Author Archives: Cristin Tamburello

Something that really stood out to me, and left a lasting impact, was watching the hawks as I peered down into the canyon from the overlooks above. It was remarkable to see things the way they do, to take in their size, their beauty, and the quiet assurance in the way they moved. I rememberContinue reading “Soaring Above”

Being on top of a mountain, looking out over the valley below, had me thinking deeply about the goodness of God. Being up there felt triumphant—like standing in a place I wasn’t sure I’d ever reach. As I looked down at the valley, it felt like I was seeing the story of how far GodContinue reading “The Mountain and the Valley”

I took this picture during a recent nature walk, and it stands out to me every time I see it in my camera roll. This lonely bench looks so inviting, and it screams such a loud message—as though it’s saying, please come take a seat, rest, pray, cry, breathe, let it all out. It remindsContinue reading “The Lonely Bench”

“Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.”2 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭10‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) Paul wrote this as part of a letter to the church in Corinth, where some members mocked him for his suffering, viewing his weakness as aContinue reading “He is Enough”

I often picture a vivid scene in my mind. The imagery is intense. There’s a raging storm near a lonely shore. It’s dark and bitterly cold. Barren trees cling to the ground, fighting for life against the wind. Branches snap, and debris whirls dangerously through the air. Rain lashes sideways—the kind that would sting yourContinue reading “My Rock”

Wall. You’ve hit it hard—headfirst into something you can’t move past. No doors. No windows. No way through. Just cold, unyielding stone staring back at you. You can’t turn around, and forward is impossible. The air grows thin as the wall seems to draw closer and closer. You’re trapped—ensnared, smothered, stagnant. It crowds you untilContinue reading “Hitting a Wall”

Life has a way of breaking us. Sometimes it happens suddenly; other times, it starts as a small crack that slowly deepens until it finally gives way. The plans we made, the dreams we hoped for, the people we trusted—broken, leaving us gasping for air in the wreckage. But when our hearts shatter, the presenceContinue reading “Broken”

It seems like almost every day, a squirrel darts out in front of my car while I’m driving. I’m always gripped by the anticipation of what it will do next. Most of the time, it stops in the middle of the road, hesitates, and then runs right back to where it started. Every time, IContinue reading “Squirrel in the Road”

Sunflowers have always been one of my favorite flowers. Not only do they resemble the sun, but younger sunflowers also follow the sun through a phenomenon called heliotropism. One of the reasons they do this is to maximize photosynthesis for growth. This really got me comparing that to our relationship with God—thinking of the sunContinue reading “Sunflowers”

“Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭17‬:‭8‬ (‭NKJV‬‬)

Once a year, my daughters and I fly to New York to visit family. Of course, we book a row of three seats, and the prized window seat has never lost its charm after all these years. The girls take turns—one on the way there, the other on the way back—which always leaves me inContinue reading “The Middle Seat”

This morning, I simply wanted to write about love. It’s a word we all know, but in Scripture it carries a weight far deeper than sentiment. Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love God, and the second is to love others. These aren’t just rules to follow—they are the heartbeat of the entire Bible.Continue reading “Love”

“If only you would prepare your heart and lift up your hands to him in prayer! Get rid of your sins, and leave all iniquity behind you. Then your face will brighten with innocence. You will be strong and free of fear. You will forget your misery; it will be like water flowing away. YourContinue reading “A Life Lifted in Prayer”

I get asked a lot how to pray. I’ve noticed that many people are intimidated by it, which holds them back from talking to God—because that’s essentially all prayer is: a conversation with God. You may feel as if your prayers aren’t good enough, or maybe you’re just not sure what to say. You mayContinue reading “Prayer”

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭ Instead of being ruled by anxiety, Paul urges us to trade it inContinue reading “Surrender”

If you’re feeling close to giving up… Remember that God delights in new beginnings. What feels like an ending to you, may be the beginning of something new that God is doing in your life. Hang on. “For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?Continue reading “Hang On”

When you’re in a season that nobody seems to understand,it can feel like your closest friends have turned into strangers. Even your own family seems blinded to your pain. It’s a lonely place where silence echoes louder than words.The ache of being unseen cuts very deep. The psalmist David knew this place well too.In PsalmContinue reading “The Lord is All We Need”

Sometimes the hardest part of the fight isn’t the battle itself—it’s what we’re up against. It’s what we’re fighting for. WHO we’re fighting for. Unfortunately, we don’t physically see the spiritual realm—all we see are our struggles: bills stacking up, bank accounts being drained, the conflicts in our relationships, the anxiety that keeps us awakeContinue reading “The Fight”

Ordinary. I sort of detest that word. I’ve never felt like I was built for the ordinary. The ordinary has always felt wasteful, boring, fleeting. I see this great big world, and here I am—a little speck of nothing in my ordinary life. Those thoughts stir up some negative feelings, which always come with convictionContinue reading “The Ordinary”

When starting a new endeavor or journey—in my case, biblical counseling and a stronger pursuit of writing—it’s normal to wrestle with fear, doubt, and apprehension. It’s scary to put yourself out there and chase dreams. The exposure and vulnerability can feel so overwhelming at times. You open yourself to the judgment of others—friends, family, evenContinue reading “Still Small Voice”

Do you ever feel that when things are going well, you can’t fully enjoy them because you’re just bracing for something bad to happen and ruin it? And when things aren’t going well, does it seem as if they’ll never get better? It’s as though we rob ourselves of joy by foreboding it. Why doContinue reading “Foreboding Joy”

“When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, ‘Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.’” Luke‬ ‭5‬:‭4‬ ‭(NLT‬) The story behind this verse really makes me pause and reflect. Jesus was preaching along the shore of the Sea of Galilee when He noticed a coupleContinue reading “Go Deeper”

What is humility? This world teaches us to look cool, crave the spotlight, prove ourselves, get ahead, and outshine others—but the Bible teaches us quite the opposite. It calls us to humility. It points us to Jesus—the One who humbled Himself even to the point of death. Humility is kneeling before the Lord rather thanContinue reading “Humility”

I was sitting in my car, waiting for my daughter to get out of a class, feeling as if I’m just not entirely sure about anything anymore. Sometimes everything seems so fragile, unsteady, and uncertain. It’s like I don’t quite know where I’m going or what I’m doing. It can leave me so uneasy. ButContinue reading “My Constant”

Sometimes my writing inspiration comes from just one single word. It’s as if God plants something so simple in my mind and says, “Here—work with that. Write about that.” Today, that word is cling. It comes from my constant hunger for, and complete reliance on, Jesus. As I go through my days and my life,Continue reading “Cling”