed the party or event, but somehow it feels funny not getting the little party favor. When we accepted Christ, we...

We have all been there.  Changes in a our schedules and interruptions to our daily routine can get us out of our groove!   Over the past couple of weeks, between Thanksgiving and taking care of my granddaughter, I have found myself "out of my routine".  I may have did it intentionally, but it still creates a bit of "where's my flow?"     As I watched my granddaughter,...

Instead of an activity, why not make it a way of life? 1-Start the day with God.  You can get a window/mirror cling from the store on my website to help remind you! You can also download this Daily Thought Organizer w/affirmations to help you stay focused! 2.  Intentional Prayer- Prayer request page on my website 3. What are you thankful for?  Turn complaining into praise and encour...

Read the following from the Bible.  What images of Christmas do you have that are not written here? The Birth of Jesus- Luke 2:1-20 2  In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2  (This was the first census that took place while[ a ] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3  And everyone went to their own town to register....

Saying no to another piece of cake or no to splurging on a purchase you don't need (but is on sale) can be difficult.  Especially when you really want it!  Why is it so hard to have self-control and self-discipline?   The world created the mess and we are just playing in it.  The world says that we should practice self-care and do nice things for ourselves.  So, if the sec...

Self-confidence is the problem.  You don't need it.  It really is messing you up and keeping you stuck.  You have to keep starting over.  Self-Confidences allows us to gain confidence in our abilities because our successes make us feel worthwhile, secure and significant.  We feel good about ourselves until the day we don't.  The moment we fail at something we were "go...

Honestly, most of us are thinking about ourselves.  Let's just be real.  We are either thinking about how tomorrow will turn out , thinking about how we are feeling about tomorrow, thinking about what needs to be accomplished today, or possibly thinking about what the rest of the holiday season is going to look like...we are inside ourselves and our thoughts.    It is ok. ...

Many years ago I wrote a song that talked about being a vessel of clay in God's hands.  I had forgotten about it until last night when God reminded me of it.  I looked for the words and couldn't find them.  I remembered some of them and as I thought of the words I wrote so long ago, God showed me how even then He was forming me and my life into what it is today.  Isaiah 64:8 te...

Are you living on the edge of uncertainty?  Do you fear what tomorrow will bring?  Do you feel like there are no more solutions, resources or someone who can help?  For most of us, the holidays bring on fears and anxiety.  We fear overeating.  We fear not having enough money for gifts.  We fear how we will manage our schedules or when we will see family if we can't be...

Everyone wants to know the future.  We are curious!  We play the games that predict who we will marry, what our kids will look like and what our future home will be.  We read the horoscopes and consider the possibilities.  But do we truly know what God says about predictions, prophecy and what our future holds? The world says it can be both good or bad.   God says tha...

What do I need to learn? Where do I need to grow? What needs to change? These are the 3 questions I ask God before I start my day.  I don't always get an answer right away, but I keep seeking Him. (Deut. 4:29-31) As long as I have a restless spirit, I know that I am not aligned with God correctly or He is trying to teach me something.  It is my job to keep seeking His answer.   This...

For many, the holidays trigger negative emotions, stress and anxiety.  There is a focus on lack, loss and increased commercialism that pushes us to feel overwhelmed.  We know we shouldn't fall prey to the "should" mentality...but yet we do.  Our focus is more on how we are feeling about things than what the true meaning of the season is about.  The world, like a door, gives us...

Crazy?  Unbelievable?  I don't think so.  This morning I woke up not feeling 100%...wanting to just pull the covers back up and stay in bed.  Call out sick...and just not do the day.  Thoughts of all the things that I had to do and things that could potentially happen started racing through my head.  I was feeling less and less like moving by the minute.  Do you...

Leadership is not easy.  To lead you must be followed.  Being followed means that people respect, like, or admire what you are doing.  Leaders that force followers through tactics of intimidation are not respected, they are feared. However, leaders who pause to reflect before acting, consider another's point of view or interest and remain focused on long term results are trusted. &n...

Our personal values drive our behaviors.  However, sometimes our behaviors contradict our values.  When we make conscious decisions that go against our values, we create challenges in our relationship with God and our relationship with people. Luke 6:31 tells us to treat others the way we want to be treated. Sometimes we think, "this isn't hurting anyone, so, it's ok".   We may...

True friendship is hard to find- especially in today's busy world...but I believe God wants us to have true friends.  Proverbs 27:17 tells us that iron sharpens iron and one man sharpens another.  Do we work to be both sweet and tangy in our relationships?  Are we the type of friend that we love?  Are we honest without finding fault?  Are we dedicated without being demandi...

We all have problems.  We could have the same problem or we could have different ones, but we all have them.  Some have money issues, others have relationship challenges or health ailments.  Some of us battle depression, stress and worry.  Some of us have ALL these issues.   What do we do?  We seek help.  We join groups and buy programs.  We google for infor...

The world wants us to believe that more is better, faster is easier and the one with the most toys wins!  God tells us that if we seek Him in even the most mundane things, ask Him the silliest of questions He will guide us through!  He says that more of HIM is better, His timing is perfect, and the one with the most faith wins!   Our goal should always be about the message and not t...

Today God spoke through me and shared words He wants you to hear.  (And it isn't about my wild hair...that was just to get your attention!) I am stepping out in boldness. I pray what you hear is a blessing.  He wants you to have heart knowledge and not just head knowledge.  Being able to speak and repeat scripture does not mean you are experiencing it.  God doesn't want to be a...

Have you ever wanted to just flee the country?  Run away to an island somewhere and just forget the worries of the day?  I know I have!  Sometimes, the stuff we deal with...the pressures of life...are just too much.  Job felt it.  (Job 3:11)  David felt it.  (Psalm 55:6-8)  Elijah felt it too. (1 Kings 19)   The world tells us to focus on the positive!...

Do you sometimes misunderstand what someone texts you or emails you?  Have you misread a message sent to you by someone?  We all have bias and the way we receive messages depends on our perspective and mood at the time!   God's word is very clear, concise and descriptive.  You really can't get it wrong...unless you want to.  But, sometimes we interpret scripture with a bit...

Today is a day when many counties, cities, & towns vote for council members, mayors and other leaders.  Who do we vote for as one who seeks a life by God's design?   Is the leader power hungry or propelled by God's power?   Do they seek to have all the information and get angry if they don't? Do they only hire or keep those who agree with them? Do they mostly spend time with tho...

We all have experienced FOMO (Fear of missing out) at some point in our lives.  We may have been pressured to order something or do something because we didn't want to miss out on a special deal or sale or promotion.  Most of the time, FOMO creates anxiety and envy.  What does GOD say about these things?  When you have a fear of mission out, you are simply saying, "God, I don't...