I just checked off another “to-do” from the stacks of post-it notes in my planner, stuck to this week’s page. I crinkled it up, feeling accomplished. Even with something so very small: uploading the summer’s pictures onto Facebook. Sure, not everyone wants to be updated on my not-so-fast-paced life, replete with recipes and selfies (“us-ies”, really…I don’t take many pictures alone). But it was a step for me, a good day of remembering how the Lord has worked this summer. It’s been beautiful. peaceful. restful. blissful. Am I oversimplifying? sure. There were complications thrown into those “-ful” moments. But complications cannot displace Christ. And Christ is what has kept this summer so “-ful.”
I loved uploading all of those pictures because they tell a story. I even precariously worked the comments in such a way that told the story. “a summer of…” was the refrain. You can go to the album here to see the story.
Here’s what I didn’t mention though. Only because I didn’t capture the other moments of the summer.
the moments of laughter. I’m not kidding when I say I have laughed/smiled more this summer than ever before. I cannot really explain it except by the word joy. the enemy wants to steal, kill, and destroy that joy. In the past two years I have felt that battle more than ever. But this summer has been a time of reprieve. Not that the battle has calmed. But the armor has been strengthened by the strength of His might, because I’ve been learning so much of how to let go of my own. Surrender: hands up, face lifted, heart enlightened with joy.
the moments of learning. I’ve been truly blessed to be a part of a church here, learning about the behind the scenes work that I have quickly become passionate about. As much as I love going, helping others to go has been so fulfilling, and I cannot wait to get back to it come January. I’ve also been able to have a lot of quiet, alone time in the Word. A few buzzwords of the summer? fellowship. returning. prayer. conviction. redemption. endurance. gospel. (more on a few of those topics reserved for a later post)
the moments of love. The best part of summer for me? easy. Leah & Matt’s wedding. First of all, I have not cried so much in a very, very, very long time. But it was such a renewal of spirit to cry so much. And I don’t just think that’s a girl thing or a time of the month thing. I think it is a necessary thing. The gospel became a beautiful tangibility in their ceremony. And it was obvious. I learned so much about love that day, and it will impact me for the rest of my life. I pray I can experience the same thing soon. (again, perhaps a blog post will come from the wedding on my other blog)
I came into this summer with rapidly emptied hands. All my plans lay on the ground, seemingly ruined. Yet out of the ashes of sacrifice came such, such beauty. provision. joy. He is good.![]()
I loved uploading all of those pictures because they tell a story. I even precariously worked the comments in such a way that told the story. “a summer of…” was the refrain. You can go to the album here to see the story.
Here’s what I didn’t mention though. Only because I didn’t capture the other moments of the summer.
the moments of laughter. I’m not kidding when I say I have laughed/smiled more this summer than ever before. I cannot really explain it except by the word joy. the enemy wants to steal, kill, and destroy that joy. In the past two years I have felt that battle more than ever. But this summer has been a time of reprieve. Not that the battle has calmed. But the armor has been strengthened by the strength of His might, because I’ve been learning so much of how to let go of my own. Surrender: hands up, face lifted, heart enlightened with joy.
the moments of learning. I’ve been truly blessed to be a part of a church here, learning about the behind the scenes work that I have quickly become passionate about. As much as I love going, helping others to go has been so fulfilling, and I cannot wait to get back to it come January. I’ve also been able to have a lot of quiet, alone time in the Word. A few buzzwords of the summer? fellowship. returning. prayer. conviction. redemption. endurance. gospel. (more on a few of those topics reserved for a later post)
the moments of love. The best part of summer for me? easy. Leah & Matt’s wedding. First of all, I have not cried so much in a very, very, very long time. But it was such a renewal of spirit to cry so much. And I don’t just think that’s a girl thing or a time of the month thing. I think it is a necessary thing. The gospel became a beautiful tangibility in their ceremony. And it was obvious. I learned so much about love that day, and it will impact me for the rest of my life. I pray I can experience the same thing soon. (again, perhaps a blog post will come from the wedding on my other blog)
I came into this summer with rapidly emptied hands. All my plans lay on the ground, seemingly ruined. Yet out of the ashes of sacrifice came such, such beauty. provision. joy. He is good.
