This Joyful Kind Of Love

Blessing the Dust
by Jan Richardson

All those days
you felt like dust,
like dirt,
as if all you had to do
was turn your face
toward the wind
and be scattered
to the four corners

or swept away
by the smallest breath
as insubstantial—

did you not know
what the Holy One
can do with dust?

This is the day
we freely say
we are scorched.

This is the hour
we are marked
by what has made it
through the burning.

This is the moment
we ask for the blessing
that lives within
the ancient ashes,
that makes its home
inside the soil of
this sacred earth.

So let us be marked
not for sorrow.
And let us be marked
not for shame.
Let us be marked
not for false humility
or for thinking
we are less
than we are

but for claiming
what God can do
within the dust,
within the dirt,
within the stuff
of which the world
is made
and the stars that blaze
in our bones
and the galaxies that spiral
inside the smudge
we bear.

Be filled with the right things in your life❤️

👒🎩🤠💈💇‍♂️💇‍♀️

"I think about decisions in three ways: hats, haircuts, and tattoos.
Most decisions are like hats. Try one and if you don’t like it, put it back and try another. The cost of a mistake is low, so move quickly and try a bunch of hats.

Some decisions are like haircuts. You can fix a bad one, but it won’t be quick and you might feel foolish for a while. That said, don't be scared of a bad haircut. Trying something new is usually a risk worth taking. If it doesn't work out, by this time next year you will have moved on and so will everyone else.

A few decisions are like tattoos. Once you make them, you have to live with them. Some mistakes are irreversible. Maybe you'll move on for a moment, but then you'll glance in the mirror and be reminded of that choice all over again. Even years later, the decision leaves a mark. When you're dealing with an irreversible choice, move slowly and think carefully."

-James Clear

📷 Photo by RDNE Stock project

📖 Book of the Bible: Genesis
📅Date: Somewhere between 1446 BC- 1406 BC
✍️ Author: Moses
💌 Audience: God's chosen people, the Israelites, on their way to the Promised Land
🎯 Aim: To provide a record of their heritage and God's plan of redemption.
🖼 Theme: Creation, the Flood, the Patriarchs, & God's plan of redemption.
🗝 Key Words: Covenant, Bless, Sin, & God Said
💎 Treasured Scripture: Genesis 1:27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
🎁 Take Away: If you could see what God sees, you would never question your beauty again.
❓ What's your favorite thing about Genesis?

📸 Photo by Brett Jordan

Looking for a new way to start the fresh this coming year? Start off with your word of the year!

Word Of the Year How can one word make any difference in a world full of bullet journaling, goal setting, and reinventing yourself? So what can one word do? A single word can make a tremendous difference.

Join us for A Walk Through Advent with Abide.
🌟👪🙏🕯⛪

For generations, God’s people waited for the promised Messiah. Their frequent cry of “How long, O Lord,” echoed through the hills of Israel. These days, we honor their waiting during the Advent season as we wait in anticipation of the celebration of Jesus’ birth.

Each day for four weeks, beginning November 28th, join Abide for "A Walk Through Advent," featuring 90-second daily encouragements from God’s Word focused on the Christmas story. In this unique event, you will be encouraged to take just a couple of minutes out of your day during what can be a hectic time of year to realign your heart with the good news of Christ’s advent on Earth.

Messages about love, peace, hope, and joy will remind you why this season is sacred and exciting. Sign up today and join us in celebrating the “good news of great joy” throughout Advent this year!

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"When you tolerate an error, you rob yourself of learning.

When you ruminate on an error, you rob yourself of happiness.

Notice it, improve it, and move on from it."

-James Clear

"We want solutions, but what we really need are attitudes.
You don't need abs, but rather an attitude of training. You don't need the answer, but rather an attitude of curiosity. You don't need an easier life, but rather an attitude of perseverance.
Attitude precedes outcome."
- James Clear

Welcome to JUNE, my beautiful friends!!

Summer is HERE!!

As we dive into this new month, many of us have changed schedules to include more of our people. Between summer break, vacations, and the hotter weather, we have many opportunities to connect with those we cherish.

As we begin this beautiful month of June, please create space to work through our Intentional Summer Planner. Consider what YOU and YOUR FAMILY need out of the next few months.

How will you prioritize those needs? How will you build a connection? How will you make space for rest? For adventure? For life?

Intentionally plan your summer. Let's make this summer the best one yet!

Happy June, friends! I'm so excited to dig in with you this month!

With His Joy & Love,
Leticia Barker