Earlier this week we marked the 1-year anniversary of the Colorado Governor’s decision to stop large gatherings in the effort to get a handle on the newest viral threat our state was facing. This immediately led to our large staff moving to work-from-home status. I remember how surreal it felt to pack up my office – wondering if I would remember everything I would need – turn off the lights and close my office door for the next several months. It felt so uncertain and final at the same time.

The overarching theme for the next year became Ross Geller’s famous cry of, “Pivot!” We adapted in office operations, worship service procedures, and methods of congregational care. And many days we adapted several times before the sun set. We faced disappointment, loss, and grief – learning to acknowledge them, name them, and release them to the Lord. Again, frequently facing this several times before the end of a day. The rapid-fire nature of it all was exhausting and, frankly, made me a little gun-shy of any apparent progress as we moved through the weeks.

But there was progress, and we did move forward.

I know that you can do all things;
no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
Job 42:2

We learned that we could be flexible in new ways. We learned how to be creative in our approaches to nearly everything. We learned that if we’re not okay it is okay to say we’re not okay. And we learned, in an entirely new and unexpected way, that the Lord is still the Lord of all. He was not surprised by the pandemic. He was not rocked when our services went exclusively on-line. He was not rattled by the lack of toilet paper. He is GOD. He is FAITHFUL. He is LOVING. While the list of the unknown and misunderstood is still long, it does not change His almighty nature.

He is before all things,
and in him all things hold together.
Colossians 1:17

As His children we know that because of His great love for us, we can move forward in confidence. Each step of faith is met with His unfailing equipping. Each loss is met with His unending grace. While it would be easy to slide down the slippery slope of discouragement, let’s choose to focus on the Lord’s goodness in the midst of it! This allows us to acknowledge the reality we face while simultaneously resting in the security of His promises. He holds it all together even when it appears to be falling apart. 

Yes, we know the truth! Those around us need quiet reminders of His faithfulness through a note of encouragement. They need strong reminders of His faithfulness through wall-crushing prophetic prayer. And we, my precious friends, are the ones who carry those reminders. We’ve seen Him move. We’ve experienced His grace. We are the recipients of His mercy. And not to keep to ourselves but to share with those around us as lighted pathways to the Father. Because it is in His presence that we are changed. In His presence we are called by our true names. In His presence we all are personally reminded that…

You are adored.

From time to time, the Lord will use repetition to get my attention and it usually involves a specific phrase or word. This repetition basically translates as a knock, knock, knock on the door of my heart. These repeated words will show up in a sermon, a billboard, or in this case a song:

“You’re the way, the truth and the life.
You’re the well that never runs dry.
I’m the branch and you are the vine.
Draw me close and teach me to abide.
Be the strength of my life.
Be my all, my treasure, my prize.
I am yours forever your mine.
Draw me close and teach me to abide.”
~Abide by Aaron Keyes

So what does “abide” mean? Well, in part, Merriam-Webster defines it as bearing patiently, waiting , accepting without objection, remaining stable or fixed, and continuing in a place. In our fast-paced world, abiding does not come naturally. It requires us to slow down, sit still, and quiet ourselves. In fact, in this productivity-focused world, it may even be frowned upon or considered lazy. I’m sure all of us can remember times we have mentally battled over spending time with the Lord or getting that to-do list started. As if abiding with Christ doesn’t accomplish something!

Which brings us to the question: why abide with the Lord? Let’s go back to Pastor Aaron’s song…
“For my waking breath.
For my daily bread.
For the sun to rise.
For my sleep at night.
Where your Sprit leads I’m following.
For the victories still in front of me.
As I pass through death
As I enter rest.
For eternal life
To be raised with Christ.
….I depend on you.”

We abide because we are fully dependent on the Lord for life. All of it. Even the most vulnerable part of life – death – finds us fully dependent on God. Life without abiding is, well, lifeless. Abiding with the Lord is how we lay down burdens, receive refreshing, welcome healing, become more Christ-like, and are filled with power to get back to our Father’s business. Abiding is how we point people to Jesus.

