​Those of us who take the energy, time, and love to listen to the stories of others, no matter the depth of the pain involved…those are the Carriers. If you have been on the receiving end of the story, the venting, God bless you. He will give you the strength to help carry the burden. If you have been on the giving end, you know the relief of getting it all out, weeping, whining, and feeling relieved someone cared enough to listen. If you have been the one with the story, in the future it becomes a way to give back to listen to someone else, let them vent, and help them process their pain.
 
I have been and will continue to be a Carrier. I have helped carry the pain of abortion, abuse, eating disorders, death, drug and alcohol addiction, anxiety, depression, and mental illness. Why? Well, God has given me the gift (after years of practice) of being able to hear it, have compassion, give it to God, and not let it stick in my soul. I certainly can’t fix it. I can only work as God’s servant to help in the ways I can and give the rest to Him. To point people to His love. To bring their problem before the Throne. To extend a hand, a hug, a smile, a word of encouragement, a place for them to unload the burden.
 
Thank you to all the Carriers out there. Thank you for your service to other children of God. When others run and hide, you don’t. When others don’t have time, you do. When others can’t relate, you can. When others don’t know how to lift burdens, you leave someone feeling a little lighter. A little safer. A little more heard. A little more loved.
 
Thank you to those special few who have been my Carriers. You know who you are.
 
Carrier,
Celeste
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2

​She thought she was in danger, so she began chirping as loud as she could hoping her Mom would come rescue her. I heard the little thing, but couldn’t figure out where the tweets were coming from. After peering through the puffy blue flowers, I saw her. She was so sweet. I kindly apologized to her and left her in peace. I had been watering her home; it was a small hydrangea bush. I had no idea there would be a baby bird in there or I would have approached the watering differently.
 
The precious little bird got me to thinking how God must hear our cries for help. Even though we feel invincible sometimes, we’re not. Our lives are so fragile, and this we find out in the blink of an eye – many of you know what I’m talking about. If you have experienced trauma, bad health news, fear, or panic in any form, you understand that statement. Though we have faith and trust God (the best way we know how), we are, after all, human. Our brains are designed to keep us alive, so we experience fight or flight responses just like the little bird. It’s nothing to be ashamed of; it’s the way God created us. But, He says not worry. So in those fight or flight moments, when we call out to God, He hears us. And that’s really all we need to do. Call out. Surrender. Give everything to Him. Give up control. Then trust that our Father hears us and is working out all the details. Before time began, He knew you would need Him. He knew you would call out to Him. He loves to hear your squeaky little shout out. He knows how vulnerable, weak, and helpless we are. And yet He loves us. He’s there for us. But unlike the mother bird who was away from her baby, He never leaves our side even when we don’t feel Him there. Never leaves, my friend. Never.
 
In Him,
Celeste
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.” Psalm 34:17

I have found myself ugly crying before God on many occasions. You know… the kind of cry that comes up from your soul. The kind of cry that you wouldn’t want anyone except God seeing. You have been there at some point in your life, I’m sure. I’ve actually apologized to God for being such an ugly crier. And then started laughing at myself for being so ridiculous. He must find us so humorous and wonderfully silly sometimes. Because despite our human bodies and nature of this world, God has it all in His hands and completely under control. We can wail and weep and be in despair (and this is a healthy response if not made into a way of life), but God is ultimately hoping we will have faith and complete trust in Him.
 
Where do my stories come from? From everyday experiences that I know others have been through too. From the Spirit – truth be told. They are from the depths of despair all the way to great joy. They are from experiences God planned out for me; though painful sometimes, they have matured me beyond my years and strengthened my faith. It is a calling to share them.  
 
What do I do with my pain, my experiences, my daily life? I compliment someone who looks like they’ve lost their best friend. I pay for the meal of the person behind me in the line at the drive-through restaurant. I pray deeply for others.  I give cards of encouragement. I post spiritual thoughts. I give money to those in need. I give tirelessly to my children. I forgive. I “let my light shine so that they may see His good works and glorify our Father.” (And I share this ONLY to inspire you in Christ and never to boast.)  These, and many more things, amaze me every time – I’m humbled and lifted up at the same time. I feel power in Christ and know He is using me for His glory. I stop ugly crying and start feeling empowered and at peace.
 
Hoping this finds you empowered and at peace,
Celeste
“You have collected all my tears in your bottle.” Psalm 56:8
 
 

She is just in her mid-40s and so debilitated that putting in a load of laundry is a huge drain on her energy. She has lost her job due to her inability to function. She has many illnesses which all combined have wreaked havoc on her whole system. But, she is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.

