In case you missed it, my word of the year is WELCOME, described by the acronym below. For more details on why I chose this word go here.
Worship – Making room for God
Embrace – Making room for my family
Learn – Making room to grow my mind
Care – Making room for my health
Offer – Making room for others
Minimize – Making room by clearing a thing or practice from my life
Everyday Blessings – Recording the little joys that occur when I make room
WORSHIP
Goal: Daily, undistracted prayer on my knees.
While I need the reminder of undistracted prayer, making the “on my knees” part a goal felt too restrictive. Instead of enjoying my time with God when I was curled up in a chair or folding laundry, I felt guilty since I wasn’t “meeting my goal.” Making worship a goal is difficult, I’m finding. I have a better idea for a goal next month which I hope will enhance worship but not make it feel like a checklist.
The first day of August was the last Sunday of our camp meeting, so I heard two different evangelists on that day. We spent the rest of the month here at home. Our pastor has been preaching a series on our role in the Church as the Body of Christ. He has made some thought-provoking points.
I’m still following this Bible reading plan. I had to finish up some chapters from July this month, but I am on track to finish the assigned reading by the end of August.
EMBRACE
Goal: Prepare for the boys’ birthday party, plan a Family Fun Day, make more time to talk as a family.
In our family, birthday parties are not a big thing. We usually celebrate with a family outing, special time with friends or just have a cake along with our Sunday dinner. The exception is what we consider the milestone birthdays. In our home, these are 13 and 16. It seems like ancient history, but I believe we also did 1st birthday parties and a few extra tea parties for our one girl. This year, our “middles” turned 13 and 16 within a month of each other, so we combined their parties in a celebration with family and a few local friends.
We also went to see a historical play together as a family and have made it a point not to rush off when dinner is over. We’ve enjoyed some crazy times and had some thoughtful discussions over dinner this month.
LEARN
Goal: Complete assigned writing.
I took a break from my personal writing project to write some Sunday school lessons for a children’s curriculum this month. The process of writing a Bible story for children always helps me see it with fresh eyes.
Always, I’m learning through reading – one of my favorite pastimes. Anytime I recommend a book (or anything for that matter!), remember it is not infallible and I’m not recommending or endorsing every part of it. With that caveat, here are a few good books I read this month:
On Christian Faith Habits:
The Common Rule: Habits of Purpose in an Age of Distraction
by Justin Whitmel Earley
While books on Christian habits give a nod to Catholic or liturgical practices which I don’t embrace, I found this one intensely practical and helpful despite a few differences I had with the author. He gave helpful tips on how to minimize our distractions to have a more meaningful spiritual life and, truly, emotional and physical life as well.
Fiction:
Aftermath by Terri Blackstock
One of my reading recommendation sources has given me a few disappointing reads and/or books I can’t conscientiously endorse, even with my disclaimer. However, Blackstock never disappoints for clean, Christian suspense. This is her newest book, and I enjoyed the story line.
Homemaking:
This is Where You Belong: The Art and Science of Loving the Place You Live by Melody Warnick
This isn’t a traditional homemaking book as in caring for the structure in which you live. It is more about learning to love your neighborhood and being a vital part of it. While it is a secular book, many of the suggestions could be applied to bettering community for the Gospel as well. I did not read the entirety, since there are summary lists at the end of each chapter. I felt I got the gist of her ideas without all the stats and details I didn’t need.
On My Coffee Table:
Since moving into our new home and finding we have room for a coffee table, we’ve tried to rotate through some beautiful books. This month, I went for fresh flowers and a pretty decorating book, Mary Emmerling’s Romantic Country: Style That’s Straight From the Heart. I know I need a tray to pull the items together better, but I haven’t found that perfect one yet. Any ideas? (Hint: I’m a fresh flowers and silver fan, not so much farmhouse.)
CARE
Goal: Walk each weekday, eat only in an 8 hour window.
I have done this pretty consistently. I enjoy walking in the evening, when it is cooler and quieter. Making it part of my routine has helped a lot. I generally look forward to it unless it was a very full day. I also remember to water my flowers as I return, so it’s a win-win.
OFFER
Goal: Host birthday party and out-of-town family as overnight guests.
We did this in a whirlwind weekend! A party with the majority of the 50 people invited present and 11 overnight guests. It was a lot of fun, but it went way too fast.
MINIMIZE
Goal: Prepare for school and begin well.
This may not seem like a minimizing goal, but to do school well something always has to go. We streamlined routines and decided what was essential and what was not. I had fun personalizing a checklist for each student with their own personal Bible verse, quote and poem. It’s our 15th year homeschooling. For the last 7 or 8 years, we start the year by filling out a questionnaire about all their favorite things and plans. Then, they decorate binder covers with their grade on them and pose for a front porch picture.
EVERYDAY JOYS
A few more highlights from our August below:
A couple fun dates with my husband choosing plants for our flower bed and a dinner out~Shopping with my daughter~A first birthday party for our nephew~Guests for Sunday dinner twice~An afternoon at Hobby Lobby all by myself
QUOTES OF THE MONTH:
Only when your habits are constructed to match your worldview do you become someone who doesn’t just know about God and neighbor but someone who actually loves God and neighbor.
From The Common Rule by Justin Whitmel Earley
We draw people to Christ not by loudly discrediting what they believe…but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all their hearts to know the source of it.
Madeleine L’Engle, quoted in The Common Rule
…the great danger in not in simply overusing social media, it is living through social media. The problem is not so much the way it wastes time, it is the way it frames time. Without limits, we begin to see our whole life through it. We see our whole day through a possible post.
Also from The Common Rule
Practice the pause. Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you’re about to react harshly, and you’ll avoid doing and saying things you’ll later regret.
Lori Deschene, as quoted in a YouTube video by The Daily Connoisseur
Disclaimer: On any music video I share, I am only attempting to share that particular song. It is in no way an endorsement of the artist, other songs they may sing or any ads associated with the video.
I hope you all had a beautiful August and are gearing up for September and the beginning of Fall! I’d love to hear some of your goals in the comments or in an e-mail. I’ll check in again next month.