Please allow me to gently remind us all that the Lord has placed people in our lives and they are watching us. Family, friends, and strangers alike. They notice how we walk through life – celebrations and struggles. What makes us different? Why should they trust this Jesus we claim to love? While we should not slip into the dangers of performance, we do need to keep time with the Lord a high priority. Why? When we spend time in the presence of the Lord, we are changed in our minds, words, and actions. He changes us and that results in us carrying the presence of the Lord – splashing it out on to those around us. Our obedience to abide demonstrates to others how to abide with the Lord themselves. We leave footprints for them to follow into His presence….where they lay down burdens, receive refreshing, welcome healing, become more Christ-like, are filled with power…and they are changed too. 

And isn’t that what we are prayerfully trying to accomplish? Through emails, phone calls, community outreaches, coffee conversations, Bible studies, worship gatherings, our very lives….it is all meant to point people to the only thing we really have. Jesus. Abiding. With. Jesus. He is our everything.

As you go about your day, I pray that you will find time to simply abide with Him. To receive His hand-picked gifts for you. I pray that your body would relax into His strong embrace. That your soul would be soothed and restored. Your mind renewed. I pray that you would hear His loving reminder that…

You are adored.

As Administrative Assistants, we operate within some pretty tight timelines. We understand the value of planning, preparing, and having contingency plans A, B & C! We build time margins in to meetings, set phone alarms to signal wrap-ups, and have become masters at the as-we-walk-to-the-next-thing meetings. Our days are well-oiled machines.

Until they aren’t!

How do we respond when the copier has a conniption, the caterer arrives with meals for 10 not 20, or someone calls with an important prayer need right before an important meeting? 

We pause.

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and
saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:17-18

It seems counter-intuitive, doesn’t it? Pausing when everything around us clamors for a response. Right. Now! While we may work well under pressure, we don’t make solid decisions under duress. It is important to pause, take a breath, and ask the Lord for His voice on the matter. He is close to you and He has a plan!

But he said to me,
“My grace is sufficient for you,
for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
2 Corinthians 12:9

OK, here’s the thing…we were never meant to do the Lord’s work without the Lord. Yes, we are called. Yes, we are equipped. And, yes, we are human. The Lord has given us strengths and skills to be utilized in this work…in conjunction with His grace and power. When things take a wrong turn, He always has a plan to get things back on the right track.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,
declares the Lord.
Isaiah 55:8

We need to be open to the possibility of things looking differently than we planned. That can be difficult when we have poured so much of our time and talents into something. I get it. The good news, though, is that the Lord takes that and creates even more beauty from it. It is never wasted.

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence or
take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Psalm 51:10-12

When you have a day that seems to fall apart at the seams, I pray that you also see the fingerprints of the Lord’s hands at work on your behalf. I pray that you witness the impossible because of the Lord’s love for you. I hope that see beauty come from ashes, and joy replace despair. When you’ve come to the end of yourself, I pray that you have a front row seat to the magnificence of the Lord. A fresh understanding of the deep love our Father has for you. Not because of what you can do for Him, but because He simply – fully – deeply – loves you. Always and forever. As you pause and quiet yourself before the Almighty, I pray that you hear Him whisper…

You are adored.

I recently heard my pastor talk about some world-class runners he was watching compete. These men were strong, high-endurance, and well-trained for this competition. They were committed and gave their all. He reminded us, though, that regardless of how these athletes had finished the race – no matter how they placed – they all had one thing in common:  after running that hard, they all had to stop and catch their breath.

Have you ever noticed how catching our breath cannot be rushed? Our lungs will unapologetically take the full time necessary to refill with life-giving oxygen. If they don’t, our brain, muscles, our entire body will collapse. While every part of our bodies uses the oxygen, our lungs are the only entry point for that necessary component. It cannot enter and be properly utilized in any other way. Even when we need help breathing, the assist has to go through the lungs.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:29-31

What a beautiful promise!

