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I am so excited for my friend @sarah_westfall and her new book, The Way of Belonging! Sarah writes beautifully and thoughtfully about our longing for connection and community, always pointing us lovingly back to God. Congratulations, friend!!

𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴: 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨.⁣ Psalm 27:13⁣ ⁣ This year, I added a line to my daily gratitude practice:⁣ ⁣ >I saw God today when…⁣ ⁣ I wanted to pay more attention to the hand of God. He shows up in our daily lives in both big and small ways, but often our fast-paced life prevents us from recognizing his goodness. ⁣ ⁣ It has been a challenging practice, honestly. I didn’t want to just write down when God answered a prayer in the affirmative because he is so much bigger than my prayers.⁣ ⁣ So I look for him in small ways, like in a beautiful sunrise, or in the extra split second that allowed me to stop my car before an accident, or in the delightful laugh of a child.⁣ ⁣ This time of year is a great time to look for God because his evidence is visible in the wildflowers that are growing along the roadside. He’s to thank for the budding leaves on our tree or the pleasing aroma of the Mountain Laurel blooms. ⁣ ⁣ Where have you seen the goodness of the Lord? ⁣ ⁣ It is a simple practice through which we can seek God and honor him.

My January favorites include⁣ ⁣ 🌟 a fantastic body butter⁣ ⁣ 😁 my new favorite dental floss⁣ ⁣ ❤️ a perfume I am loving⁣ ⁣ ✍🏻 my favorite pen⁣ ⁣ You can read more at the link in my bio! ⁣ ⁣ What is one of your current favorite things?

I posted my top 10 favorite books I read in 2023 on my website! Out of 76 books I read last year, these rose to the top of my list. ⁣ ⁣ What was one of your favorite books last year?

I love reflecting on a year at its ending. It helps me appreciate my life that year and helps give me focus for the next year. ⁣ ⁣ As we say goodbye to 2023, here are a few questions to ask yourself (and your family and friends). Sharing the answers with others is a great way to connect.⁣ ⁣ I’d love for you to share one answer with me in the comments!

I love this time of year when the holidays are right around the corner! ⁣ ⁣ Each year, I share a gift guide with companies that fit into at least one of these categories:⁣ ⁣ 🎁 small business⁣ 🎁 Christian minded⁣ 🎁 cleaner ingredients⁣ 🎁 ethically sourced⁣ 🎁 charitable⁣ ⁣ I have no affiliations with these companies. I just liked their products and thought you might, too! ⁣ ⁣ Once again, I will be randomly drawing two names from my email subscribers to send a gift from this year’s gift guide. ⁣ ⁣ You can find links to my gift guide and to sign up for my email list in my profile. ⁣ ⁣ May your holidays be merry and bright!

In Mark 8:34, Jesus says,”If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”⁣ ⁣ In today’s world of self-gratification, seeking comfort, and numbing ourselves through a variety of means to escape the discomfort of life, it’s easy to get distracted from following Jesus. ⁣ ⁣ Will you join me in embracing self-sacrifice and a little suffering for the next 40 days? ⁣ ⁣ Let’s fast from something we love too much in order to focus more on following Christ. What is it for you? ⁣ ⁣ *sugar⁣ *TV⁣ *shopping⁣ *alcohol ⁣ *social media⁣ *late night snacks⁣ *sodas⁣ ⁣ Is there something that makes you cringe and think, “I could never give that up for 40 days!”? Maybe that is just the thing you need to fast from. ⁣ ⁣ Join me in practicing a little bit of self-denial and suffering, because we know that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope (Romans 5:3-4). ⁣ ⁣ If you want to join me, comment and let me know what you will be fasting from! ⁣ ⁣

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4⁣ ⁣ This week, I looked back at a list of 10-year goals I wrote down four years ago. A few of these dreams don’t appear to be likely, but I love that they were on my heart and giving me direction at that point in my life. ⁣ ⁣ I wrote down a new list this week. A few items remained similar, and I added a few new desires that have popped into my heart over the past few years.⁣ ⁣ Dreams are important. They give us hope and direction. ⁣ ⁣ I think God puts specific desires in our hearts for a reason, and they are nothing to be ashamed of, even if they seem far-fetched and unrealistic. ⁣ ⁣ Maybe God is using that far-fetched dream to get your attention, point something out in your life, or get you to just begin moving in that direction so that he can give you something even better. ⁣ ⁣ What is one bold dream you have in your heart? ⁣ ⁣ I would love to learn how to play the viola or violin. ❤️

Happy Friday! This month, a few of my favorites included:⁣ ⁣ 😋 a simple syrup that is perfect for lemonade, chai tea latte or other drinks⁣ ⁣ 📖 a book I enjoyed⁣ ⁣ 📺 a show I loved⁣ ⁣ 💅🏻 my favorite summer shade⁣ ⁣ 🎶 a lovely song⁣ ⁣ You can read more at the link in my bio⁣ ⁣ What was one of your favorite things in May?