Ditching Perfection

Here is the episode so many of you requested... a conversation about adult friendships. Finding and maintaining friends can be really hard. The truth is, many of us are lonely, isolated, and not sure how to make friends when we are juggling work, families, and paying the bills. So, my friend, Elise Snowden is here to 1) normalize the fact that adulting and friendship can be challenging, 2) share some of her experience with friendships in this phase, and 3) help us look to Jesus' friendships as an inspiration for our own relationships. 

Mike and I are also chatting about: 🎃 What we wore on Halloween, 📣 How I talk louder than I realize, and ➖How God may be inviting us to subtract, rather than add things, to our schedules——🪩 If there is any way that I can support you on your ditching perfection journey, or if you’re looking for a preacher for your next event, reach out to me at carlycommunicates.com/contact

Mike and I are also chatting about: 🗣️ How small words of encouragement make a big difference,🧡 Gilmore Girls, and✉️ A letter Mike recently received from his 2nd grade teacher. —— 🪩 If there is any way that I can support you on your ditching perfection journey, or if you’re looking for a preacher for your next event, reach out to me at carlycommunicates.com/contact

We are BACK! 🥳 We took some time off this summer and had so many adventures! We are sharing with you the highs (seeing the Backstreet Boys at the Sphere! 🪩), the lows (some health challenges for Mike), and God moments from this summer (youth camp in Colorado ⛰️) — and we’d love to hear about yours! Since I am officially back on social media, send me a DM @carlycommunicates and share with me a few highlights from your summer! ——☀️ If there is any way I can support you on your ditching perfection journey or you’re looking for a preacher for your next event, reach out to me at carlycommunicates.com/contact

Mike and I are also chatting about: 📖 My recent preaching travels,🌻 Our summer plans, and 🎵 Early 2000s boy bands —— If there is any way that I can support you on your ditching perfection journey or if you’re looking for a preacher for your next event, reach out to me at carlycommunicates.com/contact

Mike and I are also chatting about:💭 The pros and cons of being a futuristic thinker,🧐 The importance of remembering, and ❓How We Navigated Through Big Decisions in our Young Adult Years——If there is any way I can support you on your ditching perfection journey or you’re looking for a preacher for your next event, reach out to me at carlycommunicates.com/contact

Mike and I are also chatting about:📚 Habit stacking,🥪 Our favorite condiments (pesto aioli 🤤), and ❤️ How the life and teachings of Jesus recorded in the Gospels shape the way we interact with our broken world. ——If there is any way that I can encourage you in your ditching perfection journey, you can connect with me on Instagram @carlycommunicates or reach out to me via my website carlycommunicates.com.

The podcast is back! Today Mike and I are chatting about what we’ve been up to the last few months. We are also talking about: 📚 Slowing down & reading more 📖 Seeing people in the Bible as real humans with real pain, rather than storybook characters, and 🏀 How Mike’s love of the NBA is slowing influencing me to become a fan. 😂 —— If there is any that that I can encourage you in your ditching perfection journey, you can connect with me on Instagram @carlycommunicates or reach out to me via my website carlycommunicates.com. 🎉

Today is our final conversation in the Caring for Creation series! I trust that you have been encouraged, challenged, stretched, and inspired by J.D. and David! Please reach out to them and let them know how much you’ve appreciated their insights and passion for this topic. You can email them at dhille@nnu.edu and chaplain.j.d.henry@icloud.com. — If there is any way that I can support you in your ditching perfection journey, please reach out to me at carlycommunicates.com or on instagram at @carlycommunicates.

Do you want to learn about practical ways to make changes that will help care for creation? J.D. and David have great ideas for you (and me)! Join us for part 3 of our September series and learn how you can help preserve the earth’s resources through simple in your homes, in the grocery store, and in your landscaping. 🌱 Let me tell you about my friends, David and J.D…. Dr. David Hille completed a Masters in Biology and PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Oklahoma, during which he studied the populations and conservation issues of parrots in the Central American country of Nicaragua and co-authored a field guide to the birds of Nicaragua. David is now a professor in the Biology Department at NNU where he teaches Wildlife Biology and Ecology. David is married to Sarah, and they have two wonderful kids. J.D. Henry received his Mdiv. From George Fox Evangelical Seminary (now Portland Seminary). He served as a youth pastor for 15 years in Phoenix and Portland. His family moved back to his hometown in Idaho, where J.D. now serves as the lead chaplain for Keystone Hospice. J.D. is married to his wife, Alaina, and they have three awesome kids. If you’d like to reach out to David or J.D. to let them know how much you appreciated what they shared, you can email them at dhille@nnu.edu and chaplain.j.d.henry@icloud.com. — If there is any way that I can support you in your ditching perfection journey, please reach out to me at carlycommunicates.com or on instagram at @carlycommunicates.