• It begins with the declaration that our strength comes from our loving Father.
• Then acknowledges that everyone gets tired – young and old alike. Weariness is not a place of shame.
• Then we receive instruction to keep our hope in the Lord.
• Followed by such a beautifully described promise; our strength will be renewed by the Lord Himself. 
• And when the Lord renews our strength, we will rise to great heights and be able to do more than we could on our own!

It is critical that we not only pause to catch our breath, but that we go to the One who gives that breath to us. We are created to work hard and rest well. He gives us our work and our breath. One cannot happen without the other. And He delights in blessing both for supernatural effectiveness.

The work He has entrusted to you may feel beyond your capabilities at times. I have great news:  He hasn’t called us to do anything without Him. He has called us to His work, divinely appointed by Him, and with Him. We were never meant to take off and do it on our own!

The same is true for our rest. He is our Creator and intimately knows how we need to rest and when we need to rest. He does not expect us to figure out the details. He simply invites us into His presence to receive from Him. Divinely orchestrated and perfectly administered. Breath. Rest. Refreshing. Renewal. Spirit.

As I think about the team of amazing administrative professionals that I work with, I can’t think of one person who needs encouragement to work hard. Each day they serve the Lord and His Beloved with grace, tenacity, conviction, and deep love. They work behind the scenes without expectation of the spotlight; doing things that only the Father sees. They know what it means to serve well and you have made that excellence the standard. I’m pretty certain this applies to you as well! So let me gently remind you to pause and catch your breath. Take the necessary time to breath deeply and let our Father fill your lungs with His holy breath. Allow His Spirit to refresh and empower you for your next, established steps. And as you quiet yourself in His presence, you will hear His loving reminder…

You are adored.

Throughout the seasons of my life, community has been a high priority to me. With the arrival of two babies within a 14-month timespan, our church’s chapter of MOPS was a lifeline to me. Then, from toddlers clinging to my legs through the adventures of early elementary, I served on the leadership team of Intimacy With Jesus. That group of 6 ladies were precious gifts to my heart as we sought the Lord together and ministered to the women of our church every other week. As my children grew through high school, I found community in our church’s homeschool enrichment classes where seasoned friends encouraged me to follow the Lord’s lead and trust His provision where I lacked teaching skill. I never planned to home-educate through graduation, or on teaching Calculus or Chemistry, but the Lord always provided!

Two things stand out to me about those seasons: they were centered around my church and my kids.

As of this weekend, my daughter will have been married for six weeks, making my husband and me official empty-nesters! Both our kids bounced back and forth between our home, on-site internships, new apartments, and back to our home during their late teens and early twenties. So this is the first time that we don’t feel the need to have their rooms ready for the next home base landing. That said, I am very aware of my new season of community.

Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

I’ve seen this verse proven time and time again. Community, friends, peeps – whatever term you use, they are the ones who help us up when we doubt, struggle or fall. It is not lost on me that the Lord has built my community among fellow believers. People who know the Lord and are growing in their relationships with Him. People who encourage me to do the same. People who invite my voice into their lives just as I invite theirs into mine. These friendships are heaven-sent and I am grateful that many of us still have connection despite the life changes that happen through the years.

During this season, I want to be more intentional with reaching out to my friends and strangers alike. I want to build on the foundations that have been set in place. I’m asking God to enlarge my heart with more love to pour into those He brings across my path. I’m asking Him to help me see the windows of time that can be opened to coffee, prayer, and conversation. I’m asking Him to help me be more attentive to invitations extended to me – because we all like to be invited! I’m asking Him to help me trust His orchestration of time that allows such divine appointments to unfold without neglecting what He has already entrusted to my care.

