The Most Rewarding Invitation Awaits

July 7, 2023

All Things Southern, blog, Friends & Family, Good news

Hello friend,

Welcome back to my porch here in northeast Louisiana. I’m just snagging a moment to reach out to you. Life keeps coming at full speed here and I’m sure you can say the same, but I love this community and I miss y’all when too much time gets away without connecting. So, let’s catch up.

On this side of the screen, the Beloved Farmer and I just survived the 7th Annual Pops and Keggie Kamp. If you’ve been here a while, you’ll remember our grand Kamp. It’s a lot of lovely chaos built around morning devotions. This year our theme was on I Peter 2:17, “Honor all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the King.” The grands and I centered on a different phrase each day, while learning that obeying these four principles would set those who follow them on course for a good life. I put up a ton of videos on Insta and Facebook, but here’s the official Kamp pic — along with the one from our very first year. We now have grands that are as tall as we are, and one that towers over both of us!

As you might imagine, Pops and Keggie are running on fumes before it’s over, but we wouldn’t have it any other way!

In other news, Seizing the Good Life is out in the world and I’m hearing good things from people who are going through it. I continue to ask Father God to have His way with the message and take it where He pleases and purposes. We can trust Him, friend. And by the way, the teaching videos are available in the website shop here. It was such a joy to film this series with family and friends across all color bounds and age differences. I hope you’ll enjoy it!

I’ve got one more thing on my mind to bend your ear about. I posted it on social this morning, but I wanted to offer you this beautiful invitation, too! Of course, it begins with a story…

I’d been sitting here on the dock praying and thinking it was past time to go up and dress when my phone pinged with another call to prayer, only this one signals a corporate moment that has become so sweet I need to share it with you.

Months ago now, the girls at my home church were going through a study by @kristimclelland when she gave us a challenge based on a historical account of what God’s people did in the years after the crucifixion of Christ when their faith in the risen Savior led to them being persecuted and scattered throughout the Greek and Roman world. The new believers would pray at set times during the day, and knowing their friends were praying with them encouraged them and gave them strength. Kristi’s original challenge was for us to set our phones for 9:00, 12:00, and 3:00 and say the Lord’s Prayer when the alarm sounded for one full week. A lot of us did it. Many of us have never stopped.

I’ve since shared this idea with my family and believing friends from other circles who have consequently joined us, and many of them have told their friends, who loved and adopted the idea. And so it goes, and grows.

It’d take a hot minute to list all the benefits I’ve found in this corporate moment of prayer. Here are a couple.

Knowing my friends are acknowledging God and praying at the same time I am encourages me when it seems the whole world has gone straight running crazy.

I expected that. Here’s another benefit I didn’t see coming.

When my reminder bings in public I tell anyone I’m with about it and invite them to join me. I’ve not had a single person turn me down. It may happen but as of this writing it has not. Maybe it’s because most people know the Lord’s Prayer? Maybe it’s because they know there’s a beginning and an end and I’m not about to try and have a lengthy church service in the aisle of the big box store? Whatever their reasons, I’ve been joined by contractors and plumbers, Uber drivers and seat-mates on flights, clerks and fellow shoppers, you get the idea. This past week six campers at Pops and Keggie Kamp joined me in this prayer rhythm.

And now I’m inviting you. Blessings await, friend.

Hugs,

Shellie

P.S. If you enjoy this community, please forward your newsletter to your friends and family. They might, too, and I would greatly appreciate it. 🙂

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The Most Rewarding Invitation Awaits

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