Author: carriedinthecross

I am a young woman who grew up in British Columbia. In BC was all I ever wanted; I had my poodle (Max) and all my friends, Saturdays at the Vancouver Aquarium and Sunday afternoons at one of my favorite beaches it was paradise. But God had a different plan for my life and my dad's job landed us in Alberta and now where I remain, in small town Souris Manitoba. The transitions from paradise to prairie were difficult and I will admit that now 10 years later I still refer to home as Abbotsford BC. Through this crazy pathway trek across Canada I have had one true constant, God; and though none of it was easy, everything that has happened in my life has formed in me a true lasting friendship with the one I call Immanuel. Because no matter how far from home we are God is with us, and thanks to God I have found an almost completely over looked beauty in Manitoba. If you open your eyes you will see that God has planted wondrous things everywhere you go.

April 2, 2026 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

Psalms 42:7 NIV
[7] Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.
Growing up in BC I developed a passion for water. Streams, the ocean, waterfalls, rivers, crystal clear lakes. I was always known for being wet. For spending my time in the water. Fully dressed I would run into the water, just happy to be near it. Something about it drew me in. It still does. My college days in Castlegar BC I got into the habit of just having my swim suit with me, because I knew there would be sparkling water and I wouldn’t be able to keep out of it.
God is supposed to be like that for us. A constant draw to be with Him. Closer to Him. Deeper into His presence. As the Psalmist says earlier in this chapter, “when can I go and be with God?” We are meant to hunger after Him in that way. Unable to be far from Him because we desire His presence.
We are supposed to be drawn to Him like a wild animal is drawn to water.
Are we though? When we the last time you desired above all else to be near God?

Take away:

We are supposed to desire God. To walk away drenched by His spirit. But we settle for shallow water, ankle deep only.
Dive in instead. Be lost to the current of His peace and grace. Don’t settle for the shore. Get wet!
Seek Him with passion and love.

Devotional

Psalms 41:13 NIV [13] Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.

April 1, 2026 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

Psalms 41:13 NIV
[13] Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen.

He really is. Everlasting I mean.
God has always been here. He’s always taken care of His people. We fall down. We mess up. He helps us and saves us. He isn’t swayed by the opinions of others. He isn’t down trodden by life. He’s God. Where we go, He goes. He is with us until the end of our days.

Take away:

God is always here and has always been here. He has seen it all and still loves us and saves us.

Christianity · Devotional · encouragement · guidance · lent · power of God · psalms

March 30, 2026 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

Psalms 40:4 NIV
[4] Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.

False gods show up in the most unlikely forms. I discovered during my college days that studying was a false god. I thought I would always succeed if I studied hard enough. I was relentless in studying, panicking if I did not meet my self proclaimed quota. I needed to be reminded that my success and strength come only from God. When I would put my notes away and rest I was honoring Him and acknowledging that He was the one who controlled every outcome.

We rely so heavily on things that are finite. We rely on people, technology, stuff, books. Yet all these things can have errors. The only one who is all knowing and all powerful is God. You really do not want anyone or anything to be placed before Him. Idols are not just offensive to God, they’re also useless. They take up time and thought and give you nothing in return. Trust Jesus. He’s got the answers.

Take away:

False gods and idols show up in the most unexpected places. They take our energy and time and run us down.
We must focus on Jesus instead. Spending time with Him gives us energy, strength, and the ability to keep going.
Watch out for the pit traps in your life, before you fall so deep you can’t get out.

Devotional

Psalms 39:7 NIV[7] “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.

March 29, 2026 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

Psalms 39:7 NIV
[7] “But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.
We always quote this verse as something happy, but in truth David was in agony before God when he wrote it. He begged God to show him his life’s end, he prayed that God would turn His face from him so his suffering would end. This was not a happy prayer.
Yet in the midst of all of that David reminded God that He was all David longed for, the only one whom he could rely on.
We all have days when we fear that we have made God mad. We like to think He never punishes us, but He does. Probably most of the hurt that happens in life is not a direct rebuke from God, but it sometimes is. I remember the one time I was mad about something that someone did and was complaining loudly to my mom about it, I felt I should stop but didn’t, then my hand closed on a wasp. Perhaps it was something else, but it looked like a wasp. I used to train horses so pain and I know each other well, and it’s no exaggeration to say this was one of the worst pains I have ever had. It lasted for several days. I really should have seen a doctor. I try to remember that day, because I fail God often and I never want to be rebuked or punished by Him.
Yet in the midst of our suffering, even if we are being reprimanded, we can run to Him and He will love us and save us, even from His own anger.

