Embrace the season of unseen

Embrace the moments
~ carlyriordan ~ Leave a comment

The word ‘unseen’ was the one I chose to frame 2020. A year to write, to develop confidence in the shadows, a year to dig deeper into a life of faith.

In March, this word ‘unseen’ took on an entirely different meaning for us all. I’d never have guessed that this is what ‘unseen’ could look like. 

Despite feeling a little stuck in our unit at times, over the last weeks, I’ve done my best to continue to attune my eyes to the things that matter. As we switch off the external, highly visible things (eg social media, news) our attention is naturally drawn toward that which is hidden under the surface, more of the spiritual realm, the eternal.

Faith: the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen.  

To the best of my ability, I am choosing to shape this time by a focus on intimacy, honesty and growth. Continue reading →

Lead with your life: a collision of thoughts

Carly Riordan
~ carlyriordan ~ Leave a comment

The call to leadership and building the church is one that I’ve felt strongly since my early days as a Christian. One of the first hurdles I had to overcome was reconciling feelings of inadequacy and being unskilled.

The resolve came as I understood effective leadership hinged not on my ability to lead but rather my on my ability to follow Jesus. If I was following Him and loving people then everything else would look after itself. Still to this day as I get up to lead worship I remind myself that I am not the worship leader, the Holy Spirit it. My only job is to follow Him. Continue reading →

The difference between isolation and solitude

Palm Beach
~ carlyriordan ~ Leave a comment

There is a big difference between isolation and solitude.

Without the time to stop and doing a stocktake of our thoughts, sneaky lies have the habit of taking up residence in our thought lounge. These same lies dissipate when we come face to face with our Creator.

Time alone with Him will have you slowing down, being more aware of priorities, and instead of reaching for familiar and easy vices you’ll reach more for Him.

Deep down we crave the stillness. Continue reading →

Grief, International Pregnancy and Infant Loss: the Genesis Breath

Wave of Light
~ carlyriordan ~ Leave a comment

Over the last few years, I’ve been fortunate enough to live close to the water. We see it daily. The beach, my sacred place. To look out at the horizon, watch the setting and rising sun, see the waves as they roll in, it’s mesmerising.

When I was a little girl, my dad told me that waves always come in sets of seven. He said you could count them and after the first big wave crashed, six more would follow, each losing a little power until there was a pause, stillness… Continue reading →

Your Best Life Now

Carly Riordan Worship Leading
~ carlyriordan ~ Leave a comment

‘Your best life now.’  This is the phrase that has been finding its ways into my consciousness of late. 

My best life now, right now.

Am I living my best life now? If not why. What am I waiting for? Why am I holding back, holding out? What have I stopped believing God for?… 

I have felt challenged when it comes to my faith. Specifically the substance of my faith. Is faith evident in my life? If so, where is it? What actions is it taking?

Have I diminished God down to what is possible, reasonable and doable in my own strength? Or am I believing for the God opportunities and the whispers that lead to wild adventures and memorable testimonies?  Continue reading →

Thoughts around language and communication

Carly Riordan Pastor
~ carlyriordan ~ Leave a comment

I’ve dubbed myself the language police. Not language as in swearing but I mean the words that frame our day to day lives. In our home and lately out and about I find myself correcting people in the way they speak about themselves and their world. Our words matter.

In terms of worship leading, without careful consideration of what else we do other than singing, we can end up settling into a sort of Christian karaoke with a touch of add lib. Seriously! Think about it.

Aside from the skill of singing (and all the heart, character, anointing, Jesus stuff) what differentiates you leading worship from the next person? What makes you effective assuming you can sing and you are anointed in this space? Continue reading →