A Summer to Savor: Finding God’s Presence in the Beauty of Nature

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” – Psalm 19:1 (NIV)

Can I just say… this summer has been one for the books. I think I say that every year, but truly, I’ve been soaking it up more than ever before. There’s just something about summertime that brings me so much peace and joy. It slows everything down, quiets the world just enough, and somehow makes space for the soul to breathe.

Maybe you’ve felt it too, that gentle nudge from the Lord, inviting you to come outside and be. To breathe deep. To notice.

I’ve been doing exactly that.

There’s something sacred in the simple things: walking barefoot in the grass, laying out a blanket under a shady tree, or listening to the crickets chirping through the open windows at night. Sometimes I just sit in my backyard and enjoy the birds and squirrels and butterflies going about their day as if they’re characters in a little story God’s telling, one of beauty, simplicity, and quiet delight.

Even the rainstorms feel like a gift; those deep, earthy smells and the sudden cool breeze on a hot day. And don’t get me started on the lake days. That sunshine sparkling across the water feels like God’s smile, doesn’t it?

One of my favorite little joys this week was picking fresh flowers right from my yard, geraniums and daffodils, and placing them in a vase by the kitchen window. I didn’t have to go to the store. I just stepped outside, and there they were, bright and cheerful, almost as if they were waiting to be invited in. They remind me that beauty doesn’t have to be bought or chased. It can be received. Noticed. Celebrated.

It all reminds me that God is such a generous Creator. Every leaf, every breeze, every cricket song is a little reminder: I’m here. I love you. Slow down and be with Me.

So today, I just want to invite you to do the same. Step outside, sister. Look around. Take it in. Let yourself feel grounded in this season, because it’s a gift. And you don’t have to earn it. You just have to receive it.

And if you can, pick a flower or two. Put them in your window. Let them brighten your home and your heart. Let them remind you that God is near, and He delights in delighting you.

With love and sunshine,

Jennifer ☀️



photocredit: DragonImages

Rooted Not Shaken

Dear Friend,

There is a quiet kind of strength that comes from trusting in the Lord.

Not the kind of strength that the world often praises — loud, performative, or polished — but a deep, rooted strength. The kind that anchors you through every storm, that nourishes you through dry seasons, that reminds you: you are never alone, and you are always connected to something greater.

I was recently reflecting on one of a powerful Scriptures in the Bible, one that speaks so directly to the heart of where our hope truly belongs:

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.

They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water.

Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought.

Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.”

— Jeremiah 17:7-8

Can you feel the peace in that verse? It reminds us that when we place our trust in God, when we make Him our source, we are not shaken by circumstances. We’re like trees beside a river, drawing life from a place that can never run dry.

Even when the “heat” comes — the pressure, the trials, the waiting seasons — we remain. We may feel it, but we’re not overtaken by it. We are nourished by something deeper.

Even when others around us are panicking, striving, or grasping for control, we can walk in peace. Not because we have it all figured out, but because we know the One who does.

And even in the driest seasons of life, we still bear fruit. Maybe not the kind the world measures, with achievements and applause, but eternal fruit: peace, kindness, resilience, compassion, wisdom, and grace.

That kind of fruit never spoils. It feeds others. It reflects God.

So if you’re in a season of uncertainty right now…

If you’re in a waiting room or wilderness…

If you’re quietly holding on to promises that haven’t come to pass yet…

I want to gently remind you:

🌿 Keep your roots deep.

🌿 Keep your eyes on the river.

🌿 Keep trusting.

You are planted by the water.

You are held by a Source that never runs dry.

And even now, even here…

You are still bearing fruit.

With love and faith,

Letters for the Journey 🕊️



photo credit: Darko Kriznik

Community and Hospitality: Opening Our Home, Hearts & BBQ Grill This Summer

Dear Friend,

There’s something sacred about opening your home and inviting others in, not in a formal, fancy-table-setting, Pinterest-perfect kind of way, but in a real-life, “kids running through the sprinklers while the burgers are sizzling” kind of way.

This summer, we have decided to lean into hospitality, simple, joyful, come-as-you-are gatherings with other hockey families. Backyard barbecues, shared stories, laughter, paper plates, and all.

I used to overthink entertaining. I thought it had to be complicated, that I had to deep clean every corner of the house, prepare a magazine-worthy meal, and set the mood with candles and matching napkins. But the more I grow in my faith (and honestly, the more I live life), the more I realize that hospitality is less about presentation and more about presence.

The Heart of Christian Hospitality

Christian hospitality isn’t about impressing — it’s about blessing.

