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Hi! I’m Carol Feil-pronounced “File.”
I’m a yellow-boot-wearing gardener who relishes wordsmithery and photography and has a passion for the “mom bent” set in every woman’s heart. My fondest identifications are as a daughter, daughter-in-law, mom to three, mother-in-law to two, and grandma to one.
I loved being my mother’s daughter and I see her imprint on my life. She looked to God’s Word for her authority, hospitality for her practice, whit and whimsey for her style, and milk and sugar for her tea. Her influence flows into all my choices and actions.
Some days we need someone to understand, someone like a mom.
My hope is for you to find that understanding here, both serious and light-hearted, and to accept with certainty that you are
Seen, Known and Loved
by God who created you.
Yes, you are seen, known and loved- everyday, all day!
God meets you where you are, feels your pain and loves you more than you can imagine.
Stick around as we search out wisdom and truth together.
Be encouraged, and in turn, encourage others.
christian living, faith walk, perseverance, Prayer, resilience
Specifically, they are able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions.
I’ve watched roses survive and thrive after being transplanted, poorly pruned and even broken.
Resiliency? That’s a character trait we’ve all been challenged to tap into this past year.
You may not see it, but ask a friend to tell you how they’ve seen you grow in resiliency this past year.
Besides, resilient, roses are also strong, beautiful, and fragrant.
You may feel worn out, exhausted and like your last nerve is being tested,
but
the hard work and the challenge has only made you stronger, more beautiful and a sweet fragrance to others.
You can survive hard things. You are beautiful. You are strong. You are resilient.
Continue to be like the Rose.
christian living, faith walk, God first, parenting, Prayer, relationships, spirituality
I love this question. This says you want to live a life focused on things that matter to God. That is an outstanding goal. When I was a young mom, I thought doing life would come more naturally, or at least easier. Go ahead, laugh with me or at me. As you’ve already guessed, it’s harder than it looks. We all have people in our life that come to mind as the ones who “have it all together”? I can visualize a few immediately. Life seems to fall in place for them. I can also tell you that on closer inspection and a few candid conversations, the ones who “look like they have it all together” don’t. Not a slam, just a reality check. Few are as put together as their appearance suggests. Nothing in life is effortless. Let that encourage you to keep God tenaciously at the center of your life, no matter how it looks to others. Here are some suggested how-to’s from my experience:
Pray. Praying is talking to God. Good communication is foundational to any relationship and needed for successful spiritual growth. Whether you are just getting acquainted with him or you have known him for years, he wants to hear what is on your heart. Praying intimidates some people because they think there is a formula they need to follow, or certain words to use. The most important words are the ones that come from deep inside you. It doesn’t matter how they come out. Maybe you’ve heard people start their prayers with: “Dear Lord”, “O God” or “Heavenly Father”. Whether you prefer to say any of these does not matter so much as just starting the conversation. This can take place inside your head. It does not have to be audible, but saying things out loud helps keep me from distraction. I encourage you to pray out loud when you can. Even write out what is on your heart: what burdens or concerns you. These all count as prayers—conversations with God, telling him what you think about, worry about, want to do differently, and most important how you want to know him better.
Read the Bible. One of the best ways to know God is to spend time in his Word. This is easier now than ever before. Our schedules might be crazier, but the resources available to us are vast. Bible apps exist that will read scripture to you when you can’t. We are really without excuse for knowing more about God. This is not a guilt trip, but a fact. We have incredible technology available: we can google anything, we can play music in any style we choose, books read aloud by the author, YouTube videos, podcasts, social media and websites all share information. The greatest challenge is in choosing knowledge over entertainment. There are times I’d much rather binge watch/listen to a favorite author for entertainment, not my own spiritual enrichment. Part of the challenge is in what I choose to let in. My choices are endless, so how do I choose the best? The answer to that will differ for each of us, but it’s a good question to ponder.
Listen. How does one listen to the God of the universe? In my very animated brain, I quickly picture a cartoon of a loud booming voice rolling out of the thunderous clouds and me trying to stay upright in the wake of that powerful voice. It is mighty for sure, and God is the Almighty. He can blast truth to us, but does he? More likely his is a still, small voice that requires me to get still and quiet to hear. Getting quiet in today’s techno culture isn’t always easy. All things online and more social media videos than one can watch in a lifetime, not to mention spouses, children, co-workers, bosses, customers, teachers all calling for our listening ears. All relationships require us to be active listeners. This means I’m not thinking of what to say next as the other’s words spill out, but I am focused on their words alone. Ouch. Just writing out that defining phrase causes me guilt. I can so easily get focused on what I think I should say next that I stop listening. It is a skill that needs constant practice to develop. Our relationship with God isn’t just us asking him for wisdom, knowledge and peace but also listening for truth, conviction and encouragement. Listen. He speaks through his Word, the Bible, he speaks to us when we take the time to stay quiet before him. It’s hard to listen when we are impatient or in a hurry. Listening is a worthwhile practice. One I continually need to improve.
Build One Another Up. If I have someone who has agreed to check in on me, I’m more likely to stick to a goal. Accountability isn’t about inducing guilt, but motivating me to work on my goals and growth markers. Whether I’m getting my physical self in better shape or tuning up my mental/spiritual growth, having someone alongside to encourage me is a key element to success.