Sure, it takes vulnerability to let others see us as we truly are and trust them to help us. But the reward is so sweet! And, certainly, it is an investment of time to spend with others when they need us. But what a privilege to celebrate God’s victory with them when the battle is won! Friends, you have been placed for this communion. You have been positioned for this trust. God has entrusted you with gifts that He intends for you to share with those He brings around you. They need you. And you need them. We have been created for one another and this gift is well worth the investment! As we walk through life encouraging one another toward the beauty that rests on the other side of difficulty our faith is strengthened and our souls are soothed. We begin to see and appreciate the gift of friendship; the value of being there for one another. Each one a precious reminder from our loving Father that…

You are adored.

I spent quite a bit of time asking the Lord if He really wanted me to share this. It’s tough. It’s messy. It’s ugly. It’s exposing. Not really the benchmarks I look for when trying to encourage my friends. It seems so counterproductive but I am going to be obedient…..

After all that we walked through in 2020, the last thing I want to do is remember it. Yet, that is exactly what the Lord asked me to do a few weeks ago. Remember. And write it down. So, mumbling (if I must be totally honest, grumbling) under my breath, I grabbed my journal, turned to the last page for the year and wrote,

“Things Lost in 2020”

• Sense of normalcy in nearly everything
• Time with extended family
• Admin Assistant Conference in GA
• In-person trainings with NL Admin Team
• Trust in a friend
• Relationship and time with a precious family member
• Dreams
• In-person Easter and Christmas Eve services
  …and then, as if 2020 wanted to kick me in the shins just to be extra mean….
• My doctor of nearly 30 years

There are a few other entries but you get the point. It is a list of everything – nothing too big or too small – that felt like loss. I’m sure you would have a similar list if the Lord asked you to make one. As much as I wanted to close my journal and be done with it, I realized that making a list was pretty helpful. It helped me identify and name the losses. Then suddenly, I realized the strangest thing: I had been trying to hold each one of those painful experiences so they wouldn’t be forgotten. They are important to me and I don’t want to forget what is important. Thankfully, I don’t have to…

You keep track of all my sorrows.
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book.
Psalm 56:8

The Lord, Himself, has painstakingly kept track of all of them for me. And He has done it because He understands how important those entries, and all they represent, are to me. They are valuable to me, therefore, they are valuable to Him. Writing them down was actually the act of releasing them into His care. Despite their value, it wasn’t doing me any good to hold on to them.

Then He reminded me – again – of the open hand illustration that my friend, Mary, had shared with me as a young homeschooling mom. It was a simple, visual demonstration of holding things loosely before the Lord. My outstretched hand fully opened toward Heaven. Clenching nothing. Available to the Lord. Surrendering to my loving Daddy all that He has placed there and desires to remove.

And we know that in all things God works
for the good of those who love him,
who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28

What do you need to release to Him? Do you need to unfold your fingers from the grip of something you hold dear? Do you need to take some time to simply cry over a loss? Do you need to make a list? Let me encourage you to do whatever you need to have an open hand and open heart toward what He wants to do. Holding on to loss is not serving you well. Our Father’s loving care of you will!

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes.
There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain,
for the old order of things has passed away.”
He who was seated on the throne said,
“I am making everything new!“
Then he said,
“Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Revelation 21:4-5

As we release these losses and disappointments to the Lord, it frees our hearts to be available to His healing and new work. It does not lessen the importance of these things but it does position us to receive from our loving Father. His kindness, His healing, His perspective, and His plan. All these are good gifts for His precious daughters. You can trust Him with the pain and the joy – the past and the future – the seen and unseen. And it is perfectly fine if you need to release these things and trust Him again more than once. He welcomes you. He delights in you. Although seasons and situations are in constant flux, His love for you never changes.

You are adored.

Do you ever feel like you are going in circles? No matter how hard you try to implement a change, you continue the same trek around the barn? Again? 

Let me assure you this is a normal, even human, experience. I believe all of us would raise our hand in agreement when asked if that sounds familiar. Even more so in these early weeks of a new year when so many are evaluating progress, or lack thereof, on certain goals that were contemplated, prayed over, and set in partnership with the Lord less than a month ago!

