Carol McLeod is a bestselling author and popular speaker at women’s conferences and retreats, where she encourages and empowers women with passionate and practical biblical messages mixed with her own special brand of hope and humor. She was the first Women’s Chaplain at Oral Roberts University and received the university’s prestigious “Alumna of the Year” award in 2021. Her 17th book, Overflowing: Living Abundantly in a Broken Culture, a Bible study of the book of Colossians, was released in June.
She married her college sweetheart, Craig, 44 years ago. They have five children in heaven and five children on earth and ten grandchildren.
What started you on your writing path?
When I was in second grade, my teacher was an Australian war bride. Although Mrs. Dombrowski had no children of her own, she loved her students dearly. By the third day of school, she could tell that I was not adjusting well. I was painfully shy, overwhelmed and just wanted my mom. As I left school that day, she handed me a book and said, “Carol, I think you and Laura are going to be good friends.”
The book she handed me, of course, was “Little House in the Big Woods.” I read the book that weekend and asked for the next one in the series on Monday.
Mrs. Dombrowski was right — Laura and I did become good friends. I immediately decided that I wanted to do what Laura did. I wanted to write the books that would change a generation.
Of course, my books are not memoirs as Laura’s were, but they are faith-based books that help women live an abundant life of joy, peace, and hope. I hope that my readers know that I, just like Laura was to me, can become a wonderful friend through the pages I have written.
The Author and Creator of our lives often writes in a twist that ultimately blesses us more than our original plan. Have you ever experienced such a “Divine Detour”?
I have had too many “divine detours” to count. I never wanted to be married but only wanted to be single, childless, and serve Jesus. God had a much better plan for my life. During my senior year of college, the Lord brought a wonderful man into my life. I instantly fell head over heels in love with Craig and we were married within seven months of our meeting.
Shortly after we were married, I explained to Craig that I never wanted to have children. He simply prayed and the Lord changed my heart. We have five adult children who have been the delight and joy of my life. When I held our first baby in my arms, I discovered the reason I had been born. I was born to be a mother.
Let’s talk about your new book, Overflowing: Living Abundantly in a Broken Culture (Iron Stream Media, June 2024). Please tell us about it.
Every believer in Christ longs to live an abundant life but they are just not sure how to tap into the peace that passes understanding or the hope that can be an anchor of the soul. Even Christians look for joy in all the wrong places.
I want an abundant life. Do you?
If you long to live a life overflowing with hope, peace, and joy, perhaps what your life needs is an intentional center. We all have one — that nucleus upon which we obtain our energy and discern our purpose. Perhaps until now, your center has been based on shopping, entertainment, or sports. Or maybe you are like many others and have centered your very existence upon your children, family, or career. What if those things you’ve placed at the center of your life will not bring you the abundance you desire? What if you need a true center?
Bible scholars through the ages have insisted that the book of Colossians is the most Christ-centered book in the entire Bible. If that is true, then we, as twenty-first-century believers, must choose to study this Jesus-centric epistle with enthusiasm and with intention. By the end of this deep dive into the sacred pages of Scripture, your life will shout to the world, “I am Christ-centered! He is my source, my joy, my all in all!”
Filled with biblical wisdom, practical advice, and personal stories, this in-depth study of the book of Colossians helps readers shift their perspectives in order to live a life filled with purpose and joy. Overflowing proves that it is possible to embrace unspeakable joy and unmatched peace even when truth is distorted, politics are compromised, and the entertainment industry seems so evil.
Please tell us about your popular blog.
“Joy for the Journey” is the weekly blog that I began writing in 2011. I love sprinkling hope and splashing joy every week on my readers! It has been great fun to invite 1,000’s of women to join me on my journey as I discover how to live purposefully, intentionally, and wholeheartedly.
Some weeks we might discuss children, or disappointment or heroes of the faith. Other weeks, the conversation might revolve around celebration, prayer or our diets. But every week, our conversation is centered on Jesus and on the hope of the Gospel. There is no joy in the journey without Him!
A few fun questions…
When the words aren’t flowing—or when you want to celebrate if they are—what is your favorite comfort food and why?
Oh … I would eat a huge slice of raspberry pie every day of the week if I could! But since that is not possible … I will settle for a cup of hot tea laced with milk and a slice of rye bread dripping with butter and raspberry jam.
What Bible passage or story best describes your journey of faith?
I think I am a “Ruth” more than an “Esther.” I am a simple girl who has fallen in love with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. There might be dust on my sandals and pain in my heart, but I have chosen to follow Him wholeheartedly through every long night as well as through immense personal pain.
The field that Ruth gleaned in is just outside of Bethlehem and it is also known as the “Shepherds’ Field.” You see, what Ruth didn’t know when she was a young widow and in a foreign land thousands of years ago, was that she was gleaning in the very field where the shepherds would sing of the Savior’s birth. God was working behind the scenes of her life for a greater good and for His glory.
I trust that the Lord is doing the same thing for me. The Psalmist said, “The Lord will accomplish what concerns me.” – Psalm 138:8.
In the story that is your life, are you the strong, female lead; the girl next door; the mysterious woman behind dark glasses; the super heroine; or the little girl trying to walk in high heels?
I am definitely NOT the mysterious woman behind dark glass nor am I the super heroine. However, I suppose that I am the girl next door, trying to walk in high heels who hopes, someday, to be the strong, female lead.
I often say that I am just a girl who is head over heels in love with Jesus, is passionately addicted to His Word and I find all the joy I need in His presence.
Thank you, Carol! It’s nice to have you as a guest at Divine Detour.
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For more information about Carol, visit her website and follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
To purchase Overflowing: Living Abundantly in a Broken Culture go to her website or go to—
