Faith, Time & Gentle Renewal

Good afternoon, my friend. Last night I had a long soak in the bath — rosemary and eucalyptus swirling in the water, filling the room with that clean, green scent that always seems to clear both my mind and my heart. I love baths. I rarely take a shower; I just love sitting and soaking in the warm water. I stayed until the water cooled, watching the herbs drift across the surface. There’s something so healing about it — the way a few quiet moments can feel like an entire reset. This week, I’ve been thinking a lot about time — how easily it slips by, and how differently it feels when we pause long enough to notice it. Time can feel heavy or hurried, but it can also feel holy. A gift. A rhythm we’re invited to live within, not against. Ink & Wildflowers Word of the Week: Grace ​Word Garden: patience • rhythm • wisdom • surrender When we live with grace, we stop trying to control time and start learning to flow with it. There’s beauty in the waiting, peace in the pause, and wisdom in each passing season. Scripture:​ ​“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” — Psalm 90:12 Quote:​ “Time is not a thief; it’s a teacher.” — Unknown Creative Journaling Prompt:​ Write about a moment when time felt like a gift. What did it reveal to you about beauty, purpose, or faith? A Moment of Renewal If you’ve been enjoying these weekly reflections and rituals, I’d love to invite you deeper into this journey through Oil & Light. It’s a faith-filled membership for women over 40 who long to slow down, glow naturally, and grow closer to God. Each month, you’ll receive exclusive Skincare & Soul Care Herbal Guides, journal prompts, faith reflections, access to my workshops and courses and the Guided Radiant Renewal Program… gentle practices that nourish both body and spirit. It’s not about adding more to your to-do list. It’s about creating space to rest in God’s rhythm and care for the body He gave you. Join the women walking this gentle path of renewal Skincare Recipe of the Week: Rosemary & Honey Facial Steam Rosemary clears the mind, supports circulation, and restores vitality to the skin. Paired with honey, it makes a simple ritual of renewal for tired days. You’ll Need: 1 tablespoon dried rosemary (or a few fresh sprigs) 1 teaspoon honey 3 cups hot water To Use:​ Place the rosemary and honey in a bowl. Pour in hot water and stir gently. Drape a towel over your head and lean over the bowl for 5–7 minutes, letting the steam open your pores and calm your spirit. Breathe deeply — let the scent of rosemary remind you that wisdom and renewal often come through stillness. 🎧 This Week’s Podcast: Faith, Scripture & the Gift of Time We live in a world that tells us to resist time — but Scripture invites us to see it as sacred. In this week’s episode of Plants, Flowers, Oils & Whimsy, I explore what the Bible says about aging, wisdom, and beauty — the kind that deepens with every season. We’ll reflect on verses, stories, and the radiant lives of elders in Scripture who show us that time doesn’t take away beauty — it refines it. Listen here → Faith, Scripture & the Gift of Time - by Carrie Scharf or here: ​ ​ Radiant Things I’m Loving A weekly invitation to live more slowly and notice beauty. The scent of rosemary and eucalyptus rising from the bath. Pressing herbs between the pages of my journal. Quiet evenings, one candle burning, time unhurried. As you move through this week, may rosemary’s clarity stay with you… in your breath, your thoughts, and the way you care for yourself. Remember that renewal doesn’t always come through change; sometimes it’s found in simply remembering who you are in God’s hands. Take your time. Sip something warm. Let your spirit rest in His peace. With love, ​Carrie P.S.: If you enjoyed this newsletter, would you please share or forward it for me? Thanks!       Subscribe via Substack