I think of her often and just as often, pray. I know that “things can always be worse”, and I keep perspective on bumps in the road by remembering her. Even on her worst days, she still takes the time and energy to text me something encouraging or that she is praying for me or asks how I am. Even when the medical profession has given up the ability to do much to help her, she has not given up. She has realized God has a plan for her life. She uses the resources she has to do the Lord’s work despite her condition. She is one of the most Spiritual people I know.
  
On days when I think, “I just can’t today,” I think of her. She is one of my motivators. If she can still think of me (in her misery), pray for me, encourage me, and remind me of the goodness of God, then surely I can (with my health) carry on. We all have moments of needing rest and feeling sad or depressed for one reason or another and this is normal. But once that feeling has past and we have had time to process…Yes you can get up go on, yes you can love one another, yes you can take time to encourage someone less fortunate, yes you can pray for the suffering, yes you can build someone else up, yes you can forgive, yes you can do a good deed. God isn’t done with you yet.
​
Though we don’t understand everything that happens in this world, we have our Father to lean on. Always. He loves us more than we could ever comprehend. The power that raised Jesus from the dead in alive in us through the Spirit. Feel it, know it, live it. And tell yourself today and every day, “Yes, you can!”
 
In Him,
Celeste
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13  
 
  

​Have you ever felt unloved?  Feeling unloved is one of the worst feelings in the world.  I supposed we have all been there at one time or another.  The break-up of a relationship, being let go from a job, being yelled at by a friend or loved one, being left out of the loop, or worse than that, feeling unloved inside a relationship.  Feeling unloved can make people bitter or it can do the opposite and catapult someone into action so that others feel loved. 
 
For years my Dad has said, “Don’t forget who loves you.”  He came from a place as a child where he felt very unloved.  So, he wants to be sure his children know he loves them.  But more than the words that come out of his mouth, is action.  Love is an action.  When he says he’ll be there, he’s there.  When his children need anything that’s within his power, he’s helping with a smile on.  And even when there is something not within his power, he’s deeply praying. 
 
My challenge to you is to be like my Dad.  Don’t become bitter because you have been unloved.  Pass love forward in the biggest way you know how, so that someone else can be spared from the miserable feeling.  Let people know you love them by your actions.  It will come back around to you in big ways – watch for it, because it will happen.
 
Remember who first loved you. Remember who loves you more than you love your best friend, son or daughter, mom or dad, brother or sister.  He’s your Father.  He’s always there, always listening, always caring, always watching.  Ever compassionate, ever merciful, ever forgiving, ever loving.  He sent His son to die for you.  Unfathomable.  But true. 
 
Don’t forget who’s holding your hand.  Don’t forget who carries you through the tough times.  Don’t forget who your blessings come from.  Don’t forget who catches your tears.  Don’t forget who loves you.         
 
With the love of our Lord,
Celeste
“The Lord your God is with you.  The Mighty One who saves; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”  Zephaniah 3:17
 
  

She was a pretty thing even with her wings beaten up.  This, against-all-odds, butterfly landed on the top of my car and I noticed her as I got in to leave for work one day.  My brain almost dismissed her as just a “pretty little butterfly”, but the closer I looked, she was extraordinary.  There she sat with her wings at attention, high above her body, as if she were very proud of them.  But the tips of the wings were missing.  They had been torn away by something.  She had been through a lot – poor little lady.  Nonetheless, there she was, alive, in her beautiful multi-colored glow, moving her wings as if to say, “You’re not getting rid of me that easily,” and “I’m as useful as ever – look at me go!”   
 
Well, she clearly was “useful as ever”.  She was an instant lesson for me.  She showed up to make me smile despite her less-than-perfect state.  She was actually more helpful to me looking like an old jalopy than a sparkling red Corvette.  We have all felt that way at one time or another – worn down, beaten up by life, barely hanging in.  Somehow though, we get back up, keep on going, smile anyway, and show up.  That “somehow” is God.  He gives us strength.  He gives us beauty instead of ashes.  He gives us purpose in spite of the pain we have endured. 
 
The sweet, triumphant, broken little butterfly gave me huge inspiration for the day.  Despite my scrapes, bruises, and less than perfect life, I held my head high, showed up and showed out in hopes that I, too, could inspire someone. What a simple reminder of God’s love through the creation of a precious, beautifully broken butterfly.
 
In Christ alone,
Celeste
“…bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”  Isaiah 61:3