The Almost-Summer Collection
Odds and ends, tidbits, and a bit of encouragement.
I am so glad to call You home, God.⠀⠀
a reflection and prayer from Psalm 90, which we recommend you read in full before you keep reading here.
You abide in Me and I abide in You and for all this time that I have known You, You have been my dwelling place. A place of rest and comfort, where I live and move and have my being. Before I knew I belonged to You or understood the old stories of the Word or had been wounded by so great a Healer, even then You were my home. If You were only the God of yesterday--the God of long ago, you wouldn't be a suitable place to abide - but You are from everlasting to everlasting! Far longer than I can see or think to imagine, You have been the safest of places.⠀⠀
There's nothing quite so certain as You.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
My old skin and body will return to dust, morbid as that seems, and whole generations will be swept away. My days are numbered and I pray they are long but know that whenever my sigh comes, it will be for Your glory. These tall old trees out my window will crumble or be eaten away and nothing is new that won't be old. You use even nature's life cycles to remind us that You alone can be rest for our souls. You are everlasting God - You are the Alpha and Omega, a Holy Trinity flourishing and never-ending and glorying in one another.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
So when I wake, hungry for the day or perhaps hungry for more rest or accomplishment and production - satisfy me with Your steadfast love. I want to rejoice with each new gift of a day, I want to use the wake-up calls as a call to worship.
I want to see the hope the morning brings, the hope of new mercies, the hope of grace upon grace for what the day will require of me. Make me glad in You, glad for the days I've been given. Glad for my home in You - the rest of knowing Christ and being known by Him.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Thank you for being my Home and making Your home in me.
Amen.
Odds and Ends
“May is the new December” we hear, as people dash about!
If you’re looking for ways to preach gospel hope to yourself in a season of busyness, we recommend:
Dwell | Audio Bible app — listen to the Word read over you
the Jess Connolly podcast — some hope for the hustle
our very own prayer journal prompts — created by two lovely Grace Women
If you’re looking for ways to be more intentional with your time by bringing gospel conversations to the forefront:
Practicing the Way conversation cards (digital download or preorder the deck)
Gospel Fluency (YouTube playlist or book)
Speaking the truth in love (She Reads Truth podcast)
Tidbits
Sometimes it’s nice to share the fun things too, so we’re linking a few of our favorite “summer finds” (oh no that sounds dangerously influencer-y). These are not affiliate type things because that would be sort of icky coming from us, right? Right.
Bright and cheery melamine cups for your next picnic. ☀️
Absolute favorite lip balm 💋
A couple of sweet titles for your summer reading list: The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley and The Secret Book of Flora Lea 📖
A tart and sweet Brazilian limeade recipe (to go in those cute cups) 🥤
Some super thrifty lakeside necessities: flip-flops & towels 🌊
Custom scripture art prints for your desk or that empty frame 🖼️
And finally…
Our fall gathering is on the calendar for September 30, so save the date!
Our summer chat threads are open! If you haven’t already joined in - consider it? Once a week we post a question for response and interaction.
PS: If you never got a chance to re-listen to our spring workshop keynote sessions, we’ve got you! Here are the links: Rooted & Established workshop sessions.