Carla

Pollard

Contributing Writer

Carla Pollard is a freelance Christian speaker and writer from Chesterfield, Virginia. She holds a B.A. in Philosophy and Religion and is certified as a Professional Christian Life Coach. Carla has a deep passion to reach others with a message of hope. Through her ministry, Created to Climb (C2C), she helps area homeless shelters, and women and children in need, by providing personal hygiene products, school supplies, and winter wear.

Carla’s unique messages inspire and instruct others to:

Open their eyes and encounter God in life-changing ways
Believe in the power of Christ to redeem their past and heal their pain
Discover their God-given gifts and purpose
Fulfill their heavenly calling through goal-setting
Discover the joy of intimacy with Jesus through Bible study and prayer

An encourager at heart, Carla’s messages focus on breaking the chains of sadness, fear, and rejection enabling others to live lives filled with God’s love, acceptance, and affirmation. Her works have appeared in CBN Daily Devotions, Power for Living, The Bible Advocate, Together with God and P31 Woman magazine. Her motto is “Be faithful to Jesus; He’s faithful to you.”

You may enjoy keeping up with Carla through her blog, Created to Climb, at www.carlagpollard.com and on Facebook, and Twitter.

More from Carla Pollard

Lord, Get Me off this Roller Coaster!

Sow the Seeds Where You Are

Hudson Taylor, the famous missionary credited with opening China to the gospel, said of his labors, “I have found that there are three stages in every great work of God: first, it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done.” Hudson Taylor worked for many years before the people of the Orient were open to hearing about Jesus. Some say he was a special man who accomplished a special work. He spread the seed of God’s word to any who would listen. He trusted God to cause the seed to spring up in each hearer’s heart.

When I heard Hudson Taylor’s story, I thought, “I could never be a missionary.” I was so sure God would call me to another country where I would have to learn a new language and deal with some difficult situations and hardships. But I soon learned the call to His missionary work is not left to a few chosen men and women. Jesus calls us all.

Before Jesus ascended back to heaven, He said,

“Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature”
Mark 16:15 And then he told them, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
(KJV).

His call to action may never lead you to some faraway land. Your mission field may be within the four walls of your home. Or on your job. Or in the supermarket. Or to the couple next door. Our commission is to tell our sons and daughters, husbands, co-workers and neighbors all the great things Christ has done for us.

We have been given the amazing task of sharing the Good News that Jesus, God’s own son, died for our sins, was buried and rose again on the third day so that we could be forgiven and receive newness of life. Hurting, lonely, and sin-sick people all around us need to hear God’s message of hope. We have been blessed with the great task of spreading the seed of God’s word. We don’t need to travel to the other side of the world to fulfill our calling to the mission field. All we need to do is sow the seed right where we are.

It may not be comfortable to be a seed-bearer.

shows us that seed-bearing may cause tears,

“He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed ...”

But it carries the promise of an abundant harvest,

“… shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”
Psalms 126:6 They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
(KJV)

Jesus said,

“... Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.”
John 4:35 You know the saying, `Four months between planting and harvest.' But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe* for harvest. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
(KJV)

No travel required. Just eyes to see the open doors, ears to hear the Great Commission, and a heart to answer his call. Will you accept your call today and look for someone to share his message of redemption with? “Lift up your eyes”, Jesus said, and welcome to your mission field.

Dear Father, thank you for your grace, which you have abundantly poured out upon our lives. Because of your great love for us, please grant us courage and determination to share your message of redemption with the people you have placed around us. Prepare their hearts and provide the opportunity. Help us not to shrink back in fear. We don’t want to be silent when you open a door. Help us to have the words we need to touch their hearts. Thank you in advance for your work in our lives regarding the call to share your Good News. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Refreshing Relief of Rejoicing

During the six years I spent raising my son alone, both my parents died of cancer, my divorce became final, and my brother had a brain tumor removed. I prayed, worked, cared for my family, and went to church, all while trying to make my son’s world seem as normal as possible.

Every morning the sun came up and I did what needed to be done. It seemed no one noticed the heavy burdens I carried. At times, the pressure built to where I thought the world was crushing me as it rested on my shoulders.

Through those difficult years, I learned, like the Apostle Paul, to be content and face each day with renewed strength. I may fail from time to time, but I soon regroup and regain the victory through Jesus.

Today, are you bearing life-altering burdens? Are you afraid one more struggle — one more small-hair of a problem — will break you? Do you feel buried beneath the load wondering if anyone cares or even notices?

