Summer, slow down!

Can you believe June is already behind us and only two short months of summer remain? We need to go slow and soak it in. What helps you to go slow? If I am honest with myself and examine how my time is spent, that reflection brings up these things that help me to go slow:

1. Eating at home (we did this for a whole week on vacation)

2. Limiting social media (my mind is not constantly processing the input)

3. Reading a good fictional book (this helps with limiting social media & stress)

June was a whirlwind with all the details that led up to the launch of my book, Firm Foundation: Resilience After Trauma. I want to say thank you a million times to everyone who helped! The beta readers, the launch team, the coaches, those who wrote endorsements, accountability partners, my Thursday group, individual helpers, The Cardinal Preserve, and every reader plus launch party attendees from the community in and around Mount Pleasant. Y'all sure made me feel loved and supported. 

The best part has been personal texts, photos, and book reviews that have demonstrated to me that the Lord's purpose is at work. He gets all the glory for inspiring me to write a hard story in a way that helps others to process their own pain or have greater understanding for those who are experiencing heartache. The book is a useful tool in the hands of the reader. Thank you for continually sharing it with others. He is our Healer and uses our circumstances to help us to grow. Bitter or better, the choice is yours. If you have not read it yet, and want a copy, here is the link. 

At the beginning of every month, I prepare a new prayer guide to share with you. (Click on the gold link above) This month we are focusing on the God of Mercy. He withholds rightful punishment and provides endless opportunities for redemption. 

When we use the entire month to focus on an aspect of His character, we can be changed a little more. He helps us to become a fractional amount more merciful. Sometimes it might be leaps and bounds more merciful because of a particular circumstance. Only our all-knowing God grants transformation according to His plans for us. 

I challenge you to pray scripture. Perhaps you will look up additional verses that I have not included here. I find that interacting with scripture helps me more than using only what someone else has provided for me. Try that to see if that helps you, too. 

On My Nightstand

Writing a book put me behind on my own reading! For the past few years, I've set a reading goal on Goodreads. Follow me there if you'd like. It's a great place to keep track of books you've read and books you'd like to read. It's also a wonderful way to discover authors who may be new to you. I love walking into a bookstore or the library and pulling up my "Want to Read" list to help me shop.

Rocky Road by Becky Wade  This book in #2 in The Sons of Scandal series. The series title nearly turned me off because I don't enjoy books that are explicit. This series is wholesome, thoughtfully explores family dynamics, and features well-developed characters without excessive description. Anyway, the series should be read in order. The first book was not available when I started so I thought it wouldn't matter that much. I enjoyed all 3 books tremendously, but I think I would have enjoyed them much more in order. 

Stones of Remembrance by Daniel G. Amen, MD This book caught my eye at the Billy Graham Library Bookstore. It is the only Christian bookstore around and I love seeing books, Bibles, and Bible studies in my hands before I purchase them. This book is a resource to help with scripture memorization and I need all the help I can get. 

Summer State of Mind by Kristy Woodson Harvey Gosh I just started this last night and I cannot wait to get back to it ASAP! I have read everything this NC author has written and just love her style. She is from Salisbury and currently lives on the NC coast. In this latest book, a high school baseball coach rescues a newborn baby from a dumpster behind the school. I love that this author labels each chapter by the name of the character whose perspective is driving the chapter. I wish more authors did that because it helps my mind to make the necessary connections. If you like this author or book events, Kristy Woodson Harvey is coming to Mt Pleasant on Monday, September 14 to The Coach House. Get all the details & buy tickets here. 

Thanks for reading. I am honored to arrive to your inbox a time or two a month. 

May the slow joys of the Lord be yours this summer.