Author: Carol Gibbs

I hope you know that the majority of people in United States are kind and compassionate people. We have a heart for the world and believe that every human being has value and a purpose. We care about those who are impoverished and hungry, the sick living without medical attention, people existing in war-like conditions and those who suffer from other forms of injustice and we desire to do all that we can to offer support.

Sadly, things are changing very rapidly in our country. Over the last few months, we have been over-taken by a government that thinks differently than most Americans. They care only about flexing their power over others and it is causing hardship and chaos here and abroad.

I know many of you in the world understand this. You have lived under similar or worse conditions for decades. What we are experiencing here is new to the United States. Americans are extremely distressed about the lack of compassion and wisdom that our leadership is displaying. We know that you are being dramatically affected by their decisions. For that, we are truly sorry.

Please join us in prayer. Pray for reconciliation in our country, in our world . Pray for peace.

May God come to our rescue. 
Carol Marchant Gibbs

Stories Changing Lives

This season, I have been reading a wonderful Advent devotional that has spoken very powerfully to my heart, Making Room in Advent, by Bette Dickinson.

Today, Dickinson shares about the humble arrival of Jesus on this earth. He entered the world unlike the king they were expecting…quietly and without fanfare. Though He came for all people, His entire life reflected His heart for those who were marginalized. 

Here is an excerpt from her book:

 “The shepherds show us that we don’t prepare to meet the king of heaven the same way we prepare to meet the celebrities of our day, through earthly displays of showiness. In fact, receiving our king requires we do just the opposite: we must empty ourselves of any human glory that gets in our way of receiving the heavenly one. We must instead, journey to the margins because it is there where the veil  to heaven becomes thin enough to glimpse the Divine.”

May you have a glimpse of the Divine this season. 

Merry Christmas!

Carol Marchant Gibbs

Stories Changing Lives

Christmas is a very special time of year. The beautiful lights, the gifts, the wrapping, the music, the baking, and the gatherings, all help us to celebrate the season. 

But, are we really celebrating? 

If you find yourself frustrated by the hustle and bustle; crowded stores, lack of parking spaces, crazy driving, and the endless search for the perfect gifts… you probably are missing the the joy of the season. 

It doesn’t help that much of the advertising  instills in us a false sense of urgency to shop. I noticed Christmas lights up well before Halloween this year. Black Friday sales that used to occur after Thanksgiving are now beginning in the Fall. We panic… Christmas is coming!!!! And the frenzy begins. 

And though we have checked our lists and accomplished all that we need to, are we really ready when Christmas arrives? How is your heart? Are you relieved when Christmas is over?

This season, I pray that you just stop for a moment. Take a breath and allow time to reflect on the things that matter most in your life; family, friends, faith.

May God bless you with love , joy and peace this season and always. 

Christmas blessings,

Carol Marchant Gibbs

Stories Changing Lives

As the four year anniversary of my husband’s passing approaches, I am acutely aware of the grief that I carry. I do not always feel the pain of his loss. There are many moments where I feel joy in the sweet memories of him. This season seems to include both.

In those moments of grief, I pray that God would remind me of the beauty of my life …with my late husband in the past, with my family and friends in the present, and in my hope for the future.

Everyone has experienced grief at some time. My prayer is that God would help us to remember our lives with joy, this season and always.

Have a beautiful holiday season,
Carol Marchant Gibbs

Stories Changing Lives

As the holidays quickly approach, many of us will attempt to get into better shape in order to prepare for the extra pounds that seem to find us over the season. The holiday celebrations seem to provide an over abundance. We are inundated with excess; too much food, drink, too many gifts and we spend the remainder of the year trying to shed it all. 

This is not the case for many in the world. According to the World Health Organization, 1 out of 11 people are experiencing hunger; 733 million people. In some countries, it is as high as 1 out of 5. Hunger related deaths exceed 9 million people a year, many of which are children under the age of 5. Thirty- five percent of our global population cannot afford a healthy diet because the cost is prohibitive. 

This does not just occur in developing nations. Thirteen and a half percent of households in the United States are experiencing food insecurity.  Their economic and social condition gives them limited or uncertain access to safe and nutritious food. 

But, there is hope…
There is enough food to feed the world if allocated in a balanced way. 

I love to celebrate the holidays. The memories created by gathering around the table with family and friends has had no equal for me.

But, this year… I also want to remember those who are experiencing hunger and food insecurity and do something about it. 

There are many organizations whose primary focus is to address world hunger. There are also local businesses that collect food and distribute it to those in need. 