In part two of our Sept series, J.D. and David share with us about: 📚Reliable research & resources in the creation care conversation, ⚠️ What concerns they have about the state of the earth, and ⭐️ What gives them great hope for the future of creation. This is an incredibly meaningful conversation, where we are reminded not to despair or live with toxic positivity… but to lament & live with hope. God is a restoring, creating God. 🌍🌷🐋 Let me tell you about my friends, David and J.D…. Dr. David Hille completed a Masters in Biology and PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Oklahoma, during which he studied the populations and conservation issues of parrots in the Central American country of Nicaragua and co-authored a field guide to the birds of Nicaragua. David is now a professor in the Biology Department at NNU where he teaches Wildlife Biology and Ecology. David is married to Sarah, and they have two wonderful kids. J.D. Henry received his Mdiv. From George Fox Evangelical Seminary (now Portland Seminary). He served as a youth pastor for 15 years in Phoenix and Portland. His family moved back to his hometown in Idaho, where J.D. now serves as the lead chaplain for Keystone Hospice. J.D. is married to his wife, Alaina, and they have three awesome kids. If you’d like to reach out to David or J.D. to let them know how much you appreciated what they shared, you can email them at dhille@nnu.edu and chaplain.j.d.henry@icloud.com. — If there is any way that I can support you in your ditching perfection journey, please reach out to me at carlycommunicates.com or on instagram at @carlycommunicates.

We are kicking off our new four part series today! Each week in September, we will be unpacking the idea of caring for creation. We will be talking about how to partner with our Creator God to take care of the creation around us. We will looking at this topic from a theological and scientific lens. My friends, Dr. David Hille & J.D. Henry are going to guide us through these inspiring and important conversations this month. Today, in part 1 of the series, we are going to hear from David and J.D. about what has led them to be passionate about this topic, why this is a significant conversation for Jesus followers, and how caring for the earth and caring for people are intertwined. Let me tell you about my friends, David and J.D…. Dr. David Hille completed a Masters in Biology and PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Oklahoma, during which he studied the populations and conservation issues of parrots in the Central American country of Nicaragua and co-authored a field guide to the birds of Nicaragua. David is now a professor in the Biology Department at NNU where he teaches Wildlife Biology and Ecology. David is married to Sarah, and they have two wonderful kids. J.D. Henry received his Mdiv. From George Fox Evangelical Seminary (now Portland Seminary). He served as a youth pastor for 15 years in Phoenix and Portland. His family moved back to his hometown in Idaho, where J.D. now serves as the lead chaplain for Keystone Hospice. J.D. is married to his wife, Alaina, and they have three awesome kids. If you’d like to reach out to David or J.D. to let them know how much you appreciated what they shared, you can email them at dhille@nnu.edu and chaplain.j.d.henry@icloud.com. — If there is any way that I can support you in your ditching perfection journey, please reach out to me at carlycommunicates.com or on instagram at @carlycommunicates.

When is too much of a good thing no longer a good thing? Us perfectionist and people-pleasing types have a tendency to take on too much. We’re afraid to let others down or we don’t want to miss out on significant opportunities so we keep saying yes… to the point that we’re left exhausted and overwhelmed. Proverbs 2:1-11 helps us reframe the way that we view success and reminds us that the fulfillment we long for comes from God’s wisdom — not earthly successes. God’s wisdom is “pleasant to our souls” (Prov. 2:10), so in order to experience the health rhythms that God has for us, we have to determine when our yeses are wise and when they are not. Through the lens of Proverbs 2:1-11, I am sharing four key questions that I am learning to ask before I say “yes.” I hope you find these questions helpful too. — To learn more about Carly’s preaching ministry & Bible study resources, visit carlycommunicates.com

I am no stranger to anxiety. Anxiety has been a part of my story, but God has also helped equip me to recognize and respond to anxiety differently when it comes knockin’ on my door. Today, I want to share with you why Philippians 4:8 has been pivotal on my journey and how from that Scripture, I have come up with five steps that have shift my perspective when I am anxious. I believe the bite-sized Bible study will help you, just as it helps me. I don't promise that these tools will defeat anxiety once-and-for-all, but I do believe they will help you as you walk through waves of worry when they come. The key is to root ourselves in WHAT IS so that we can approach WHAT IF questions differently. I am cheering for you, my friend, as you pursue wholeness in Jesus rather than trying to have it all together! 📖 Check out my 8 week Bible study, “The Gift of the Unexpected,” at carlycommunicates.com/gift-of-the-unexpected/