Take away:

Like a child who is bad and is punished, who then turns to their father and reaches up their arms and is swept up into a big safe hug; we too can turn to God, even when we are sure what we are going through is direct punishment for something we’ve done. He will still take us in His arms and love us.
A Father’s anger does not take away His love.

Christianity · Devotional · dreams do come true · encouragement · found · free · guidance · holy spirit · Jesus · lent · no longer lost · power of God · Prayer · psalms · searching · still fighting · The Bible · True Joy · Uncategorized

Psalms 38:21 NIV[21] Lord, do not forsake me; do not be far from me, my God.

March 28, 2026 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

Psalms 38:21 NIV
[21] Lord, do not forsake me; do not be far from me, my God.
There is nothing worse than being forsaken by God. Without Him there is nothing. Yet only one has ever been left by Him, and that one was Jesus. That day on the cross, in the worst suffering a person can endure, Jesus was left to die alone. Our sins. The one you had ten seconds ago, the sin you will have ten years from now, all of it was on Jesus that day and because of that He was forsaken by God. His Father had to turn His face away.
We sometimes feel so pained by life that we wonder what we have done to cause God to leave us. Possibly because that’s easier than thinking that God could possibly let us go through this.
Sometimes bad things happen because the world is broken and God permits them because He has a reason we do not and will not understand. Most things God protects us from though. There are battles for our lives happening ever day without us even knowing it. That thought doesn’t make the pain easier, but maybe it help to make the love of God clearer.

Take away:

God is stronger than the devil, but that does not mean that He is not sometimes delayed from saving us by him. Remember when the demon of Persia way laid the angel of Lord when he was coming tl rescue God’s anointed? It can happen.
When bad things come don’t blame God. Turn to Him. Pray even if you feel cold. Even if you have no answer and never will. Even if your faith is shattered. Keep seeking Him. He will pull you through.

Christianity · Devotional · Jesus · searching · encouragement · free · guidance · still fighting · found · psalms

Psalms 37:35 NIV[35] I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a luxuriant native tree,

March 27, 2026 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

Psalms 37:35 NIV
[35] I have seen a wicked and ruthless man flourishing like a luxuriant native tree,
I wonder of David was thinking of himself when he wrote this. He says he saw this man but he withered away and could not be found even though David looked for him. Perhaps he was thinking of a part of himself which he repented of. Perhaps not.
But it is a good point. Sometimes our former selves did better in this world then our Christian, God following selves.
There may have been better chances for promotion. You may have had more friends. Yet, when you chose Jesus, you died to that person who would fit in those groups. Choosing to leave all past behind you and seek Jesus instead.
We think of the verse about not being upset when the wicked prosper over us, as being about others, but what about who we were before letting Jesus change us. Sometimes we get upset when we think of how well the old us did in this life. Some days we may think unfair that following Jesus better means leaving things behind. But who God is, how He loves us, the way He provides, He is so much greater than anything you could have without Him.

Take away:

The verse above also leads on to say how David sought for the wicked man but could not find him.
When we die to the old us, that person us gone! We may seek them out, but we are better off if we don’t find them.

Christmas · Devotional · encouragement · found · free

Psalms 36:9 NIV[9] For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.

March 26, 2026 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

Psalms 36:9 NIV
[9] For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.
In God’s light we see light.
Light is a funny thing. You can be in a room fully lit and have someone turn on a flashlight and you cam see the light from flashlight even though the room isn’t dark. It’s because they are often two kinds of light. The flashlight beam is often a more powerful watt than the one in your ceiling lamp.
We are called to be light to this world, so in a way, we glow. But our light is minimal compared to that of the light of Jesus. We are like glow worms in contrast to the sun, if you compare our light to His.
We need His light for us to be able to shine at all!
He burns within us and shines to those around us through us.

Take away:

God is light. With Him there is no darkness. We are called to also be light. However, in our shining we have to make sure we are staying close to Jesus, because our light comes from Him.

Christianity · Devotional · encouragement · guidance · holy spirit · Jesus · power of God · Prayer · psalms

Psalms 35:14 NIV[14] I went about mourning as though for my friend or brother. I bowed my head in grief as though weeping for my mother.

