Fun Reads, Blogs, and Thoughts for a Summer Break

As June hits, most of us are well into summer. The craziness of May with graduations, proms, year-end parties, exams, and even snow, are mostly behind us. Now we look forward to a break—or maybe not?

Your summer may look more like trying to entertain kids, working to make up for lost income, job hunting, planning a family reunion, volunteering at a camp, or becoming the family “Uber driver” for children’s activities.

In the midst of this, I hope you can take some time off simply to rest. I know I need to. Yet in today’s culture of so many options, the concept of rest can seem alien or make us feel guilty. “After all, I should…”

But God knows we need rest. We need a Sabbath to worship Him, but we also need Sabbath moments throughout the week to focus on Him and to simply rest. To take time to sit in a pasture or park or walk in the woods and simply be still. It makes a huge difference to leave our phone behind and refuse to think through our “to-do lists.” This is incredibly hard. So much of our identity is determined by what we accomplish. And resting feels lazy.

Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God.” But it’s not so easy. I remember trying hard to be still and failing and finally in utter disgust with myself, crying out to God, “Father, I can’t even still myself, I need you to do it within me!” How humbling.

This morning, I went for a walk in the woods. I determined not to think about tasks or people, but simply to notice many different things in His creation and thank him specifically for each one. I must do this out loud or my mind will wander. This is one small step in His “stilling me.”

To provide more time for small Sabbath moments, I’ll be taking a summer break from blogging. However, I will be back in late August with some stories of my 9^th big hike with my friend Melody.

Meanwhile, here are some favorite blogs from the past and also favorite reads!

Favorite Blogs:

• 10 Things You Need to Know Before You Get Married

• A short devotional for your day TODAY!

• A New Insight from Recent Family Gatherings

• My 8th Big Hike

• Mothers and Adult Daughters: Understanding One Another

• How to Face an Empty Nest

• Two Dangerous Phrases That Can Keep You Trapped in Fear and Regret

• Praying Together for Your Children Builds Your Marriage

Favorite Reads:

• The Six Conversations by Heather Holleman

• The Women by Kristin Hannah

• Eighth Day Prayers by S. Breedlove, W. Kane, M. Perry, A. Yates

• Living Life Backwards by David Gibson

• Liturgy in the Wilderness by D.J. Marotta

• Grandma Gatewood’s Walk by Ben Montgomery

• Timothy Keller by Colin Hansen

• West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge

• The First Ladies by M. Benedict and V.C. Murray

• The Way the Wind Blows by Tim Downs

• Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

You can find ideas for any type of family or friends reunion in my book, Cousin Camp.

You will find a free download of 100 ideas for a Camp at home or in your neighborhood here.