It's been over four months since I posted on this blog. But don't worry, I have done laundry a number of times since.
(See previous post to understand why I said that.)
I started this blog almost four years ago in the midst of changing seasons not really sure what I was doing or if I would blog often. As I pressed in, I found that I truly enjoyed writing and sharing stories & reflections on this adventure we call life.
Despite the fact I hit the pause button for blogging these recent months, this whole blogging thing is part of who I am now.
Well, I'm hitting the play button again. Except there's a change as I do so. The Every Season blog will remain online with all previous posts still accessible, but I'll be posting here from now on.
Check it out. Catch the fire and be empowered to live a lifestyle of Hope.
Thanks for coming along with me on the adventure thus far.
There's so much more to come...
Peace,
Suzanne
I'm long overdue on laundry. And blogging.
Today, I do both...at the same time. (Thanks to available internet at the laundromat.)
I sit near a wide open door breathing in the hope of springtime breeze flowing into this place as I watch my clothes spin around in circles.
So seems life lately...surrounded by and breathing in hope-filled air as a myriad of thoughts, ideas, lessons learned (or in process of learning), encounters, dreams, expectations, and stories spin around inside me...
The thought of spinning around in circles is usually seen as a being stuck. But not in this case. It's good. It all seems so purposeful right now. The hope that fills my lungs and the rest of me is saturating all of those spinning things.
And it's hitting me right now that much like the air and heat to the clothes spinning in that dryer and making them ready to be worn again, so is this hope making all these spinning things inside of me ready for something more, too.
Did I just make a parallel between my damp socks spinning in circles and what God is doing in my life right now? ...yep. Sure did. God makes me laugh.
My guess is that there are people feeling like they are stuck and spinning in circles lately, but God is actually declaring this season as incredibly purposeful. He's getting you ready.
Ask God, "What are you doing? How do you see this (situation, problem, circumstance, person, etc)?
Before turning to another person, learn to seek out God's heart on a matter first. (One of the lessons spinning around inside me lately...)
Knowing and hearing God as His Kingdom comes more and more in this world is vital...press in to He who knows you more than you can fathom...
Thank you, God.
Hmmm, well my clothes stopped spinning. Time to fold...
Peace and Life to you this Easter weekend!
Being it's Valentine's Day, I expected to see more Facebook statuses displaying the unofficial renaming of February 14: Happy Single Awareness Day!
I only saw one so far. And it didn't end with an exclamation point. I actually sensed a sarcastic disappointment behind the words.
Maybe most of my Facebook connections are now either married or in a relationship?
Or maybe people don't care to announce their singleness to the world?
Either way, this day has me thinking about something.
And it's not chocolate hearts, dinner for two, or my relationship status.
But rather, identity...
Before I move on, I'll take this time to be honest with you. My own journey in singleness has had it's times of disappointments, tears, and struggles. I've made some choices that invited hurt into my life. I have made some choices that hurt others. It's been a bumpy ride at times, but I have learned a lot through some of the most challenging times. Thank you, God, for grace and restoration!
While every step along the way has been a part of the learning, these last two years something extremely significant has been happening...
I'm learning about identity.
True identity...I'm learning to live from my true identity as a daughter of God.
This identity...this role...will never change...no matter the season of life I find myself in. Just as God is steadfast and unchanging, so can be my embracing my identity as a daughter of God.
When we find our core identity in anything other than being a child of God and seasons of life change, we will move into a new season and will struggle because we won't know who we are anymore.
For example - If my sole identity is, "I am single" and I enter into a relationship and get married...I am no longer single. The things that defined my singleness are no longer reality. Now I am married. I am a wife. And I don't know what that means or looks like because I'm not single anymore. If my core identity was in my relational status, I am not going to know who I am or how to "be" or what to "do" in this new place.
This isn't just in our relationship status. It applies to all realms of life and any transitions. From junior high to high school. High school to college. College to whatever you want to call this time after college. Job transitions. You name it.
I was thinking about this post earlier today. It was written as I transitioned jobs a couple years ago. I wavered because I didn't know who I was. I wasn't rooted in the identity God had given me.
But when our sole identity is rooted in being a son or daughter of God...in Christ...living our lives believing who God says we truly are...we can be steadfast no matter the season of life.
No matter our relationship status.
No matter what career changes come our way.
No matter what is going around us.
We can know who we truly are.
And live from that place to influence this world for generations to come.
We have a purpose beyond the titles and roles the world gives us.
So whether you are single, married, divorced, in a relationship, in your teens, in your 90s, living in this city, living on the other side of the world...who are you? Do you know that Jesus has made the way for you to have a restored relationship with Father God? That you were born to be a powerful and free son or daughter of God? Do you embrace it? Has that revelation changed you from the inside out?
Because it will when you invite God to:
talk to you about it...
reveal it to you...
guide you into encounters with Him
teach you to activate the truth in your life...
YOU were created with purpose, a world changing identity, and with such brilliance...
Happy Valentines Day!
"As soon as you stop learning, you stop growing. And as soon as you stop growing, you start dying. ...The goal is to continually learn." -Kris Vallotton
Continually learning keeps us alive and wholly healthy to who God created us to be. It empowers us to live out what He uniquely destined each of us to do.
Learning, getting strrrrrrrrrrrrrrretched, growing...it's so purposeful!
Keep pressin in...
YOU were born to do great things...So what are you learning as this new year is underway? How will you keep growing?
You manage you.
Take responsibility. It's up to you to keep your fire burning.
Ask God how to keep it burning. Ask Him to show you what to press into.
There are endless possibilities ahead that can turn into world changing realities if you choose to learn, grow, and move with God...
