HELLO, Recharge Wednesday community!

I am sad to say that this is our last Recharge Wednesday post 🙁

If this is the first time you read about it, please click here for last week’s linkup where I shared the news. Going forward, as we are launching the new Soaring with Him website in July, this blog will only contain our ministry initiative news (which I would love for you to continue receiving!)

Let’s remain connected! My blogs, podcast and columns will continue to be posted at my new website: https://patriciaholbrook.com/blog/ – Would you sign up there to help me start my distribution list (which I’ve had to start from scratch!). When you sign up, you will receive a FREE gift – The mini-course: 5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SPIRITUAL ATTACKS.

Thank you all, again, for your faithful readership and contribution! And again MANY MANY THANKS to Karen, Debbie and Bethany for their beautiful writing through the years.

May God bless you in your ministry!

With love and gratitude,

Patricia

Here is Karen’s last post:

I’m a fan of summer. Perhaps you love summer, too. While I enjoy something about every season, summer remains my top pick.

Since enjoying this wonderful season is well under way, a top 10 list seems in order to share my favorite things. 

We’ll start at number 10 and countdown to my number one favorite thing.

(10.)  Reminiscing of childhood.

Reflecting on my childhood stirs a mix of memories. When I think of summer, I remember fun and laughter and joy-filled moments. Memory lane reminds me of playing outside with my sisters and cousins. 

Preteen and teen years meant days spent at the local swimming pool and the first time I jumped off the high dive. Another memory leads to number 9. 

(9.)  Catching fireflies.

Called fireflies or lighting bugs, these winged insects start appearing in late June and are seen lighting up around dusk and nightfall. When our grandchildren spend the night, I recreate this childhood favorite by catching lightning bugs and putting them in a mason jar.

(8.)  Connection and community events.

Summer naturally gets us out and about in our neighborhoods, our towns and cities, and attending local events. Examples include: neighborhood yard sales or block parties, music and other festivals, county fairs, and community mission and outreach projects. Also, there are day camps and programs just for kids.

(7.)  A blooming flower garden. 

My front yard sports the cutest flower garden. Encircled with stones, a small tree sitting in the center, the garden showcases several types of flowers. Blooms of stargazers/oriental lilies, African daisies, purple irises, and yellow day lilies. I enjoy weeding, watering, and caring for them to display all their glory. 

(6.)  Outdoor recreation.

No other season provides such great opportunities for outside play time: parks, sports, swimming, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, water games, biking, hiking, walking, picnics, and so much more.

(5.)  Slower rhythm of life. 

Sure, life happens in every season. Yet, for many of us, summer life is slower and more easy-going.

And unless your children attend a year-round school, summer means a break from studies. However, as His children, the good Lord teaches us worth-while lessons when the rhythm of life is slow.

Like resting our weary minds and souls in Him. Or, slowing down and not running through life at breakneck speed.

(4.)  Warm temperatures. 

It’s true, I’m a warm-weather girl. Although sweltering temps and unbearable humidity is not desirable, I prefer warmer temperatures to the frosty digits in the dead of winter. Think about it, have you ever heard anyone say, The dead of summer. Not me. Warmth and the season brings growth and life.

(3.)  Camping.

As I type this blog post, my husband and I are camping at one of our favorite campgrounds in the mountains of North Carolina. Our camp site is beside a small creek. Listening to the water trickle over rocks during the day and especially at night inside our little camper is part of heaven on earth. I hear it’s soothing sound right now. 

We cook our meals. We enjoy a campfire and roast marshmallows. And sometimes go to local attractions. Campers camp in the spring and fall. But summer is a busy and favorite camping season.

(2.)  Trips/vacations.

Our family loves to go on trips throughout the year, particularly in the summer. Though we used to go to the beach in July, the last few years we went in May right before summer officially started and sometimes in early October. But that’s never our last hoorah when it comes to trips. The Smoky mountains is a favorite place to visit Gatlinburg and Dollywood theme park. Just being together makes every trip special.

(Drumroll please.)

(1.)  Long summer days. 

The extended amount of daylight makes my number one spot on the list. In my neck of the woods—east Tennessee—sunset happens around 9:00 PM. This makes for long daylight hours. There are many tasks, activities, work, socializing and more we accomplish when light hangs around longer than usual.

But when my son was young and bedtime came early, he never understood how it was bedtime without darkness. “Mom, it’s not nighttime yet, the sun is still out.” And he had a valid point. In Genesis, God created the heavens and earth. Then, the Lord created light.

The long daylight hours of summer remind me how Jesus is the light of the world and in God is no darkness at all. #summer #lights @FridayKaren
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“And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.” Genesis 1:3-5 (NIV)

Furthermore, it reminds me how Jesus is the light of the world and in God is no darkness at all. 

“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5 (NIV)

Also see, Summer Soul Care (Recharge Wednesday).

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@FridayKaren shares her favorite summer things. God often teaches us when the rhythm of life is slower in summer: how to rest our weary souls in Him and not running through life at breakneck speed. Share your blog! #blog
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The post My 10 Favorite Summer Things {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.