June 17, 2026
Hey, everyone – I hope you’re all enjoying this beautiful (albeit warm) day! I don’t know what it is, but lately I have been so conscious of every beautiful day we’ve been given this year. We had such a lovely spring! I mean there were a few really cold days, and a few hot days, but I cannot remember such a long stretch of sunny days with little to no humidity (humidity is my tipping point). Sunshine, nesting birds, growing things in flower or veggie gardens, and windows open at night to let in the (so loud!) songs of frogs. What a blessing! I’m pretty sure the Holy Spirit has been giving me extra things to praise and thank God for. It’s been a stressful season at my house, and sometimes I just forget to say, “Thank You!” for all that He gives me every day, over and above what He promised (food, clothing, shelter).
Sometimes when there’s a lot going on at once, I can get a little overwhelmed, and I go into a kind of self-protection mode. I find myself looking for opportunities to “tune out” temporarily – in a book or a TV show, in a project at home or at church, in a nap or sleeping late on a free morning. What I really need to do is to lay it all out before my heavenly Father and allow Him to lift the metaphorical “weight” off my shoulders. I find I can do this better if I carve out an hour (yes, 60 minutes) to spend alone, doing nothing but sitting and thinking and praying. It can be longer than 60 minutes, but it must be at least that long because it takes time for me to clear my mind of the endlessly circling lists, and to consciously move aside all the distractions pressing in on me. It works best if this chunk of time is in the morning, before I start my day or take off to accomplish the items on those lists. It can work later in the day, but the longer I wait the harder it is to remember to stop and sit/think/pray.
Something else that helps me is to talk things out with my small group. Even if no one else is experiencing the same exact situation/struggle as me, it is so encouraging to share what is going on and hear encouraging responses from them, shared Scripture, and promises of prayer support. I believe this is by God’s design. I know His desire is for us to come to Him first with every joy and pain, blessing and struggle. I also know the Scripture says that one of the purposes of His church is to share one another’s burdens. We’re commanded repeatedly in the New Testament to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15); to be of the same mind with one another (Romans 12:16); to bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2). This sharing between brothers and sisters in Christ is life-changing! If you don’t have a group of people like this, let me encourage you – FIND THEM! It will make a hugely positive difference in your life.
See y’all on Sunday for worship!
Careen
Worship Songs for June 21:
All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name – Daniel Baptist – https://youtu.be/JSg-asKSHsg?si=2GAfG2phZOTL1pVD
Victory in Jesus – Guy Penrod – https://youtu.be/D3xlq2L0hcs?si=7Bv9Wn4NcHGu24KQ
Run to the Father – Matt Maher – https://youtu.be/_TRrvYZFkSc?si=RZmbso3y-bT40oYU
10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) – Matt Redman – https://youtu.be/XtwIT8JjddM?si=-q3hwjM_OjMqU9UZ