How's August here already?

Anyone else want to slow down this month and savor the last of the peaches, dip your toes in a pool a few more times… and try not to count the days until your youngest goes off to college?🤚🏼

We’re back in Colorado settling into a rental until we get into a another rental September 1st… (my birthday and the day I leave for our Paris retreat) 🤦‍♀️

Life.

It has a way of going by whether we want it to or not. It also has a way of ending up completely different than you thought it was going. No one really dreams of the not knowing, or the waiting, right? As a mother, do we ever envision the day… after so many years of having kids at home… you’re now in a quiet home with no children to take care of?

I was listening to our old pastor on the radio this morning and he said something that blessed me, so maybe it will  bless you too…

“The world has to “see to believe” but as Christ followers we are called to “believe, and then we will see.”” Ed Taylor

We trust God first… seek God first… and then He reveals His will to us, in His perfect timing. He opens our eyes to His Word, which holds His truth and will for our lives.

And this brings us to the heart of our faith:

To trust and obey.

Trust and obedience go hand in hand if we claim to believe in Jesus Christ. We may not get to see (or understand) all that’s going on right away… but we do have the blessed assurance that we are His and He is working everything out for our good and His glory!

That’s where we can say… ok life… I don’t understand and I’m not sure I like it… but we can live with eyes that look past this world, past all the “stuff…” to the hope and assurance that we trust in the God of all creation. The One who designed us from the beginning, has a plan for our lives, and is watching over us wherever we go.

And that is soooo good!

“The Lord watches over those who obey him, those who trust in his constant love.” Psalm 33:18

That is blessed assurance, even in the unknowns. 🙌🏻

Have a great weekend everyone! I’m trying to finish up some things for the Paris retreat coming us SOON! I’m still praying and planning for the England retreat, but I don’t have dates yet. For those who have asked about another Paris retreat… the next one we will try to do in the Springtime. But it may be that we are looking at 2024 for both the English Countryside retreat and the Paris Springtime retreat. Next year I need to leave a bit “open” for some big events in our lives… (more on that to come) But, we have two retreats in Italy next year and we’d love to have you join us next year in our favorite place in the world! June 3 - 10, 2023 still have some spots open and you can find out all the details on our Creative Retreats page HERE.

Hugs to all,

Laura

Be blessed today by the lyrics to Blessed Assurance:

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!

Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation, purchase of God

Born of his Spirit, washed in His blood

This is my story, this is my song

Praising my Savior all the day long

This is my story, this is my song

Praising my Savior all the day long

Perfect submission, perfect delight

Visions of rapture now burst on my sight

Angels descending bring from above

Echoes of mercy, whispers of love

This is my story, this is my song

Praising my Savior all the day long

This is my story, this is my song

Praising my Savior all the day long

Praising my Savior all the day long

Take a moment to read Psalm 33 today:

“Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous ones; praise from the upright is beautiful. Praise the Lord with the lyre; make music to him with a ten-stringed harp. Sing a new song to him; play skillfully on the strings, with a joyful shout. For the word of the Lord is right, and all his work is trustworthy. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the Lord’s unfailing love. The heavens were made by the word of the Lord, and all the stars, by the breath of his mouth. He gathers the water of the sea into a heap; he puts the depths into storehouses. Let the whole earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spoke, and it came into being; he commanded, and it came into existence. The Lord frustrates the counsel of the nations; he thwarts the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart from generation to generation. Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord  — the people he has chosen to be his own possession! The Lord looks down from heaven; he observes everyone. He gazes on all the inhabitants of the earth from his dwelling place. He forms the hearts of them all; he considers all their works. A king is not saved by a large army; a warrior will not be rescued by great strength. The horse is a false hope for safety; it provides no escape by its great power. But look, the Lord keeps his eye on those who fear him — those who depend on his faithful love to rescue them from death and to keep them alive in famine. We wait for the Lord; he is our help and shield. For our hearts rejoice in him because we trust in his holy name. May your faithful love rest on us, Lord, for we put our hope in you.”