Take courage, Dear One, Jesus knows and Jesus cares. He holds the power to ease your burdens. He holds the key to your strength during difficult days. You can rely on Him when troubles come.

Paul, writing to the church at Philippi, said he overcame the sufferings he experienced because of Christ’s strength fortifying his will to trust and endure. This strength and trust rose up in the heart of the Apostle and shouted,

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
Philippians 4:13 For I can do everything through Christ,* who gives me strength. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
(KJV)

But how do we access Christ’s strength when we face hardships? The same way Paul did. We access Christ’s strength through rejoicing.

Chained in a dark prison cell, Paul and Silas began to sing and thank God after being beaten and battered. As praise rose in their hearts and rejoicing flowed from their lips, Christ released His strength into their wills. God worked a miracle and many were saved because what went on in Paul and Silas’ hearts proved more powerful than their bonds.

In the middle of our struggles, it is easy to forget our Christian experience has more to do with what is going on inside us than what is going on around us. Christ’s strength is released when we stop and rejoice in Him. As we rejoice, we are refreshed and relieved during times of hardships.

Rejoicing refreshes us because it shifts our focus from our difficulties and places it on Jesus — the One who walks above the raging sea of life.

Rejoicing relieves us because it substantiates our faith by shouting to our burdens, “I have faith in God, Who is good and Who is good to me, no matter what difficulties may come. I am and will be victorious through Him.”

When we rejoice, we are showing those around us God is faithful, and we trust Him.

Through rejoicing in Jesus, I stand victorious over those difficult years. Through rejoicing in Jesus, I greet the morning with a song of praise to my God. Through rejoicing, I face each day with renewed hope and trust in God’s promises.

This same strength is available to you. What has God promised you? Has He promised you deliverance? Or victory? Has He promised you ministry? Or healing? Has He promised you forgiveness? Or security?

God is willing and able to keep His word regardless of your circumstances. Continue to hold fast to His promise because what God has promised He will fulfill. In fact,

“… all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, …”
2 Corinthians 1:20 For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding "Yes!" And through Christ, our "Amen" (which means "Yes") ascends to God for his glory. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
(NKJV)

And that, Dear One, is something to rejoice about.

Through rejoicing, you can experience Christ’s strength and the refreshing relief of trusting Him Who is able to guide you safely through life’s gravest difficulties.

“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.”
Philippians 4:4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
(KJV)

Lay It before God as His Will

As I opened the cabinet doors my eyes fell on the glassware my mother had accumulated over the years. It was an eclectic mix of both modern and antique. I recognized everyday pieces that functioned well and held up under routine use, but behind those pieces sat some extremely fragile glassware that at one time donned the shelves of my grandmother’s home.

My mother had died and I was left to sort through her things. I dreaded this day. I was hoping somehow it would take care of itself. As I stood in her kitchen my mind’s echo of the sound of her footsteps on the hardwood floor promised to bring her whisking back into the room. But it was not to be.

Memories rushed in as I sorted the glassware, discarding what I considered of little value and keeping the more sentimental and priceless pieces. I couldn’t help but feel like I was sorting through the remnants of her life. It was hard to face the fact that she wouldn’t be coming home, but it was time to move forward. So I sorted and I packed. When I was finished I walked out of an empty apartment, closed the door behind me, and headed off to the local thrift store.

Sometimes God brings us to a place where we need to let go and move forward.

“… Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus”
Philippians 3:13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it,* but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
b-14 NIV.

Sometimes we need to accept the fact that things have changed and our will may be at odds with His.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will”
Romans 12:2 Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)
NIV.

Just like I packed up even the most fragile of my mother’s belongings and took them to the thrift store, we need to pack up our most fragile dreams and desires and take them to our Heavenly Father, always keeping in mind He desires the very best for us.

Holding on to my mother’s things could never bring her home. She was in the presence of Jesus, healed and whole. God’s will was for her to go even though I desired for her to stay.

Points to Ponder

Are you holding on to something that’s keeping you from accepting God’s will?

Has He brought you to the place where you need to pack up your desires and embrace His?

Is Jesus asking you to lay them at His feet so that He can move you from your past toward your purpose?

If so, then Dear One, take it to Jesus once and for all; He has a wonderful future in store for His children.

Prayer

Dear Lord, Help me place those hard-to-let-go-of desires in your loving hands. Forgive me for stubbornly wanting what I want and not releasing my will to yours. Thank you for allowing me to realize your desires are always better than mine. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.