Fall is here! I love every part of it:
turning leaves
Getting out the blankets
Warm drinks
Harvest time
Longer evenings
Chilly mornings
Pumpkins, scarecrows, Fall desserts!
I’d love to hear what you enjoy most about this beautiful season of winding down and letting go…
If you found yourself relaxing in this hammock, a fall breeze ruffling your hair, would you lean into it and let yourself day dream?
Would you nap, read a book, just be in nature?
I think day dreaming is healing and peaceful. Allowing your mind to drift where it will and give permission to your wildest dreams and wishes, no expectations, no stiff parameters, just freedom–making room for Jesus to speak to you, heal you, give discernment and wisdom.
There is freedom to hope and hope is a very powerful thing.
Photo credit: Zeynep Kahraman
I’m curious…
Have you had a divine encounter with Jesus?
There are so many ways He reveals Himself to us, as intimate and diverse as there are people.
in dreams
in divinely planned connections with another
in the quiet beauty of an alpine meadow
on the beach as waves crash & toss
in a moments of deep prayer
in the early morning hours on the patio
in the pages of His word
I love that He knows us so well that each encounter we have with Him is so deeply intimate, personal, and perfectly timed.
How about you? Where have you had an encounter with Jesus?
Photo credit: Turuncu Salak
We lovers of Autumn have a sixth sense about us, a knowing when that first revelation of summer’s end has arrived.
It is felt on the skin in that barely discernable nip and twinge of air, charged with the slightest chill; awareness that the atmosphere has changed just a smidge.
Autumn’s scent is unique and mischievous. Earthy and deep; wise, pungent, and bold in the way brown leaf tips, restless trees, and fading flowers bend and drop to the Earth, daring the one watching to stop them; to impede the ancient progress of a slow, yet lovely descent into quiet and rest.
That spritely spurt of wind, which tosses and dances fallen leaves and finished flowers round and round, is delightful. What is it about piling up crispy, browned leaves then dashing them about, flinging them from orderly piles into random and untamed flurries of color? A new beginning; a tossing and mixing up of the old, lazy routine into something new; a plan to disrupt the status quo and wait patiently through the winter, as that plan takes form and substance. Somehow the chaos of it is lovely and energizing, part of the ritual. It is one more wild streak before the settling and simmering of autumn moves on to the mystery and silent brooding of winter.
The discerning observer will witness Nature’s response to the shift from the indolent, dog days of summer to autumn’s call to let go. The song of quiet purpose and intention, as Mother Earth whispers it’s time to fold in, cozy up, and allow rest to perform its miracles and the deep, sweet slumber of winter to wait in the wings.
There is something inspiring and invigorating in this call to purposeful letting go, an anticipation. Is it the definitive color changes and that unmatched fall scent in the air that feels like a new beginning? Is it the crisp sensation of fall air as one breathes it in?
Welcome Autumn! Come and show off your colors and dare us to think about the dead or dying places that we need to let fall; not with sadness or fear; but with anticipation that a season of silent regrouping, where new life starts to bud, will soon break free with the coming of spring. It’s coming, and it will be glorious!
Photo credit: Christina & Peter
Weakness. This isn’t a word most of us want to ascribe to ourselves. However, strength needs weakness. When we are at the end of ourselves is when Jesus has room to come in with His strength to protect and do the miraculous. I don’t believe He views our weakness as something to look down on or shake His head at in annoyance. I believe He views our weakness as a beautiful opportunity to shower us with His grace, love, and protection—to impart His perfect strength into us and our circumstances. He shows us glimpses of the future as He opens and closes doors. We see a foreshadowing of eternity as we watch Him do the impossible, comforting and healing us when life doesn’t turn out how we prayed it would.
He is the Weaver of our life tapestry. He sees the beginning, middle, and end. He intimately knows where our lives will intersect with another’s journey. Perhaps the unique and specific strengths He has given us will be exactly what is needed to help another—our strength perfectly matched to their circumstances.
Weakness doesn’t have to hold a negative connotation. It has much more depth than that. Perhaps there is a richness to it that speaks of humanity needing each other to get through life.
In another’s weakness we get the wonderful opportunity to be His hands, feet, and comfort. We are also blessed with opportunities to be on the receiving end of another’s strength. The life-song of humanity is a thing of beauty that intersects and strengthens as we witness startling acts of bravery and kindness, a chance to bring hope. There is beauty in weakness.
Photo credit: Dilara
I always find God in Nature. Standing under the towering Redwoods that have been there for thousands of years is so humbling.
God’s hands that formed these majestic trees–His presence still lingers, and swirls, and fills my lungs with heavenly breath. Supernatural, ancient, wise.
This is His temple. His creation, His wisdom, His joy. I feel Him closer here than most anywhere else.
There is comfort and so much hope in this verse. Before the Earth existed, God was there. He is with you as you read this verse, and He is already in your tomorrow. His eyes are on you.
You are not lost in a crowd of millions and your voice doesn’t get drowned out by someone louder or histrionic.
You are seen and deeply treasured. Maybe sit with that for just a minute? Let it soak into your spirit. Peace be with you.
I’ve been thinking about blessings lately and the different forms it can take. This excerpt from Divine Appointments… talks about blessings and the different ways it might show up in our lives.
“Some blessings come after the hurt and wounds. The Divine often shows up in miraculous ways, turning devastation into glory, failure into victory, wounding into strength, and the impossible into something to be remembered in awe and reverence because there seemed to be no good ending, yet there was.
To live blessed, we need to be alert and seek it out. It won’t always show up immediately. Blessings may not be dressed up in blissful happiness and a cute outfit. Blessings may come dirty, scuffed up, straggling, and a bit off-kilter, but they will come. I have seen them come in both forms—equally holy, sacred, and consecrated. Blessed.
I want to live with an extravagant hope expecting blessing. I want to bloom where I am planted and thrive, no matter what it looks like. Holy, divine, sacred, and blissful happiness is all around, waiting with open arms for us to slow down and seek it. What is sought will be found.”
