Hello, my friend!
I pray you and your loved ones are doing well! I don’t know about you, but lately I have felt the urge – the need – to focus in more on my family and friends, to pray intently and specifically for them, to invest more meaningful time in those relationships, even on the days I’d rather stay home and keep to myself.(Although, it is certainly necessary and healthy to prioritize alone time too!)
There is so much darkness pervading the earth right now, and fostering community and friendships is, in my estimation, a God-given means not just of coping, but of flourishing despite the unrest and uncertainty swirling around us. Isolation is one of the absolutely most destructive things for the human spirit, but coupled with the daily influx of unsettling, nerve-wracking news, it can be catastrophic. So, I suppose I say all of that to say that I pray you, too, have people in your life whom you feel called to pour into, and who pour into you as well. We need each other, for strength and prayer, laughter and uplifting.
This month, I wanted to share a few things that have really blessed me recently. The first is a 14-minute YouTube video from one of my favorite teachers and evangelists, Perry Stone. This message is on “Redeeming the Time,” and while watching, I found myself repeatedly nodding and saying “Yes, Lord.” It was one of those things that seemed “meant for me,” so I pray it also blesses you or someone you know!
Lastly, here are a few quotes I found especially inspiring this month:
“The secret to being productive is to work on the right thing — even if it’s at a slow pace.” – James Clear
“A small act is worth a million thoughts.” – Ai Weiwei, contemporary artist
“To me, it has been a source of great comfort and strength in the day of battle, just to remember that the secret of steadfastness, and indeed, of victory, is the recognition that the Lord is at hand.” – Duncan Campbell