Author Archives: Cristin Tamburello

Lately, I’ve really been trying to view my life as a race. It helps me stay focused, knowing Who and what I’m running for. It also helps me remember that this life is temporary and I’m only passing through.  1 Corinthians 9:24 tells us to always run as if we are striving for firstContinue reading “Running the Race”

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭4‬ ‭(NKJV‬‬) When trying to envision walking through a valley, here’s what comes to mind: It’s a very low place, with rugged terrain andContinue reading “The Valley”

“For we are powerless against this great multitude which is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.” 2 Chronicles‬ ‭20‬:‭12‬ ‭(AMP) I once prayed with a woman who kept crying out the words, “I just don’t know what to do” over and over again. It wasContinue reading “Our Eyes Are On You”

I was randomly thinking about how algorithms work on social media. You just keep getting more of what you give your attention to, right? If you start clicking on specific things, more of the same things will continue to show up. It made me think of our relationship with God—it only deepens as we giveContinue reading “Algorithms”

“So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭58‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) This is one I feel I need to read and meditate on often lately. It’s far too easy to lose sight ofContinue reading “Who Really Matters”

Choose the narrow gate. “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.” Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭(NLT‬‬)Continue reading “The Narrow Gate”

Drowning. Life can sure feel that way at times. Like you’re barely keeping your head above the water. Like you’re losing the strength to swim—to fight. Like the water is starting to make its way into your lungs and you’re gasping for air. Like you’re about to give up and you can only hope toContinue reading “Drowning”

“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭2‬:‭13‬ ‭(NKJV)‬‬ Jeremiah 2:13 speaks to forsaking God—the fountain of living waters, and replacing Him with carnal solutions—broken cisterns. It illustrates people turning from God to seek fulfillmentContinue reading “Broken Cisterns”

I woke up this morning with such a strong urge to write about weakness. I really wanted to share a word of encouragement for anyone who might be feeling weak—mainly because I was wrestling with it myself all weekend. I’ll never be ashamed to admit how weak I feel at times. To me, it onlyContinue reading “Weakness”

I was studying at the library while I was waiting for my daughters to get out of a class. I would love to share some of my notes because they’re just so good. Psychoanalysis tells us to look inward and backward—to dig in and trace back. But God tells us to look forward and upward—lettingContinue reading “Forward & Upward”

It’s funny how I’ll sit down in the morning with a cup of coffee, excited and ready to write, and then suddenly I’m faced with the dreaded writer’s block. It’s like my mind either goes completely blank or is too cluttered for me to focus—usually the latter. Then I’ll do something as small as justContinue reading “Beautiful and Purposeful”

When it feels like the world is against you, remember that God is still on your side. That is where your strength should come from. Romans 8:31 (NKJV) says, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” And Hebrews 13:6 (NLT) tells us that we can say with confidence, “The Lord is myContinue reading “God is For You”

“Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.” Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭16‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) I’m in the book of Romans a lot. Not only because it’s a personal favoriteContinue reading “Spiritual Reality Check”

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬-‭4 (NLT)‬‬ Romans 5:3-4 is yet another passage in the Bible that tells us to rejoice in our troubles. ItContinue reading “Rejoice”

I inadvertently came across this verse recently, but boy did I need to read it and share it with some others. Genesis 50:20 (NLT) – “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” I sure canContinue reading “Intended For Good”

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬ ‭(NLT‬‬) This is an open invitation for you to come find rest in the Lord Jesus Christ. He’s inviting you into a personal relationship with Him. He’s inviting you to comeContinue reading “He Will Give You Rest”

Let’s quickly talk about being overwhelmed. I’ve been feeling pretty overwhelmed lately—not so much from bad things, but just from too many things. Just a lot of stress and changes happening all at once in my life. I was just about to turn to the Bible to see what God had to say to meContinue reading “Overwhelming Goodness of God”

“Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses,Continue reading “Please, Lord”

“But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭11‬:‭3‬ ‭(NKJV)‬‬ I just love this verse so much. It really speaks volumes—“the simplicity that is in Christ.” We tend to really overcomplicate religion, don’t we? AllContinue reading “Simplicity of Christ”

I recently came across something in my counseling studies that I would love to share. Isaiah 42:3 is a messianic prophetic passage that is later fulfilled in Matthew 12:20. The NLT version reads like this: “He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Finally He will cause justice to beContinue reading “Flicker of Faith”

As I was preparing for a coaching session with someone recently, I started studying laments. In the dictionary, a lament is defined as a passionate expression of grief or sorrow. In a more biblical sense, a lament is defined as a prayer in pain that leads to trust—meaning that it’s a deep and powerful expressionContinue reading “Lamenting”

Very often when I’m trying to think of what I want to write about and share next, I start with how I’m feeling. Lately, I’ve really been feeling like I just try too hard at life. It’s hard to explain exactly what I mean by that, but I guess just the sense that I tryContinue reading “Content and Humble”

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” ‭‭James‬Continue reading “Joy in Troubles”

When you read through the Bible, you’ll notice how it doesn’t ever try to hide or downgrade the hardships and the struggles of those who are in it—rather, it magnifies them. They are continuously used as demonstrations of God’s transformative power. They display for us how God uses imperfect people in the most perfect ways.Continue reading “Lessons in Trials”

You are not failing, you are fighting. Every time you start to feel like you are failing—whether it’s with your emotions, your relationships, your job, your finances, your recovery, or anything that life throws at you—replace the word failing with the word fighting. You are not failing, you are fighting—and God is fighting with you.Continue reading “Don’t Give Up”