Beside Quiet Waters🌊

"He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul." — Psalm 23:2-3

Summer is one of my favorite seasons. ☀️ It is a season of warmth and relaxation, a time of freedom and refreshment. Flowers are in full bloom, and as the sun stretches to make the days longer, everything seems brighter and more cheerful.

Summer is also a wonderful time to experience the joy that living in Christ brings. As we enjoy God's gifts through the beauty of nature and simple pleasures with friends and family, our joy and gratefulness are multiplied. 💙

Many of my wonderful childhood memories feature time spent at the lake. My grandparents had a lake house on Lake Weir, and my parents followed suit by building a little bunny hutch cabin on Lake Jewel. Recently, I found a photo album filled with those precious memories—clearing the land, picnics on the hood of the car, barbecues on a charcoal grill, and floating on rafts in the water.

The time spent at the lake taught me a great deal about God's richest blessings. They are often wrapped in simplicity. 🌿

Around the lake, conversations seemed to slow down. Stories were shared, laughter filled the air, and wisdom passed naturally from one generation to the next. The stillness of the lake reminds us that God often speaks most clearly in quiet places.

When the water is calm, it mirrors the sky above. I remember watching my dad toss rocks across the water and seeing the ripples travel far beyond where the stone first touched the surface.

That simple image has stayed with me over the years.

Just like those ripples, our words, our prayers, and the kindness we show others can reach farther than we may ever know. What may seem small to us can carry God's blessings much farther than we could ever imagine. 🙏

My dear brother Billy and his wife Leigh now have their own beautiful home on the lake. I am looking forward to spending time on the dock, sharing fond memories of my grandparents and parents, and reflecting on the beautiful gifts they passed down to our family.

Their wisdom, faith, gratitude, and appreciation for life's simple blessings continue to ripple through the generations. 💙

Perhaps today God is inviting us to slow down and spend a little time beside "quiet waters." As we do, may our hearts be refreshed, our souls renewed, and our eyes opened to the many blessings He has placed all around us. ✨