Out my Window: beautiful fall morning, sun is shining, crisp day, hill is full of color
Enjoying: sunrises, incredible color on the hills, morning views, beautiful fall weather, apple weather candle burning each evening, twinkle lights on at night, beautiful night sky, the moon, being around crazy kids
Listening to/Watching: I listened to the Holy Post Podcast. https://www.holypost.com/holy-post-podcast Not really my topic. Discussing movies and industry with a current filmmaker. Still listening to the second book in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy: The Twin Towers. https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Two-Towers-Audiobook/B009ABHTF4?qid=1598033985&sr=1-1&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=6KR21Q0934XX42SAEX7K So much wisdom and encouragement in this epic tale.
Reading: By my bedside: The Pursuit of the Holy: A Divine Invitation by Simon Ponsonby. Still reading Jen Pollock Michel’s book Surprised by Paradox: The Promise of And in an Either-Or World.
I am reading Shelly Miller’s Searching for Certainty: Finding God in the Disruptions of Life coming out October 13 . I was thankful to get on her book launch team. Shelly’s writing is full of beauty and real life. I can’t wait for the physical copy, but I am thankful for the timing of getting to read the advanced e-book. The tag line of the book was enough to draw me in.
Book Study with my Ladies’ Small Groups: The Good Life: What Jesus Teaches about Finding True Happiness by Derwin Gray. It is a study on the Beatitudes.
I am reviewing a study on Habakkuk from Dannah Gresh for Moody Publishing. I am hoping it is one that will be good for my ladies’ small group.
Rambling Thoughts: Spies… sometimes you read a section of Scripture that you have read over and over and something new jumps out. This week it happened as I read Israel’s story. Why did they send the spies? Did God actually want them to? In Deuteronomy 1:19-46 Moses is recounting the failure of the people to go in to take the land and how only their children will enter. In verse 21 they are told to go in and take the land because God would be with them. They are told how God keeps his promises so they do not need to be afraid or frightened. Then verse 22 says, “then all of you approached me, saying, ‘Let’s send spies ahead of us so they can check out the land ahead of us….’ vs 23 Moses says this seemed good to him. Nowhere does it say they sought the Lord to see if it was a good idea. The Lord had already gone before them and prepared the land for them, but they wanted to plan a route and know ahead about the cities. God was already leading them with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. They had the ultimate guide, but now that they are on the threshold of the Promised Land they want to make their own plan, scout things out, see for themselves. Moses seems to be okay with it. The good thing was all the evidence of abundance that God had mentioned was true, but then they left God out of the equation when they heard about the things to fear. They panicked and accused God of wanting to kill them again. They took their eyes off God and all He had promised and focused on what they could lose. When they hear they cannot go in as their punishment, they decide to recant all their refusals and go in. This time they are grabbing for something that is no longer theirs, and they fail miserably because again they are not following God’s lead. He told them not to go against the people because they would be defeated, but now they are the headstrong kids trying to make things right in their own power.
I was reminded how many times I wish I could peek at the next page, or know just a a bit more of what is next. Other times I press forward trying to make something happen when I know the timing is wrong or maybe I am not the right person but the right person is not stepping up. Abiding and obeying involves time and listening. It involves trust and waiting. All things I need to practice as I walk this journey. God promises to lead and show the way, but many times it looks different than I would like it too. It comes back to trust. Do I trust God’s character? Do I trust God’s heart? Do I trust God’s timing?
Fitness and Mental Health: Walking and/or Pilates almost every day. I am enjoying the Balanced Life Community. Having that accountability and easy access is helpful. Mental Health: Exercise is key and continuing to look for beauty. Writing the date and day and a brief list of the events of day has been very helpful for my mental health. Numbering my days…
Home: Mostly keeping up with the basics. Last Saturday I scrubbed bathrooms down and mopped and vacuumed. Bought flowers for my counter this week, lighting candles, turning on the twinkle lights are all ways I am adding beauty to our home and my soul in the middle of a very full season. I need to pull out my fall bucket to add some warmth to decor.
Giving Thanks For: Connecting with friends, celebrating life with a friend this week, God’s light overcoming a very dark place, marriage conference, laughing with dh, reconnecting with students, encouraging friends, laughter, beautiful fall days, my home, provisions, rest, walks, so much beauty in this world, praying friends, good books, challenging thoughts, community, feeling connected and loved, grace
Inkblot Life 