If each of us do just one thing to help others this season, it can make a world of a difference. 

Thank you for doing your part to live generously. 

Carol Marchant Gibbs

Stories Changing Lives

My mother-in-law used to have a profound saying, “Don’t put up your umbrella before it rains.”

If you are a person prone to worry, and I am a mother so I am an expert in that field, this simple statement speaks volumes.

I love deeply and can choose to worry deeply, as well. I can worry about things that potentially might happen, many of which never come to fruition or I can evaluate past experiences, searching for better solutions. What words should I have spoken? What should I have done? Both approaches are quite exhausting and often fruitless. 

It’s funny how the things we can choose to worry about aren’t even a memory for other people. The matter has been resolved in their minds and they’ve moved on. Why can’t I? 

What I am learning is that not everyone is as sensitive as I am. People don’t always respond to experiences the same way and I have a choice as to how I respond. I could continue to belabor present and past challenges or I could accept that my efforts to love people are genuine and I could release the burden of carrying issues. It’s my decision. 

I’ve also learned that I am not in charge of the universe. There are things that only God can do. So, I choose to trust that God sees my heart to love people to the best of my human ability and He is going to do what only He can do to enter into every relationship and guide me through this incredible journey called life. 

Lowering the Umbrella, 

Carol Marchant Gibbs 

Stories Changing Lives

I asked God to tell me what he wants for my life…and this is what I heard:

“Live each day to the fullest.

Savor every sweet moment. 

Be brave in the face of challenge and rise up to meet it with all of your strength.

Love unconditionally, never holding back.

Seek what is best for others.

Always remember…you are deeply loved .

Seek all that I have for you, for my gifts are eternal.”

Live well my friends,

Carol Marchant Gibbs

Stories Changing Lives

Life does not always look the way we anticipated it would. We can plan and plan only to arrive at a future that is not what we imagined. In an attempt to recapture our dream, we rush forward, investing all of our efforts into accomplishing that which we believe is the best for us.  A destination is in view and we chase after it with a vengeance. We desire to claim that life we believe should be ours; to be settled, to be content. When that doesn’t happen, we become frustrated and very discouraged. 

Desiring our lives to be tied up in sweet little packages with ribbons fastened securely is not necessarily a bad thing. We all need to have goals… to have hope. But when we rush forward trying to get immediate results, it is like riding a rapidly moving train. The immense speed causes us to fail to take in the beautiful scenery along the way. We miss the growth necessary to receiving all that our destination holds for us; the people and the precious moments with them. 

I confess that I would love for my life to be tied up in sweet little packages with ribbons fastened securely but it’s not. Are there beautiful moments along the journey? Absolutely! There are many, but I have to slow the train down in order to see the incredible view before me.

My prayer for all of us is that we would not miss the best parts of life because we are looking to what is coming up in the distance. I understand completely how difficult it is to be patient but we experience far more of life when we try to live in the moment.

May God give us all that we need to live our present life with hope. 

Living in the moment, 

Carol Marchant Gibbs

“Life doesn’t always look the way you think it should but it is beautiful just the same.” God

Stories Changing Lives

Did you ever wake up one morning and wonder how you arrived at your position in life? 

Whether you’re married, single, widowed or divorced, there are times that the life we are living does not reflect what we actually planned or strived for and we find ourselves in unfamiliar territory and very fearful. 

From 870 BC to 810 BC, Elijah was called by God to be a prophet. The people had wandered away from God and were struggling, so out of His love for them, God sent Elijah to woo them back to Him.  

Elijah followed God faithfully and often found himself in dangerous situations. One day, fear overtook him and he chose to run for his life. Elijah hid in a cave on Mt. Horeb, the “Mountain of God.”  It was there that he had a powerful encounter with God. 

“What are you doing here”? God asked him.
Elijah poured out his heart to God, sharing all of his fears and God responded in a powerful way.  

11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. 

Then, a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

(I Kings19:11-13) New International Version

God made His tangible presence known to Elijah. He was at his lowest point and God showed up in a profound way to encourage him to go forward with confidence that God cared and would always be there for him. 

There are many experiences that happen through our life time that can cause us to want to “run”. Sometimes, life feels utterly out of control. Where do you go when your circumstances feel impossible? Do you disconnect from everyone you know and love? Life can be hard, don’t do it alone. Confide in a trusted friend. Allow God to meet you in those moments. Choose to listen for that small whisper. He is waiting for you.

Listening,

Carol Marchant Gibbs 

Stories Changing Lives