Every year I have the same desire: To be intentional with my time, my family, my friends and mostly my spiritual life. 

Being intentional in all of these relationships requires much of me. I have to be mindful of our time and be diligent about planning. I also desire the time spent to be full of life and sweet hospitality that grows our relationships and challenges our spiritual lives.

Life is always changing.

As always, I feel like I have good rhythms and routines in place and then, something changes. Gymnastics is moved to Thursday, someone gets sick, a friend needs to meet for coffee to process through some stuff, the kids constantly need to have something and be somewhere!

Early on in our marriage, my husband was struggling with his career and finding his place.

…Sometimes, though all those things are good, there are seasons in the lives of our children and our husbands where we don’t need just good, we need the supernatural to intervene.

We need the power of the Holy Spirit to move on their behalf.

At the beginning of the year as I was reflecting and praying the Lord whispered into my heart, “What if you simply enjoyed me this year.”

I began to think and wonder what that meant. How does one enjoy Jesus?

As I began to pray and flip through my bible curious about these words, I found myself in John 15, one of my favorite passages in scripture

My grandfather was a missionary & church planter.

He went around all over Guatemala and the border of Texas planting churches and preaching the good news of Jesus.

One time he was at a church in a small obscure village preaching. The people of the village did not care for his teaching. They did not hear the good news, but rather were full of hate and rallied together to kill him. The mob waited outside the doors of the church with machetes in hand ready to attack as soon as he stepped out.

It’s 10:00 at night.

The teenagers are beginning to move to their quiet spaces. The days of 8 o’clock bedtimes are long gone, but they each find their own nighttime routine that works. The boy is usually exhausted from the day full of friends and school and sports and looks for his bed as soon as possible. The middle one looks forward to the night where she can stay up a little longer reading one more chapter. The baby still wants me included in her routine of snuggles and one more song.

I have learned that life comes in seasons and every season has different Rhythms.

The Lord recently taught me to look at this season and find the rhythms that are a part of my now.

“TO LIVE FROM A PLACE OF REST IS TO ABIDE IN GRACE AND MOVE THROUGH EACH BLOCK LIKE A DANCE.”

The beginning of the school year always brings with it routine, which to be honest, after a summer of fun and sleeping in and travel, routine is much desired. I have learned that as a mom, rest and rhythms are essential.

I haven’t read my bible in two weeks. I have sat with it in my lap. I have opened the app a few times. I have avoided it as well. I love reading my bible. But these past few weeks I just haven’t had the heart.

Been there before? Yeah.

Have you ever been overwhelmed with so much sadness you couldn’t pray?

Have you ever been overwhelmed with so much life, you are just moving through the weeds as fast as you can so they don’t choke you?

Dear Jesus,

I do not have much peace today Lord. The unrest of the world, the uncertainty of the future, even the unrest between your saints is difficult to contend with Lord. I am flailing, wavering, weak and tired.

Assure me of your peace Lord.

Your presence is the very breath I breathe and you surround me, therefore, peace is mine for you said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” John 14:27.