March 25, 2026 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

Psalms 35:14 NIV
[14] I went about mourning as though for my friend or brother. I bowed my head in grief as though weeping for my mother.
David was never shy about calling for the destruction of his enemies. Yet at the same time he knew his position and God’s. He would call for God to bring them to justice and to destroy them, but he himself treated them as he felt God would want them treated. Now we aren’t speaking of war times or when he fighting to protect his kingdom, we are talking about personal attacks against him. Did David ask God that he would bring to ruin those who spoke maliciously against him? Yes. But then he reminds people that this is God’s job and that he treated those who were against him as a friend. I chose this verse out of the rest in this chapter because I am a ‘rain down fire from Heaven’ person. I would rather see my enemies destroyed before me and be able to walk away satisfied. Which of course is not what God wants.
Instead of seeking justice for myself I have to remember that justice is God’s department, and that I need to heap burning coals of love on those I want to bury in my flower bed, instead of hating them. Which is not fun and really, really hard. But that is what we are called to do. It makes me feel like the people in the beginning of that older sitcom show. “I can change, if I have to, I guess.”
Loving your enemies is really hard, and feel unfair, But God will strengthen you to do so.

Take away:

No one ever said that loving your enemies would be easy, but God makes it possible. Hopefully through how you treat them, they will change.

Devotional

Psalms 34:6 NIV[6] This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.

March 24, 2026 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

Psalms 34:6 NIV
[6] This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.
David was not poor in monetary ways or in possessions, not by a long shot, but he recognized that even with all his wealth he was poor when it came to any ability to save himself. David was the perfect example of how you cam have everything and still have nothing without God. He was rich, yet he relied on God. He was a great warrior, yet he relied on God. He was skilled in many things, yet he relied on God.
He could have relied on his abilities, the way Sampson threw out his anointing to rely on his own strength. But David knew that without God he would not be king. Without God the giant would not have fallen. Without God Saul would have caught and killed him. Without God he would never have survived a single battle.
So many sought David’s life. So many wanted him dead and to take his kingdom. He lasted so long because of God. God chose him to be part of the birth line of Jesus.
No matter how much you have. No matter how strong, brave, smart, skilled, attractive you are, you are lost without God.

Take away:

We sometimes grow discouraged when those who hate God are heavily successful and we feel we are struggling. Yet God is the answer to every problem and He will help us.
The wicked who succeeded have their inheritance already, this world and what it gives.
But the righteous who love Jesus, we have an eternal inheritance.
Do not be discouraged, God will help you in all you do!!

Devotional · encouragement · found · free · guidance · Jesus · lent · Love · no longer lost · power of God · Prayer · psalms · searching · still fighting · True Joy

March 22, 2026 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

Psalms 33:18 NIV
[18] But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
God cares for His people.
Read that again.
We hear and repeat those words so often that we forget the meaning. God Himself, care for you.
He watches us and keeps us safe. Even in times of trouble and terror God has us in His hands. Our hope is in the fact that God loves us and will take care of our needs. In truth, and this is hard, God does not always care for our wants. Sometimes He gives us what we want as a gift of love from a Father to a child, but we often we lose faith in Him on the times when He does not give us our wants and we forget the times when He has provided our needs.
I was reminded recently that we can build an alter to God even in the valley. That was really encouraging because I have felt like I am in the valley for a few days now. It’s a “why God?” Instead of a, “but God!” Moment. Then a friend said how she was marking down her blessings because she had seen how much she has, this was after spending two days in emergency not able to get in. But she lives like that. No eyes on the dark clouds, only on the ways to dance in the rain. God has permitted her to go through so much and yet every morning she takes special time to praise Him. I lack so much compared to her. To feel blessed in the middle of your stress may sound like a bumper sticker but it’s a good way to live. God has got you! He has a plan! You may never know why you spent this time in the valley, but God has a reason.

Take away:

Just because you are down does not mean that God has left you. Look around, you will see Him there reaching out His hand. Sometimes God speaks in the sunshine on a day that was supposed to rain. Sometimes He speaks through the laughter, in a time that should have brought pain. Sometimes He speaks in the “caught it just in time,” when you would rather it had not happened at all.
Sometimes the blessings are wrapped like a sugar coating on a pill. Something sweet to take a sting out of the bitter. But God will remind you He is there, you just have to look around.