Oh, We're Halfway There!
Celebrating with Warren!
LOVED getting to celebrate Warren's baptism alongside her and her family yesterday! Today, I'm still thinking about the impact her story has as Lee and Rachel reminded us of the faithfulness of God through the years that is now showing itself in the courage and conviction Warren has in following him! Can't wait to see how the Lord uses you!
A weekend at Barren Heights
A chunk of our family was serving and worshipping together down at Barren Heights this weekend! I'm so thankful for several who said yes to serving at a weekend retreat for special needs families through Barren Heights - and for a family who got to experience a weekend of rest and play!
I love the growing desire at CCC to serve and minister alongside of our brothers and sisters with special needs. This fall, there's even a Community Group launching that focuses on creating community with and for them! Stay tuned!
The paradoxical partners of joy and suffering
From knee replacements, to cancer, to relational stress, or intense grieving, enduring through the hardships of life can be so tough. I'm convinced that part of the difficulty is the intense swing of emotions that can happen.
Sunday, while we were gathered, one member was moved out of ICU - a very direct answer to prayer that had happened before church! But the low that had led to that moment just a couple days earlier was just as intense.
So many of you are either navigating these ups and downs in your own life or alongside of someone you love. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, "The peace and joy that belong to deepest suffering are the miracles of faith."
By faith, then, we can learn that the ups and downs, the joys and sorrows, are paradoxical partners. They go hand in hand. And welcoming that paradox in our own lives frees us to be authentic.
Beauty in the details
Peter did a great job of retelling the story of how God has brought him to this place in life and blessed his obedience! One of the things that struck me about Peter Roloson's story was how God worked in the details of his life to show himself to Peter in real and tangible ways. There is a lot of beauty in those details!
I was reminded of my impatience to see beauty in the details yesterday afternoon as Katelyn and I worked to repair our recliner. Once it was "good enough" I was ready to move on. But she prodded me to pay attention to the details and do the little things right. It's part of what makes us a good team, I believe.
But more than that, she often reminds me to keep looking for beauty in the details of life. They are a great testimony to our Creator!
Oh, we're halfway there!
This week we'll hit the halfway point of 2025! Crazy!
As that hit me today, I thought it might be a good opportunity to "number my days," as the Psalmist says. I must confess, it feels like too many of these 2025 days have passed me by; there's always so many more things I'd love to accomplish!
I'm reminded of the Bon Jovi lyrics - "Oh, we're halfway there! Oh, living on a prayer!"
I'm not sure he meant it this way, but if my dependence on Jesus can grow in the back half of 2025, I believe he'll do far more in my life in the back half of 2025 than I can ask or imagine.
So this week, I'm asking the Lord to be a light on my path, to shine the way forward, and help me make the most of the back half of 2025. Join me?
Let's keep going out to make disciples..
