Almost June —
a summer-blue sky,
sliver of a moon —
the size of my hope.
It’s just enough.
A pull —
closer to Christ,
closer to joy,
closer
to deeper,
truer
trust.
Heart sliced open
by the beauty of it all.
Knowing.
And it’s more than enough.
* * *
{photo via Pinterest — maria clara eimmart (1676-1707) }
Breakfast with inspiring, Godly women; creative time at a local cafe; reading on my porch; a sunshine-filled walk; gathering colors and phrases for new paintings; a bright blue sky; a heart wide open — gratitudes collected and kept.
Happy long weekend, friends! :)
1. Take frequent trips to local farmers’ markets and eat lots of fresh, in-season food all summer long.
2. Complete my study on women’s wisdom and Proverbs.
3. Start a regular walking/jogging routine (using the 5K app I just downloaded).
4. Buy a vintage-inspired bathing suit.
5. Get a bistro table for my porch, and spend my morning quiet time with God outdoors.
6. Look into my dream of renting an art studio space to share with some of my creative friends.
7. Make a summer reading list (another list! hehe), and plan plenty of outdoor reading dates (at parks, cafes, etc!).
8. Plan a picnic.
9. Trust more, hope more — and worry less.
10. Do something creative every day, in an effort to share more of who He is and bring Him glory in all I do.
I just can’t get enough of this song (and this band!):
And this band, too:
I’m feeling closer to Him than I have in a long time, and my heart is beyond thankful. I’ve been rejoicing in the way creativity can share and shine His light and reflect His love.
And lately, I’ve realized just how much it’s my heart’s desire to share the gospel through creativity and making beautiful and meaningful things that point back to Him. Like the quote I recently shared from Shauna Niequist, I, too, believe that God’s story and who He is can be revealed through so many different mediums — through words and poems and stories and paintings.
And it’s on my heart to do that — to keep creating and to keep sharing who He is by being true to who He created me to be.
Inspired by Jessa Anderson’s Good Things series, I decided to start a similar series at A Place to Dwell.
Following God’s instruction to us in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, I want to keep a regular running list of all the good things He blesses me with even (especially!) during the more difficult moments and seasons.
Jessa explains her series as such: It’s simply a collection of the things in my life that are worth celebrating (big or small), and I find that writing them out especially helps me to overcome my tendency to complain. Life does come with frustrations, but I find that when I look at the big picture, they are usually small things in comparison to all the blessings God has graciously given. Even during our lowest moments, counting our blessings can remind us of the joy we have been given in Christ Jesus!
I love the idea of posting what I’m thankful for as a regular blog series, since it’s something I’ve done on and off in my journaling the last five years. It truly is such a good way to remember the joy we have been given in Christ Jesus.
So, welcome to post number one in my Giving Thanks series. ;)
Right now, my heart is thankful for:
The discovery of a delightful new market to shop at that’s full of delicious and healthy foods; the amazing church I belong to and the way my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ partner with me in prayer, encourage, inspire, and help me to know Christ more fully and completely; the perfect evening weather for a walk outside; my daily quiet time and the hope I’ve been finding in God’s Word; a new font to design with; an upcoming craft show adventure with my sister; hearing Jessa Anderson’s music for the first time today and connecting so completely with her lyrics; the best friends a girl could ask for; and last, but not least, this little blog of mine and all of my faithful readers.
And what about you?
Please do leave me comments to share what you’re thankful for lately. Let’s encourage each other and praise our wonderful Creator in the process! :)
(from my new Sabrina Ward Harrison art journal)
This afternoon, I’ve been turning those words over and over in my heart.
And here’s the thing, it really is.
Right now, your story is happening.
My story is happening.
And here’s my question to you: Are you REALLY living it? I mean REALLY living your story — with arms wide open.
Are you embracing, loving, giving thanks for the story God’s writing for you, right now, today?
Sometimes, I know I’m guilty of just getting through the days.
One foot in front of the other, go to work, come home, etc. etc. etc.
But when I think about the fact that my story is unique to me, full of intricate details orchestrated by the One who loves me more than I can fathom, I feel a tugging in my heart to pay attention more, to love the moments more fully and completely. To trust more. Surrender more. Risk more.
I’m in an interesting season of possibilities and transitions. And some days, it feels like I’m walking a fine line, teetering along the edge of who I am now and who I am becoming.
I don’t want to forget these in-between days.
Because right now, in this moment, I’m learning, becoming, being shaped…
…and the story is happening.
It’s
bravery,
courage,
intention —
and dreams
that find their
movement and momentum
with each
small
but mighty
risk
we take.
It’s purpose —
pushing past
the fear,
the doubt,
the questions —
while clutching
every
quiet hope
close.
It’s honest and open —
bruised, but beautiful.
It’s
all the searching,
all the learning,
all the trusting.
It’s
redemption
found.
This weekend has me dreaming of photography adventures I want to have, words I want to write, art journal pages I want to create…
This weekend has me dreaming of making something new and beautiful out of everything that’s been heavy on my heart.
I’m sure you’re all familiar with the 6-Word Memoir Project (started by SMITH Magazine Editor Larry Smith and inspired by Ernest Hemingway’s shortest of short stories, which said: “For sale: Baby shoes, never worn.”
After being inspired by the project, the Oprah Magazine staff asked readers to share their own 6-word memoirs on Facebook and Twitter. This month, there’s a little feature on them at Oprah.com, and upon browsing some of the memoirs this morning, I decided I wanted to create one, too. So, I grabbed the nearest scrap of paper and scribbled mine down.
Here it is (after being transferred from scrap to screen).
(It should sound familiar, as it ties in perfectly with my One Little Word for 2012.)
I suppose it’s a bit of a mantra and a memoir, but it’s the first thing that came to mind, so I went with it.
What’s yours? :)