But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
Psalm 86:15
God knows your humanity and is not discouraged by it! He is compassionate toward you – a loving Father. He is full of love and faithfulness toward YOU.

……

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave nor forsake you.
Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
Deuteronomy 31:8
In fact, if you are taking another trek around the barn, our God is taking the trip with you! He never leaves you alone to be afraid or discouraged.

……

…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you
will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:6
Our God is faithful and ever-watchful over you. He does not leave His work unfinished or His promises unfulfilled.

……

You are blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God.
You’re blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him.
Psalm 119:1-2
In fact, He delights in blessing you for simply being obedient and doing your best.

……

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11
When your desires align with His, your future is bright!

……

Let us not become weary in doing Good,
for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9
So don’t give up! Stay strong in your efforts because your harvest is promised!

……

The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying:
“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”
Jeremiah 31:3
His love for you is everlasting, never-ending, always flowing. He has already decided to love you – you don’t have to convince Him. Our God Most High dances over you with great joy and sings over you with deep love.

……

Trips around the barn can look differently each time. They can be tough with knee-deep snow, messy with sticky mud or even beautiful with gently waving grasses all around. Each trip has its own lesson. But each trip always has the same two travelers – you and the Lord. He has promised to walk with you around that barn as many times as it takes, and the best part is that He doesn’t mind at all. As you tromp that familiar path, He sees the opportunity to capture your undivided attention. The Lord is eager to spend time with you; sharing His love, giving His grace, and whispering over and over again… 

You are adored.

As the Executive Assistant to our Senior Pastor, I frequently get calls from people looking for a variety of things related to the church, pastoral assistance, sermons, etc. To be completely transparent, this past year has seen more than its fair share of difficult phone calls and emails. The tensions that our communities have seen are not set aside when they contact the church. Frustrations have run high as all of us have navigated the difficulties of a world-wide pandemic, racial tensions, and a conflict-laden election. People are tired. People are angry. People say things that they would normally never utter. So you can understand why I might be a little gun shy when it comes to my daily phone and email interactions.

This week a kind woman called to ask about notes from a recent sermon. She attends a different church and adds services from ours to her weekly studies. As we talked, we were finally able to narrow down what she was looking for and I helped her find the “missing link” to her studies. While she attends a wonderful church, she has been especially moved by our Senior Pastor’s prayers and painstakingly writes them down each week. She notes the associated scriptures and refers back to them as the Spirit leads. 

Then she shared her story.

Her father lived in a nursing home and when it became clear last fall that he would soon be passing, she and her siblings were not able to be with him in person. In the early morning hours, they were able to set up a Zoom link and took turns reading scriptures over their dad, including one of the prayers that she had laboriously written down. When they finished reading Psalm 150, he stepped into eternity. And what a powerful way to do so.

Praise the Lord.
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with timbrel and dancing,
praise him with the strings and pipe,
praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord.
Psalm 150

In order to be prepared before I called her back, I used all my administrative tools to find out all I could about this woman. There was no listing of her in our church records. I had never met her. I wouldn’t know her face if I stood next to her. But taking time to call and help resulted in her feeling safe enough to share her story. And, honestly, knowing her story has knit my heart to hers. Knowing that we love the same Lord has transformed her from a kind woman on the phone to a sister in the family of God.

This is why we do what we do. In the day-to-day weeds of administrative work, we are partnering with the Holy Spirit as He draws people to Himself and encourages His Beloved. We are surrounded by people with stories about His faithfulness in the practical and miraculous. We simply never know all that He is up to or how. We just know that He has made an invitation, He has placed us, and He has anointed us for His work – many times with an in-the-moment anointing.

Lord, give us eyes to see and ears to hear your precious Beloved as we walk through this life together. Help us to hand all the hurt over to your tender care so our own hearts aren’t hurt by carrying what isn’t ours to carry. Help us to remember that you have not called us to be the fixer of broken hearts, but to usher them into the presence of the Restorer of all things broken. Remind us all that we are surrounded by your never-ending whispers of love…

You are adored.

