About the Author

Mary is a writer and speaker who lives for good books, spicy queso, and television marathons – but lives because of God’s grace. She writes about giving up on perfect and finding truth in unexpected places at MaryCarver.com. Mary and her husband live in Kansas City with their two daughters.

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
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(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
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  1. Your title had me wincing & laughing as I was struggling severely to get going this morning! Great encouragement, stepped on my toes & gave me hope & perspective! Thank you. Blessings!

  2. Mary,

    Now more than ever we need to be awake & alert to the things going on around us. I feel like Mark 13:12 is being lived out in front of my eyes. “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. Everyone will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. There are many false prophets out there just turn on TV preachers. We must ask God for eyes to see, ears to hear & an understanding mind to ascertain the events of this world. It is time to quit reading Bible on autopilot but dig deeper into scripture. I need to pray more dangerous prayers, seeking God & His wisdom. Be more attuned to the events of this day & time. For I feel this may be the end times.

    Blessings 🙂

  3. Amen indeed as I sit here hoping that the caffeine will finally kick in so I can focus. The older I get the more distracted I get or maybe it’s just because the past year has been such a nightmare.

    • Madeline, this past year has absolutely stolen some of our ability to focus. When we are continuously living in fight or flight mode, our body and brain give precedence to that and neglect our attention span, our creativity, even our ability to problem solve well. Be gentle with yourself. I pray we can all begin to recover from our collective trauma and gently wake up to what God is doing even in the midst of it.

  4. This really spoke to my spirit this morning. I often find my mind wondering even in the middle of praying. Yet I’m learning that doesn’t make me a terrible believer, I just need to ask the Holy Spirit to help me refocus.

  5. Thanks for this, Mary! I’m in a Zoom Bible study on 1 Peter. I can empathize with you, when you say you have “slept” through passages in the past. An in-depth study really helps us understand God’s word on a different level. 1 Peter 5:8 NIV says, “Be alert and of sober mind”. Then it goes into the prowling lion scenario. This passage was not new to me. But now I see it in new ways. It’s amazing what the Holy Spirit can do! And a tiny bit of effort on our part.

  6. Mary, this article is so good. So needed. Im feeling both encouraged and convicted too. You’re not the only one who needs to wake up. Lord, help us.

  7. I am thankful for this reminder. Despite my current difficulties it is with the little things and staying intentional when I can that gives me hope of a better tomorrow.
    Being awake to All God’s gifts one day at a time.

  8. Thank you, Mary! This devotion is just what I needed. The pandemic changed my rhythms as my husband needed to work from home instead of the office and my two children needed to engage in remote schooling from home. I had finally adjusted to not having an empty house and gotten into a good routine of working on my book every day when my mother had a heart attack and I needed to go to NY to help her. Since returning home, I have not been able to write. It is like I went into hibernation mode. Through your words, I am hearing Jesus saying, “Stay awake and finish writing the book about Me and how I have worked in your life.”

  9. Col 3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
    Col 3:3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
    Col 3:4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

  10. Thank you, Mary, for this encouraging wake-up call! Though I can probably spout good excuses for being spiritually lethargic, unconcerned and ministry-inactive with the challenges of the Pandemic still weighing heavily in our part of the world (Manila), I know for certain I will reap what I sow and will not please our Lord Jesus who loves me and gave Himself for me! God be gracious to us and help us to be strong and courageous to do His will!