Keeping God in the center of your life gives significant benefits for the effort. When we take the time to pray, read the Bible, listen, and live with accountability, God’s word promises us tangible things like peace, hope, self-control, love, patience, and kindness. It is a joyous journey to get acquainted with the God who created you. He loves you so much. He knows you, sees you and longs to converse with you. May this be the year you lean into him in conversational prayer, meet him in his word, get quiet and listen for his still small voice, while you encourage others to do the same. We grow best when we build one another up.
Advent, christian living, spirituality
2020 has been a year like no other. We are soul weary and desperately in need of refreshment. Let me encourage you – there is good news of great JOY! This good news is, although we celebrate a baby born in a manger, the truth of who that baby is: Jesus the Christ, Son of God, Prince of Peace, Redeemer, long awaited Holy One, Immanuel, God with us, Everlasting Father – is the greatest truth ever told. Jesus is hope, peace, joy and love. He is the reason for the season as well as our reason for being. He knows us, loves us, came to restore our relationship with God the Father. He is our salvation. He is the best news ever. What great hope and joy for the end of 2020. Hallelujah what a Savior!
Advent, christian living, relationships, spirituality
“Hear ye, Hear ye! Christmas is coming. Christmas in July sale! Only 150 days left until Christmas. Are you ready for Christmas? Hurry, Hurry, Hurry!” The ads and slogans bombard our senses. Commercials, emails and advertisements. We barely enjoy one holiday and the décor and supplies for the next have overtaken the store displays. Retail establishments are driven by a profitable sense of urgency rather than my preference of wanting to savor a moment.
Four days before Thanksgiving, I went to the store thinking I would pick up a few more paper plates and napkins. Circling the rows of shelves more than once, I realized, to my dismay, that they did not have any thanksgiving items on display, not even on a clearance rack. Instead, they were well into the Christmas spirit with a dash of New Year’s Eve on an end display. Although I understand the economics of display choice (and lack of), it bothered me that even our shopping culture was rushing me through the seasons. So much for savoring a moment. If I were to gauge my thoughtfulness about a holiday based on the retail displays, I would be well ahead of the calendar always. Forever chasing a diminishing display that cannot wait to empty itself of one celebration to usher in the next. I am not obligated to celebrate according to what is displayed, but sometimes I have not even thought of what is next, much less how I might savor it. In an instant coffee, 10 -minute lube, oil & filter, drive through world, I do not get to pause and reflect much. People barely do that at a red light. Savoring does not merge well with the rush of retail. It requires a concerted effort to keep up with the consumer culture bombardment.
Ironically, the advent season is a call to savor. To sit with the anticipation. That cannot be done quick. It is a counter-culture moment. To savor and reflect on Jesus Christ. It is his arrival that we celebrate. So how do we push the pause button on life to reflect on Advent?
Let’s look at the who, when, where, why and how to remember the importance of this time of reflecting and savoring:
Who is Advent for? The answer is: Advent is for everyone and anyone who wishes to celebrate the reason for the Christmas season: Jesus Christ, God in human form, Lamb of God, and the Savior of the world.
When does it happen? We observe advent the four Sundays before Christmas Day.
Where does it happen? Advent is celebrated all over the world in churches and homes. It is observed in individual hearts and minds.
Why do we observe Advent? Psalm 18:30 says, “Gods way is blameless, the word of the Lord is tried, He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.” We observe Advent to contemplate the significance of a blameless God who is a shield and refuge to us.
How do we observe Advent? By reading the Bible, God’s word, to know his character better. We can read, worship, and pray, giving thanks to God for the gift of his son. Traditionally, candles are lit each Sunday of Advent. Each week there is a word that highlights God’s nature. As we light the candle, we read the Bible and focus on God’s character, and thank him for being the God who saves.
Meditate on these weekly words for Advent:
Week 1 Hope We are waiting for the Messiah. He is our hope and expectation. 1 Peter 1:3, Rom. 15:13
Week 2 Peace Our hearts are yearning for Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6, Rom. 5:1
Week 3 Joy True Joy found in Jesus alone. He is our Joy. Luke 2:10, Psalm 16:11, Psalm 51:12
Week 4 Love God is love. He loved us so much that he sent his only Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the price for our sin. 1 John 4:9, John 3:16, Titus 3:4-7, Psalm 90:14
Christmas Day the Christ Candle. The perfect, spotless Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, come to earth as a babe, fully God and fully man, to pay the price for the sin that separates us from the Holy God, the Almighty One. Matt. 2:11-12, 2 Peter 3:8-14.
Contemplating Hope. Pausing and reflecting on Christ. He came to save the world from the sin that separates us from a Righteous and Loving, Creator God. His sacrifice is our eternal hope, his second coming the realization of that hope.
Peace is a missing commodity in this world of rushing around. Meditating on the Prince of Peace our hearts yearn for, gives purpose to our pause.
Embracing the Joy found in a relationship with Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, gives us permission to grieve the hardships and losses in this world, while still anticipating the perfection of eternity with him. Accepting his love. His perfect, limitless love. A love so big that God the Father would send his only Son, to this crazy mixed up world, to live and experience all the emotions of the human existence then to be the perfect sacrifice – the spotless lamb of the Old Testament. He would pay a price we could not pay to give a gift we do not deserve. He died for your sin and mine. He was buried, and He rose again, three days later, according to the scripture. So, we could walk in newness of life, fully loved, fully known, and fully forgiven. Such an indescribable gift.
Then Christmas Day – the celebration of this ultimate gift. The hope and joy of our Salvation. “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing: everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Isaiah 35:10. Advent in our hearts always. Praise be to God.
Pause, Reflect and Savor. This is love, joy, peace, and hope. This is Advent.
