A Good Brisk Cape Cod Weekend to You, Friends!
I've got the surreal feeling that one foot is firmly planted in autumn's delights ... while the other is already stepping into full-fledged holiday mode. It's an unintentional transitioning, yet somehow natural and unforced.
Transitions can be unexpected or fully planned, usually laden with all kinds of emotions and choices, but always pushing us ahead into the future. I'm a bit surprised to announce that On the Porch has slowly transitioned to become my weekend{ish} newsletter.
This is a rather unexpected personal serendipity. It's like my 2021 OneWord birthed a baby.
So if you appreciate a weekly dose of hand-selected resources, random snapshots, and heaven knows what, topped off with a hefty dose of follow-up conversation, this is your baby, too.
If you already subscribe to the blog, this unintentional newsletter will arrive in your inbox just like magic. You don't have to do a thing ... no special sign-up, no free gifts, no exclusive treats. If you're not a subscriber, this is as good a time as any to join the party. Click here!
Anything healthy morphs and grows and changes. In a season when so many of us are transitioning, I trust that On the Porch will be your go-to weekend companion, energizing your mind, offering you spiritual sustenance, nudging you onward and upward ... and providing a safe, nurturing space where you are free to mingle and converse with other like-minded souls.
May Jesus Christ be praised.
This week ...
Emily Freeman reads Psalm 23 and Psalm 27 and Psalm 139 in her own distinctive, compelling way. And all God's people said, 'amen.'
These sympathy cards warmed my heart with their muted colors and elegant simplicity. Printed on high quality kraft paper, the blank page is perfect for sharing a simple prayer or Scripture. And they come with stickers, too.
Kate Bowler has a free Advent reading guide which would be a lovely addition to whatever biblical readings you already have in place.
I'm polishing up my kinda-annual Christmas Book List. It should arrive in your inbox in a couple days. I hope you'll find it makes your shopping a whole lot easier. And more gentle, calm, and peace-filled. {Sunday evening update - 10 Exceptional Books to Calm + Heal + Inspire}
This song ... for all of us who have loved and lost.
 |
| LimeTreeCounseling.com |
What are you transitioning into
... or out of?
Do tell!
Linda
🍁 🎄 🍁 🎄
Every good and perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father
of the heavenly lights,
who does not change
like shifting shadows.
James 1:17
🍁 🎄 🍁 🎄
connecting with
and
I'm an Amazon Associate, too!
If you make a purchase
using the above link
I may receive a small financial perk.
Thank you!
Your time in the dentist's chair became a beautiful time of communion with Him. And all those you prayed for are helped. An encouragement to stop and pray, even now, and lift up our family and friends to Him.
ReplyDeleteWhat could be more calming than prayer ... especially when interceding for others instead of being fixated on the trauma going on in your mouth! I really appreciated the author's perspective ... and hope I will follow his lead next time I'm in one of those rather unpleasant situations.
DeleteI also review Scripture in that dreadful chair. Anything to redeem all that sitting.
ReplyDeleteAlso I am wondering how to bring my blogging and newslettering into one community. Always pondering...
Isn't it great that there's no blog police, that we can make changes in how and why and when we create and write and connect online. All those months of limited access to the real world are hopefully behind us, opening fresh new opportunities to be out and about, to work and serve God and be with people again.
DeleteIt's a welcome adjustment that's been a long time coming for all of us ...
I love the buffet of offerings you cook up for each of these On the Porch posts. Chances are no one will complain!
DeleteThat's cute!
Delete;-}
Congrats on your new transition. We all need more positive things in our life, Linda, and your blog is one of them. What a great graphic about helping those who are hurting.
ReplyDeleteTheresa, thanks!
DeleteLinda, the song you shared is one of my favorites. (I'm sure you are not surprised.) It has prompted tears on many occasions, but I'm OK with that. Reading about praying in the dentist's chair makes me think of all those other exam and waiting room chairs I absolutely hate to occupy ... I will need to remember to pray next time I'm in one of them. I will join you on your porch whenever you are there, my friend. :-)
ReplyDeleteYep, music reaches down into the deepest parts of our soul and touches those broken places that are mending oh so slowly. Thank God for the gift of song and melody and heartfelt words.
DeleteI found myself praying while in the dentist's chair recently, Linda. Yes, it certainly shifts our focus to something positive, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteNo transitions, unless you count our taking a LONG trip to spend Thanksgiving with our kids and grandkids. So looking forward to it!
