During every church service, I journal my notes, writing things down as Habakkuk 2:2  instructs. At the end of each year, I review my starred entries—those moments that spoke to me deeply at the time. When I revisit them months later, many are confirmed in my spirit. At the beginning of the year, my pastor said, “ I’m praying that we would not be afraid to pray powerful prayers, believing God can bring healing in every way to people’s lives and bodies, and that miraculous sig

Photo from Charisma  magazine, published May 2, 2016—similar to my dream. Artist unknown. My New Year's Eve dream on January 1, 2007: While on a nighttime walk, I stopped in awe at the unusual streaks in the sky from what appeared to be a meteor shower. The white streaks became bigger, longer, and began glowing red. I was standing on a hilltop, looking down upon a town, when I saw flaming balls crashing into everything. There were many explosions, and I was stunned by what I

Why does the word, revival make some people squirm? You won’t find the word itself in the Bible, but the concept is present throughout Scripture. Revival is a spiritual renewal or restoration—an awakening as people gather in unity, humbly seeking God through repentance, praise, and prayer. It is not something typically broadcast on secular news, but if you follow Christian media, you’ll see that God is on the move, stirring hearts and filling the void in their lives meant on

Spiritual dancing is fairly new to me. Back in the 90s, I attended retreats with Hettie Lou Ministries, where we watched spiritual dancers, but I never thought I could — or should — dance. While attending a Christian art conference in August 2022, we toured several local art studios. My friend Ruth, who uses contemporary ballet to glorify God, felt led to bless a particular studio gallery and its owner through dance. By the time she finished, the Holy Spirit’s presence had mi

Are you like me—excited that it is a new year, a fresh start filled with new possibilities? It feels like opening a new calendar, ready to record the events and moments that await in the coming year.   Every January 1 since 2019, I have asked the Lord to give me a word to focus on in prayer for the year.   Here is my list:   2019—Change 2020—Renew 2021—Transition 2022—Faithful 2023—Dream 2024—Pray the Word 2025—New Beginnings 2026 – ?   Little did I know that a public health

Since my retirement, I have been reflecting on how much easier it has become to spend time with Jesus and enjoy a deeper sense of closeness with Him. The story of Doubting Thomas came to mind. In John 20:29b (NIV) , Jesus says, “ Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” I am familiar with the story of Thomas, who wanted to see Jesus and His scars before he would believe that Jesus was alive and had truly appeared to the other disciples. Yet I did not immedi

I’m not a fan of canoes due to their small size and lack of stability. Have you ever been in a canoe or rowboat when someone is moving around too much, threatening to capsize you both, and all you can do is hang on for dear life while yelling, “ STOP MOVING AROUND !”? Yep, that’s me, while this '70s song chorus by The Hues Corporation plays in my head: Rock the boat Don’t rock the boat, baby Rock the boat Don’t tip the boat over Rock the boat Don’t rock the boat, baby Rock th

My front yard tree was struck by lightning For my “Beauty for Ashes” art series, I chose to cut the fabric pieces with straight, sharp points for emphasis—representing the ashes of darkness, despair, and grief. While thinking about my next design, I envisioned fabric pieces with rounded, flowing corners, as if they were moving with the Holy Spirit. That meant I would have to trim my pieces into new shapes. I could spend an entire day just cutting. That’s when the phrase “like

Let me start by saying this blog post is not meant to debate whether or not Christians should participate in Halloween. This is simply my story —how I felt about the holiday, what the Lord said to me, and the outcome. When I came to the Lord in my late 20s, I felt like I had missed out on so much about Jesus. I wanted to catch up on all the years I had lived without knowing Him. As I learned some of the surprising spiritual “dos and don’ts,” I began making decisions about wha

I wasn’t raised in a Christian home. I lived with an abusive, adulterous, alcoholic father. I grew up resentful, feeling robbed of a normal childhood. After my own marriage failed with an adulterous husband, my pain deepened. One day, a coworker said, “Why don’t you try church?” I tried six different denominations, but I just didn’t get it. I was about to give up on God when I happened to drive home a different way. That route took me past a non-denominational church, and I d

At my first church, the pastor I was serving under, in my opinion, was not leading according to 1 Timothy 3:1–7 . After months of frustration, I was ready to find another church. Before leaving, I decided to talk to another pastor. He asked me a question that cut straight to the heart: “Who do you have on a pedestal—God or a pastor? Pastors are human and make mistakes just like you.” He directed me to Romans 3:23 (NIV) : “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

Last week, I shared a word with the Young Adults: Acceleration. God will use this generation like no other before. My spirit was alive—tingly, even giddy with excitement. God is on the move! But just three days later, we lost a man of faith who was making an impact for the Kingdom. As I watched the news, I was at a loss for words. All I could pray was, “Lord… Lord.” At the September 12, 2025, press conference, Erika Kirk, wife of Charlie Kirk, spoke with boldness (I condensed

Suicide prevention is an important issue that requires awareness, empathy, and proactive support. We are changing the stigma of mental health issues, but only if we are willing to talk about them. Back in my 20s, I was at a party where a casual friend asked me out. He was friendly enough, but I wasn’t interested. I honestly don’t remember what I said—partly because I was drunk—only that I felt uncomfortable after turning him down.  A couple of months later, I heard the heartb

Sometimes, no matter how hard we pray, things don’t turn out the way we had hoped. Years ago, my former pastor’s sister was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. The prayer warriors of the church prayed nonstop for her, but she still passed away. She was the first person I prayed for who wasn’t healed. I didn’t know what to think—it rattled me. I confided in my spiritual mentor at the time, and he said, “But she is  healed—just not the way we wanted. She’s healed right now in heaven

During last week's Zoom meeting with our art group, our mentor shared a powerful word: “He who has the burden, has the calling.” I had to chuckle because stepping up in prayer has definitely been on my heart for some time. Our art group is faith-based, so we pray for every aspect of our lives—not just our art business. If you haven’t read my last post, Stepping Up to the Plate , I encourage you to check it out first for some context. Have you seen the Christian movie War Room

Recently, I was at the annual Southwest Believers Conference when the Lord gave me: "Step up." Was God giving me another baseball analogy? To step up to the plate means the batter is ready. He is prepared, equipped, focused, and committed. He listened to his coach and now stands poised, confident, and ready to do what he had been trained for—with one goal in mind. At the crack of the bat, he runs to first base. He slides. He tumbles. He falls onto the base just as the first b

Bound by gravity, the caterpillar inches her way toward food and shelter. The time draws near— she is summoned to sleep. Does she know a transformation has begun? Does she wonder what will she become when she wakes? The chrysalis trembles a crack appears. Folded wings unfurl, quivering in the breeze. Freed from Earth’s gravity, she flutters upward, sustained by His breath— a new creature, transformed to fulfill her destiny. © Karen T. Garrett The caterpillar transforming into

Whether you’re navigating life’s wild pitches, standing in the batter’s box of adversity, or just trying to keep your footing between second and third, this blog serves as a reminder that faith isn’t just about surviving—it’s about playing with purpose. With relatable stories, scriptural encouragement, and the occasional “WOOOO!!” of joy, this space offers both inspiration and a spiritual game plan to help you live boldly with God calling the plays.