Shame shouldn’t hold a megaphone in our lives. Yes, we all deal with shame from time to time, but hiddenness only makes the voice of shame louder. 

So, Jesus’ questions invite us to take off our masks and address the plank in our eye. We are safe to be vulnerable with Jesus. Jesus doesn’t invite us to talk about mess because He wants to shame us. Jesus wants to free us, clear our vision, and take away distractions so that we can show up for the world with confidence and humility. 

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I'd love to connect with you on Instagram ⁠@carlycommunicates⁠. If there is ever any way that I can link arms with you in ministry though speaking or worship leading, let me know at ⁠carlycommunicates.com/contact/⁠.

Vulnerability alert: In my experience, worry is often perpetuated by my desire for self-preservation, safety, and control. I want to flourish so desperately that my worry actually robs me of peace, joy, whimsy, and hope. In Matthew 6:27, Jesus asks the question, "Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" This question, and the surrounding words of Jesus from this section of Scripture, point us to some important promises and practices. I am sharing with you some of the rhythms that I have personally utilized to help me in times of anxiety. If you have swirling thoughts centered on worry, I believe you'll find this episode extremely helpful.

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I'd love to connect with you on Instagram @carlycommunicates. If there is ever any way that I can link arms with you in ministry though speaking or worship leading, let me know at carlycommunicates.com/contact/.

There are so many things that cause us to not feel valued. We question our value if we don’t get the promotion at work, don’t get into the top choice college, miss a catch at a game, lose our temper with our kids, don’t see a number go down on the scale, or if we see on social media that our friends hung out last weekend and we weren’t invited. But Jesus' question in Matthew 6:25-26 invites us to sink into what is true. We are deeply loved, adored, and valued because we are God's children. 

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I'd love to connect with you on instagram! You can find me ⁠@carlycommunicates⁠.

It is tempting to play the inferiority / superiority game, or to point fingers at people who are “lesser than,” but in asking the questions in Matt. 5:44 & 46, Jesus is reminding us that we ALL need help in loving our enemies. It isn’t something that we can do on our own. No matter who we are, we need God’s love to flow through us so that we no longer dehumanize or minimize someone, but we see all people through God’s lens of love.

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I'd love to connect with you on instagram! You can find me ⁠@carlycommunicates⁠.

It is easy for us to feel disqualified. Like the thirsty woman at the well in John 4, it is easy for us to feel like we have nothing to offer. We may cling to the words that people have said about us, or hold tightly feelings of rejection, abandonment, or betrayal. The experiences we’ve had or the pain we carry may make us feel like we have no value to offer to others… but Jesus says, “I see you, and you have something valuable to share with the world.”

Jesus asked over 300 questions in the Bible. Instead of coming to hold lectures, Jesus came to have conversations. In this first episode of Jesus Q&A, Jesus' question, "What do you seek?" reminds us that Jesus cares about what we care about. We're all looking for something... and even if we're searching for satisfaction in all the wrong places, Jesus invites us to walk with Him one step at a time. As we do, our desires will align with God's good intentions for us.

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I'd love to connect with you on instagram! You can find me ⁠@carlycommunicates⁠.

What if, amidst the uncertainties and complexities of life, we discover that the answers we seek are hidden within the questions Jesus asked?

Join me on Tuesdays AND Thursdays for 10 minutes of Scripture study, real talk conversation, and prayer.

Let's keep pursuing wholeness in Jesus rather than trying to have it all together.

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I'd love to connect with you on instagram! You can find me ⁠@carlycommunicates⁠.