by Vella Karman | Dec 17, 2025 | Bonfires & Stars, Filling your life with LIGHT
Candles flickered as I straightened my back, the picture of poise on my friend’s couch. I’d just been spilling out all my wedding planning woes, but now I needed to say something else, to share this vivid picture in my mind. “It’s like a...
by Vella Karman | Jun 4, 2025 | Author News, Bonfires & Stars
I’m reading this book called Strange Fire, and it’s about how important supernatural stuff is to the Christian walk. I’m really glad I’m reading it, but the book has one idea that I don’t agree with: it implies that God isn’t whimsical. What is whimsy? I don’t know...
by Vella Karman | May 14, 2025 | Bonfires & Stars, Soli Deo Gloria
When there’s a parade of stupid stuff I’ve said and done, ways I’ve hurt people, and rampant memories of sin dancing across my mental landscape…it’s easy to hate myself. Or even just a few things about myself. But as I’ve wrestled with this lately, I...
by Vella Karman | Apr 2, 2025 | Belonging, Bonfires & Stars
I grew up with an intense fear of abandonment. I was one of those kids who clung to my mom when she wanted to walk out the door, especially if it involved a weekend away. And that was because when I was little, I was in some unsafe situations that weren’t great...
by Vella Karman | Mar 19, 2025 | aWkwaRd, Belonging, Bonfires & Stars
Jesus died so you’d never have to feel rejection again. Before you tell me I’m crazy, hear me out. He died so that we could be accepted by God. The cross means you’re accepted in heaven, you’re part of the church, and you’re adopted as a child of God. These are...
by Vella Karman | Feb 19, 2025 | Belonging, Bonfires & Stars, Soli Deo Gloria
On Sunday, my pastor talked about real relationship with God versus religion. He put it this way: religion is a relationship with rules. Faith is a relationship with God. (Those weren’t his exact words, but they’re close enough.) It’s so easy to trade a...