It’s about creating space for connection. It’s about opening your door — and your heart — to love people well. It’s not just about serving food but also serving up encouragement, laughter, rest, and warmth.

I’ve come to believe that when we open our homes, we also open the door for God to move. Relationships deepen. Kids make memories. Spouses connect. Life feels a little slower, a little sweeter.

For the Woman Just Starting Her Journey with Hospitality…

If you’re feeling that nudge to start inviting others in, but you’re not sure where to begin — here are a few things I’ve been reminding myself of:

1. Keep it simple.

It doesn’t need to be a five-course meal. A big salad and something on the grill is plenty. Chips in a bowl, fruit on a tray, lemonade in a pitcher — it works. Keep the focus on connection, not perfection.

2. Embrace the mess.

Your house doesn’t have to be spotless. Your kids don’t have to be on their best behavior. When we let others see our lived-in lives, it actually builds more trust.

3. Include the whole family.

Some of our favorite gatherings are with other families who also have kids. We let the children play in the yard or toss a ball around while the adults chat. It takes the pressure off and creates a more relaxed vibe for everyone.

4. Let people help.

If someone offers to bring a side dish or dessert — let them. Hospitality doesn’t mean you do it all. In fact, I think the best gatherings are a team effort. It makes everyone feel like they’re part of something.

5. Pray before people come.

Try to take just a few quiet minutes before guests arrive to pray over your home, your conversation, and the people walking through the door. “Lord, let them feel peace here. Let laughter come easily. Let this time be a blessing to their hearts.”

Our Summer of Backyard Barbecues

This summer, we’re saying yes to a season of casual get-togethers, not to fill our calendar but to fill our lives with people we love.

I’m excited to fire up the grill, pull out some lawn games, let the kids play late into the evening, and just be together. No pretense. No pressure. Just fun.

If you’ve been thinking about opening your home more, consider this your nudge. Start small. Invite one family over for dinner or popsicles on the porch. You don’t need fancy plans, you just need a willing heart.

Let your home be a place where people feel safe, seen, and welcomed. That’s holy work, friend. And it starts with one simple invitation.

Enjoy! 

Jennifer ❤️❤️

photo credit: Gordon Koff www.unsplash.com

Proof of His Presence: The Power of Remembering

Bible Verse:

“Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things He does for me.”

— Psalm 103:2 (NLT)

The other day, I got the best advice from a pastor, and honestly… it stuck with me in the best way.

He said, “Sit down and make a list. Write out every way God has come through for you. The times He’s protected you, blessed you, provided for you, even when you didn’t see it right away.”

And I thought, Wow, why don’t we do this more often?

Because let’s be real, life can feel overwhelming sometimes. It’s easy to focus on what’s not going right or all the unknowns ahead. But when we stop and remember how far God has brought us… something shifts.

It’s like our soul exhales.

Our faith lifts.

And we realize—we’re not walking alone.

Think about it:

• That one time you were at the end of your rope, and somehow, peace found you.

• That unexpected check, job opportunity, or open door you didn’t see coming.

• The conversation that healed something inside you.

• The car accident you almost had but didn’t.

• That season you didn’t think you’d survive, and now it’s behind you.

These aren’t random moments. That’s God’s hand, steady and faithful.

When we make space to remember, it’s like building an altar with our words. It tells our future selves, “Look! He did it then. He’ll do it again.”

So I’ve started keeping a little “God came through” list in my journal. Sometimes it’s just bullet points. Sometimes it’s a few lines with tears in my eyes. But every time I do it, I feel grounded. Held. Hopeful.

If you’re going through something right now, or even if you’re just feeling a little distant, this is your gentle nudge to pause and remember. He’s been with you every step. And He’s not about to stop now.

Journal Prompt (or phone notes prompt, no pressure 😉):

Make a list of 100 ways God has come through for you. Big or small. What moments can you look back on and say, “That was God”? Then take a deep breath and remind your heart: He’s still writing your story.

photo credit: Azman Jaka

From Overwhelm to Peace in His Presence

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You.” – Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)



Dear Friends,

This week has been a spiritual classroom-gentle, sacred, and deeply personal. Each day held a new revelation, quietly teaching me more about who I am, how I’m navigating life, and what my soul truly longs for.

A few days ago, I reached a point of mental exhaustion. Not just from external circumstances, but from the weight of my own thoughts. I was carrying worries about the future, responsibilities piling up, unspoken expectations, and the quiet hum of pressure that never seemed to fade. My mind felt like a noisy storm, and I was slowly drowning in it.