Blessings!
Martha, hi! I thought of you when I read that dentist article ... looks like we've been in good company in recent days.
DeleteAnd oh yes, I hear you about spending the holidays with family once again. The last few years were so disheartening ... what a cause for thanksgiving this year!
Thank you for these doses of encouragement in your nurturing, safe place, Linda. :) I love your "On the Porch" editions. I was listening the other night to Emily's reading of Psalm 27. I love her calming voice. I love the song, too. And I've been looking for a different Advent guide, so I downloaded Kate's. Love and blessings to you!
ReplyDeleteKate brings a fresh perspective to advent as a historian, a professor, and a cancer surviver. She's a breath of fresh air and has been a welcome companion as we made our way through covid.
DeleteI love the serendipitous offering you're giving us, Linda! I love your round-ups so much. (I just now signed up for Kate Bowler's Advent series thanks to you.) Blessings to you, friend!
ReplyDeleteThanks to you, Lisa, for the nudge toward claiming a Word this past year and for the encouragement to live it out, cultivate it, and enjoy the journey. You've been a super cheerleader to us all!
DeleteCongratulations on your new baby, Linda!! LOL. I think it's great, your on the porch posts are always so much fun to read and informative too!
ReplyDeleteDonna, thanks! It's been so good to get to know you this year, to read your uplifting words on serenity and suffering and faith. Thank you for speaking into my life.
DeleteOh, my gosh, a snow-white moose
ReplyDeleteis a-roaming through your blog!
Is he lost (quite the excuse)
in the murky digi-fog,
or does he have another plan,
something desperate and bold,
to lasso every Heart of Man
and bring each to the Moosey Fold
and hold them firm upon the tundra,
hostage to the permafrost,
and let the humans learn, and wonder
about the grace that's almost lost
in seeking out more oil and gold,
God's gift to us, now priced and sold.
I'm not a tree-hugger, but I am concerned that we, as a people and as Christians, have lost a sense of balance.
The 'murky digi-fog' is an apt description of this online culture we find ourselves in, Andrew. May the words we pen and the conversations that follow clear away the fog and point to Jesus, the Light of the world.
DeleteLove the photos and the fascinating links. Have a great weekend, Linda!
ReplyDeleteJean, thank you!
DeleteI love that song, Linda. The dentist chair is my worst nightmare, praying calms me. I always love visiting on the porch!
ReplyDeleteI just looked it up and dentophobia is a real thing! But those of us who live with this malady already knew that, didn't we ...
DeleteThis is interesting -
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/features/dont-fear-the-dentist
This is a great collection of photos and links. I love the song you shared! Your weekly newsletter sounds great and I have subscribed. I am generally trying to cut down on the things I subscribe to as I find it a bit overwhelming, but I always find your updates encouraging so I don't want to miss out!
ReplyDeleteYou made my weekend, Lesley ... thanks so much for subscribing. I absolutely hear you about being selective on what comes to us {an empty inbox is one of my favorite things!}
DeleteI'll be doing my best to keep each week fresh and helpful and worth all of our time.
;-]
How exciting, Linda! Congratulations -- and I loved all the photos, too!
ReplyDeleteJeanie, thanks!
DeleteI've subscribed! I usually follow blogs through my Blogger feed (it's easier for me to post comments), so I look forward to having your newsletter delivered to my inbox.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the visit. "Begin Again" is one of my favourite songs on Red TV because it's full of optimism and hope.
If ever we needed a healthy dose of optimism and hope it'd be right about now, friend.
DeleteMeanwhile, I'm so glad you've chosen to subscribe. You've made my day!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
Your prayer is being answered because Jesus is constantly praised on your blog.
ReplyDeleteAnd yours as well, sister! When all is said and done, that's all that matters, isn't it ...
DeleteThank you Linda.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Jennifer
My pleasure!
DeleteThank you for this post. I loved the graphic on "what to say when someone suffers." I am going to poke around a few other items you listed. Your post received the most clicks in November, and I will be highlighting it tomorrow on my website for Grace & Truth Link-Up. Thank you for participating.
ReplyDeleteMaree, thanks for this surprise! You've encouraged me this morning!
DeleteI am so glad I could be of encouragement this morning.
Delete