Back in Junior High School, I took a class that taught me how to read, plot, and draw topographic maps. If you aren’t a map nerd like me, topographic maps show you the earth’s features in a certain location – slopes, valleys, etc – through a series of lines drawn to scale. The closer the lines, the steeper the slope. The further apart the lines, the gentler the slope. I was giddy with anticipation knowing that the class would culminate in a field trip where we would use various tools to plot a hill and then draw the associated topographic map. I would be a cartographer! Yep, I’m a nerd.

I’ve always had an affinity for maps. Especially the paper ones that take up the entire front seat of the car on road trips. They show us how to get somewhere despite not being able to see the entire journey right up front. They offer a step-by-step process with a built in safety net of alternate routes when something unexpected pops up. Maps are created by those who have gone ahead of us and were willing to share what they learned about the journey, making it a bit easier for those who follow.

As Administrative Professionals, we frequently rely on roadmaps. Looking ahead is a critical skill and in order to do that well, we rely on experience and developed skills – a roadmap of sorts. So what do we do when we are the trailblazers and there isn’t a map to follow? We find ourselves in need of a God Who prepares us for whatever we encounter. A God Who may not show us the road ahead but promises to equip us for the journey.

“I am the vine; you are the branches.
If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
John 15:5-8

We remain in Him. We abide with Him. We can’t afford to blaze a trail without our faithful Guide who knows the rugged terrain we are approaching just as well as He knows us. After all, He is Creator God. He knows the best path for us and it might not be the same path that is best for others. Read that again. The Lord may invite you to take an alternate path because He knows it is the best one for you; His beloved daughter. Will it be scary? Maybe. Will it be difficult? Probably. But this is where growth happens and you will not face it alone. As you remain in Him, He goes with you into what is unknown to you….but fully known to Him. He IS the best roadmap.

Have I not commanded you?
Be strong and courageous.
Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed,
for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9

So straighten your shoulders, Beloved. Lift up your eyes, precious sister. Your God is with you and you bring Him glory with each brave step! Boldly bear the fruit He is bringing forth in you. As you focus on Him, you demonstrate your devotion to be His follower. His daughter. His Beloved. And all along the way you will hear Him reminding you…

You are adored.

Happy New Year!

For most of us, this signifies the end of a season filled with celebrations, rich foods, and family visits. The New Year also launches many of us into renewed commitments to living better through healthier diets, a more robust prayer life, focused exercise, and purposeful relationships. It has always looked like a whiplash to me – from party, party, party to discipline, discipline, discipline. Can you hear the screeching tires as we slam on the brakes to abruptly move from one direction to the other?

I am someone who enjoys both the party and the discipline. I find real enjoyment in both and think each have tremendous value. It is the abrupt 180* heel-pivot from only one to only the other that makes my head spin and my heart hurt. This party girl appreciates structure, and this disciplined daughter loves a good celebration. I believe each can be embraced without guilt over the other.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

King Solomon recognized the importance of each season; that we are created to embrace so many things that appear to be opposites. As I look at this list, I truly believe they are intended to work hand-in-hand throughout life, not in exclusion of the other. We can’t fully know the thrill of hearty laughter unless we have experienced gut-wrenching sorrow. We can’t plant for the next harvest without first clearing and preparing the land from the remnants of the last one. We can’t be heard without taking time to first be quiet.

While the flip of the calendar from December to January might mean you see fewer parties in the coming month, go ahead and make time to celebrate even the little moments. Crank up your favorite song and dance in the kitchen. Kiss your spouse a little longer. Hugs your kids a little tighter. Eat your favorite meal because you made it through Monday/a difficult meeting/laundry. An abundant life is filled with the mixture of such moments and we have the privilege of pausing to embrace them. They are everyday ways that our loving Father whispers….

You are adored.