In a moment of surrender, I turned to prayer. Not with eloquent words, but with the raw ache of a tired heart. I whispered to God through my weariness, asking for peace, clarity, anything that would help lift the fog. And in that still space, the Holy Spirit whispered gently to my heart:

“It’s not just your circumstances. It’s where your mind is dwelling.”

That simple truth cracked something open in me. A light breaking through the mental haze.

Suddenly, I was reminded of the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10. Martha was overwhelmed, "worried and upset about many things.” She was busy, distracted, doing everything in her own strength. But Mary chose something different. She sat at Jesus’ feet and listened. She chose presence over pressure. Worship over worry. Stillness over striving.

In that moment, I saw myself clearly. I’ve been Martha in my mind, busy, anxious, spinning in my thoughts - while my spirit has been craving what Mary chose: stillness, quiet, and connection with Jesus.

So I made a conscious shift.

Whenever my day began to spiral, I whispered the name of Jesus.

When my thoughts raced, I asked: “Jesus, what are You saying to me right now?”

When I felt the pressure to do it all, I reminded myself that His love never asks me to carry everything alone, and he loves me more than I can comprehend. 

And slowly, things began to change. Not necessarily around me, but within me. I was no longer drowning. I was anchored.

What I Learned This Week:

• My peace doesn’t come from everything going perfectly. It comes from fixing my thoughts on Jesus.

• The enemy doesn’t always attack circumstances, he often attacks focus.

• I am not responsible for carrying every thought or outcome on my own.

• The Holy Spirit is always gently leading me back to what matters most: God’s presence and love.

Journal Prompt

Title: Anchored in His Presence

Reflect on the following questions in your journal or prayer time:

1. What thoughts or worries have been taking up the most space in my mind lately?

2. Where might I be acting like Martha, anxious, distracted, or trying to do too much in my own strength?

3. What would it look like to choose the way of Mary today, to be still and rest at the feet of Jesus?

4. What do I sense Jesus is saying to me right now?

5. What promise from God’s Word can I hold onto this week when my mind starts to spiral?

"Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28

Love, Jennifer ❤️❤️

photo credit: Ridofranz

https://www.istockphoto.com/portfolio/Ridofranz?mediatype=photography

Imperishable Beauty: Aging Gracefully as a Christian Woman

Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.”  Proverbs 16:31 (ESV)

There is something profoundly beautiful about a woman who has walked with the Lord for many seasons. She carries wisdom in her words, grace in her steps, and light in her eyes that doesn’t dim with the years, it deepens. The world may chase after youth with frantic urgency, convincing women to fear age and erase its signs. But as Christian women, we are called to something deeper, truer, and far more radiant.

Aging gracefully isn’t about holding onto youth, it’s about holding onto God.

The world tells us to fight for our beauty, but it often means fighting against time, wrinkles, gray hairs, and slowing bodies. Yet God gently reminds us that true beauty is not in smooth skin or youthful figures, it is in a quiet spirit, a loving heart, and a life steeped in truth.

“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment… rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” 1 Peter 3:3–4 (NIV)

This is the imperishable beauty we’re invited to cultivate. It’s not fleeting, and it doesn’t wrinkle with time. It grows stronger, fuller, and more glorious as we draw nearer to Him.

Aging Gracefully with Intentionality

To age gracefully is to live with intentional care for your body, your mind, and your spirit.

• Care for your body not in vanity, but in reverence for the temple God has entrusted to you. Eat well, stay active, rest deeply, and treat your body with the same tenderness God shows you.

• Nurture your mind by reading, learning, and challenging yourself. Let wisdom deepen with age rather than letting your thoughts grow stale.

• Feed your spirit through prayer, Scripture, and time in the Lord’s presence. Your quiet time is not just devotional—it’s foundational.

God delights in the woman who walks with Him through every season of life. He doesn’t frown upon her gray hairs or call her less-than for the changes in her reflection. He sees her and calls her radiant. Her beauty is not slipping away, it’s being refined.

So while the world may whisper, “Do everything you can to stay young,” heaven declares, “Let your beauty shine from within, and it will never fade.”

Let the crowning glory of age, the gray strands, the laugh lines, the experience-worn hands be reminders of a life lived in faith, growth, and divine purpose.

Journal Prompt:

Take some quiet time to reflect and write:

How do I want to redefine beauty in my life as I age? What parts of my spirit, mind, and body do I want to nurture more intentionally in this season?

With love,

Jennifer ❤️❤️

photo credit: Youngoldman. https://www.istockphoto.com/portfolio/Youngoldman?mediatype=photography