"He brought me into a spacious place, he rescued me because he delighted in me." - Psalm 18:19

July 22nd, 2024

Dear friends,

For the remainder of the summer, I want to embrace a slower lifestyle, be present in the moment, take pauses to fully absorb all this season of transition has for me, and not race through it on auto-pilot. So we've planned a couple of long weekends for rest and play.

Summer is short in the high country, so wildflower bloom time is short, but July is usually the best time to spot our Master Artist's beauty on full display. Crested Butte is known as the wildflower capital of Colorado, and we made our annual trip there this past weekend.

My favorite part of the wildflower festival involves driving up the winding and narrow road to Paradise Divide (11,297 ft in elevation), which requires 4-wheel drive and specialty tires to access. Looking out over the vast expanse of mountain peaks and valleys as far as the eye can see, I am always humbled by how small I feel.

When we encounter a patch of wildflowers thriving in this extreme environment, where few people will ever see and appreciate them, I get this overwhelming feeling that God must have planted them there for the sheer pleasure of creating beauty. In Psalm 104:31, we read that He delights in His works (His works of creation), which reveal His glory.

I'm learning that living a spacious life includes making time and space to be in awe of God's glory displayed through flowers, sunsets, and forests—creation. In doing so, I delight in Him, and He delights in me. 

He delights in us as the pinnacle of His creation, lovingly created to reveal His glory. When we put our hope in that unfailing love, trusting in His care and provision, He delights in (and favors) us with His mercy and kindness. And when I take these intentional pauses to be present in His creation, I can feel His delight.

Psalm 147:11 AMP- "The Lord favors those who fear and worship Him [with awe-inspired reverence and obedience]. Those who wait for His mercy and lovingkindness."

The Lord continues to rescue me from my hurried ways so I can live spaciously at His pace of grace. I pray you, too, will find pauses to worship God in His creation and receive an embodied sense of His delight in you.

May His face shine upon you this week,

Jennifer

PS- Want weekly updates sent to your inbox? Sign up for Loto Letters.