Heather Holleman's Blog, page 58

Somewhere to Go

I love how, in Psalm 60, David describes something about God like this: “You have set up a banner for those who fear you, that they may flee to it from the bow.” 

I love thinking of God as a high banner that we see in the distance and run to. I like thinking of how, no matter what we are going through, we race to the waving banner of Christ and organize our whole life around staying under His banner of love and victory.

Raise your eyes. Look to the banner. Flee to it.

For More Fruit

Today I seriously diminished my plumcot tree. I trimmed the tall, tall branches on top (the once I’d never be able to reach when the fruit comes), and then I thinned out some of the many extra branches growing out in all directions. These were healthy, vibrant branches with bright green leaves. As I carried my bundle of branches away, I remembered John 15 and how God prunes even good things from our lives so we will be even more fruitful.

I took away the tallest and most visible branches. I took away some very healthy limbs. To the outsider who doesn’t know what’s happening, this looks foolish. But to the Gardener, it’s wise and right. We can remember not to fear or fret when life feels diminished or smaller. God knows He’s making more fruit out of us.

Add In Rest Hour

After all these years, I still run my summers like I’m a counselor at Camp Greystone. I absolutely love the structure of a summer camp schedule. I do this for myself, but I invite my whole family to join in to whatever I have planned for the summer camp day. I did this when my girls were little, and they laugh about how, even now, our house runs like camp.

If you have trouble organizing your summer days, run it like you’re at camp. Wake up, raise the flag, make your bed, and enjoy a great cup of coffee and breakfast. Then, create your Morning Assembly time: spend an hour for morning devotions; listen to inspiring music; pray. Then, start your Schedule of Activities for the morning. Consider walking, baking, reading, writing, sewing, or anything you can think of to work on a skill or get some exercise. Then, it’s time for a great lunch.

After lunch, don’t forget about Rest Hour. During Rest Hour, you lounge on your bed; you write letters, you read; you nap. I loved Rest Hour at camp so much. It’s a wonderful time of quiet reflection.

Then, you enjoy afternoon activities: hiking, swimming, gardening, or work responsibilities. You want to grab a snack sometime in the afternoon and enjoy a clean-up time before getting ready for your evening. Of course, when you’re working a 9-5 job like my daughters, you only join in with the early morning, dinner, and post dinner events if you wish. Dinner involves something to look forward to, and you can take your time making it. After dinner, there’s always an Evening Program. I love to pop popcorn for a movie night or go on a long walk. Everyone can join in, but I’m also loving planning the Evening Program for my husband or just my friends.

Hop into bed by 10:00. Imagine the sound of taps playing. Tomorrow, you’ll have another great day.

Most of all, consider adding in Rest Hour to your day.

Around the Garden

It’s been cool and rainy here in the garden. Here’s the report: The climbing roses smell so sweet, and I’m happy to announce the blackberries and raspberries are coming in nicely. The pumpkin patch and miniature watermelons are my most novel and exciting additions to the garden this year. With joy, I recently discovered the first signs of bright pumpkins growing. In October, we’ll have so many pumpkins to display around the house.

With the plum trees, it’s a long waiting game. Years shall pass, and one day, the fruit will come. That’s how it is with fruit trees. I’ve started pruning a peach tree I grew from an old pit I put in my pocket when I was standing in the Peach Orchard at Gettysburg. The battleground was covered with old pits, and I wondered about propagation. Would it grow? It did! It did! This is probably illegal, and I confess my sin now. I’ll surrender the tree if I must.

I am also proud to report I’m on day 6 of trying to root a gardenia cutting, month 4 of keeping a fig tree alive, and year year 5 of tending to the lemon tree Kate grew from seed. In the winter, I’ll bring these last three inside, but I’ll leave the peach tree outdoors to harden over the winter.

Can you imagine the day when I post a picture of a bowl full of peaches, plums, figs and lemons? Can you imagine the day when I’ll smell that gardenia? Gardening keeps hope alive in my soul. One day, I’ll harvest.

For Your Comfort

I notice something wonderful in 2 Corinthians today. I’ve decided to spend a few days studying Paul’s letter to this church because of its power to encourage and reaffirm our proper calling and worldview.

I love what I find here in verses 3-7 which I bolded for us:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

I think about our amazing God. He is the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort for us. But why do we receive such wonderful comfort? Why are we suffering affliction? It’s for other people, so we might encourage them towards the same patient endurance we have.

The passage raises three important questions:

1. What affliction or distress have I endured (or am currently enduring)?

2. How is God showing me He is the God of all comfort?

3. Who needs this encouragement from how I learned of God’s comfort? 

If you keep reading in this first chapter, you’ll learn something astonishing. Paul talks about his afflictions as vital to his faith. He writes, “but this was to make us rely not ourselves but God.” When I’m in any kind of distress, I remember how it pushes me to rely on God alone. Then I wait for His comfort and compassion in my life.

Staying True

Yesterday was such a great day professionally speaking. I loved the photos from my photoshoot, for example. But something amazing happened.

As I was walking up in the woods near Shaver’s Creek with my oldest daughter–after a great drive listening to all her favorite tunes in the little Honda she drives–I thought about the simple pleasures and profound joys of nature, of being with your family, and of enjoying the simplicity of life. God’s joy and peace flooded my heart, and I rejoiced! But just as I was giddy with delight upon finding this huge frog in the pond (what could be better?), my phone rang with an offer to speak at Cru’s National Staff Conference. What an honor and joy! This would represent the largest audience I’ve spoken to.

What I noticed about that phone call involved where my attention went after I hung up the phone. It was the frog. It was my daughter. It was the way the setting sun seemed to light her up from within. It was the deeply theological conversation we were having about following Jesus through suffering or disappointment. It wasn’t the photoshoot. It wasn’t the speaking gig. It was the frog. 

Once, things like photoshoots and big speaking offers would have captured my whole heart and then disillusioned me with their eventual emptiness and inability to love you back. It took 15 years to learn how to stay true to loving God, loving others, and loving His creation without needing or being allured by fame and wealth and attention. This is why we have to wait so long for our younger dreams to come true. God does this so we’re not destroyed by our dreams. He does this so we learn how to stay true to Him and to ourselves.

What the Photographer Said

I had my “lifestyle and branding” photoshoot, and here is one of my favorite photos from that day. In order to get this picture, the photographer said, “OK, look up and imagine your daughters have just come into the room.” So I did.

Virtual Visits

During the summer months, I often have more time to virtually pop in to various Bible studies or book clubs. It’s such a joy to visit with youth groups, college groups, young professionals, professors, or older readers who like to chat with the author. Feel free to reach out on social media if you’d like to arrange a virtual visit! Normally these are short visits— like 15 to 30 minutes— but they are free, fun, and a nice surprise to your participants if you are leading a summer Bible study. I’d love to visit your group!

Loose Brushstrokes

I’m noticing the loose brushstrokes of  certain paintings and how, especially with large outdoor murals, you cannot discern the subject until you step far away to get perspective. Close up, it’s disorienting and hardly beautiful. Far away, it’s gorgeous and clear. You see how every piece fits.

I remember that discerning God’s work in our own lives (and in the lives of others) requires a special vantage point of time and perspective. We won’t see the full picture. We won’t see the miraculous beauty of what God is shaping till we’re far into the future.

In the meantime, we see the loose brushwork and trust, with eyes blessed by faith, that God is making the masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10).

Try More Water

I thought I’d remind us all to drink more water today, especially if we feel fatigued.

Maybe right now, take a sip!