For years I have found this passage about Jesus’ experience in the wilderness perplexing. Why would the Spirit purposefully send Jesus into the wilderness, where He would be tempted by the devil? In today’s bite-sized Bible study, we will look at this passage from a different perspective. What if it was in the wilderness where Jesus was most prepared to face the enemy with strength and confidence? What if the times of solitude gave him opportunities to hear the voice of God more clearly? In our fast-paced world, we don’t often experience the quiet, and when we do, it is uncomfortable and disorienting. But what if God is purposefully inviting us into the wilderness, too, so that we can tune our hearts to the Spirit and grow in our trust and courage? * In today’s episode, I mention that John Mark Comer’s insights in his book, “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry” helped form my perspectives on Luke 4:1-15. I highly recommend the book, if you haven’t read it already! 😊 * If you are interested in more devotional resources, check out my 8 week Bible study, “The Gift of the Unexpected.” You can learn more at carlycommunicates.com/resources

Sometimes we feel like we shouldn't doubt or ask questions. We feel like we have to have all the answers. We don't want to offend Jesus with doubts, or we wonder if can truly follow Jesus if we still have some loose ends that haven't been tied up when it comes to our faith. Unfortunately, I think that doubt has gotten tangled up in shame—but that is not Jesus' intention for us. In Matthew 28:16-20, we are told that some of the disciples struggled with doubt, and instead of trying scolding them, or telling them to get lost, Jesus came close. He met them in the midst of their concerns and confusion… and then He empowered them to “go and make disciples of all the nations.” This passage reminds us that sifting through questions doesn't disqualify you; sifting through questions is a healthy part of discipleship. —— For more resources to help you grow in your discipleship journey, visit carlycommunicates.com/resources

This week, we are talking about how to embody God’s compassion when we see others walking down a road of destruction. Sometimes, it is easy for us to not say anything because we don’t want to come across as rude, judgemental, or hypocritical. On the opposite side of things, it may be tempting to say something harsh or biting because we are disgusted, disappointed or hurt by others’ choices. Thankfully, there are other options in addition to these extremes. There are healthy and holistic ways to handle these types of relationships. Jude reminds us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and root ourselves in God as we navigate how to deal with people who have disappointed or hurt us. — For more resources to help you grow in your discipleship journey, visit carlycommunicates.com/resources

Episode 115: Bite-Sized Bible Study | Reading Passages on Judgement with a Lens of Compassion | Jude Part 1 The Bible is jam-packed with stories of restoration, incredible miracles, and displays of God’s compassion… but there are also writings about judgement and punishment. So, what do we do with those? It is easy to want to skip those or allow those passages to fuel our own judgement toward others… but is there another way to read those passages and apply them to our lives? As we look at the book of Jude, we will read it with this question in mind: “How can I read this through the lens of God’s compassion?” My seminary professor, Dr. Doug Hardy, says that God is the “Capital C Compassionate God.” So, even in the seemingly harsh words in Scripture, how do we see God’s compassion and how we can be driven by God’s compassion? These questions have shaped the way that I read the Bible and I hope they help you as well. —— I’d love to connect with you on instagram. You can find me @carlycommunicates. Are you looking for a speaker or preacher for your upcoming event? If so, I’d love to hear your vision and chat with you about how we could partner together! Let’s start the conversation & dream together: carlycommunicates.com/contact

Waiting isn’t easy. When we have a dream or desire, it is tempting to kick doors down and make something happen. But what if, just like Moses, Elijah, and the early disciples of Jesus, God has us in a season of preparation for a purpose? —— Are you looking for a speaker or preacher for your upcoming event? If so, I’d love to hear your vision and chat with you about how we could partner together! Let’s start the conversation & dream together. You can reach out to me at carlycommunicates.com/contact. If there is any way I can cheer you on in your ditching perfection journey, reach out to me on instagram @carlycommunicates.

What if we use the seasons as a lens to look at our spiritual lives?  The Scriptures were rooted in societies that were dependent upon agriculture. All their food and sustenance were dependent upon farming and proper rhythms of cultivating the land. Farmers had to be aware of what their purposes were in each season. In the spring, if they didn't plant, they wouldn't have a harvest in the fall. If they tried to harvest in the winter, there would be nothing there. Understanding the seasons was vital, and continues to be vital now. I think identifying your spiritual season will be helpful for you. Knowing your season can help bring clarity to what God purposes for you are in this season, and what they are not. So, this is what we’re unpacking in our bite-sized Bible study today. In today’s episode, I reference two podcasts that helped me start thinking about the concept of a spiritual season. You can hear those podcast episodes here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/that-sounds-fun-with-annie-f-downs/id944925529?i=1000640880111 & https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/that-sounds-fun-with-annie-f-downs/id944925529?i=1000641684822 Are you looking for a Bible study resource with daily readings & reflections? If so, check out my eight-week Bible study on the life of Elijah called “The Gift of the Unexpected.” You can learn more about carlycommunicates.com/resources. If there is any way I can cheer you on in your ditching perfection journey, reach out to me on instagram @carlycommunicates.