Worship is the song in my heart, the beauty on the path as I walk, and the words of praise and gratitude on my lips. It is one, small way to lean into God more intimately. Worship is the heart and soul of connection with God. Engaging in a time of worship is not one specific thing, but it is everything when God is at the center.
What does worship look like for you? How do you engage with God to show Him your praise and gratitude?
I am trying something a little different to review the last few months. I love taking photos as I walk/hike. Sometimes the way is slow but it is always a time of communion with God. Come along with me as I take you through a collage of pictures highlighting a time of worship this summer.
June
A time of worship is following the path in courage and faith even when you are not sure where it leads.
It is hearing God’s word and your daddy’s voice and learning the cadence and rhythm of both.
Worship is the flight of birds swooping in and flying high in the dance of food gathering.
July
Freedom is worship in flight.
The beauty in the blooming of the lily pads is God’s gift of new life.
The surprise of a heron as you look through the tall grasses is God’s way of showing us there is gratitude everywhere.
The worship of flowers as they unfurl reminds me of Luke 12:27:
Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
August
The joy of worship in a place where God is front and center is like no other. I still find it hard to share how the Holy Spirit showed up. What I know is when people ask me how my time at the Bethel Women’s conference was I say it was exactly what it was supposed to be.
A time of worship where hundreds of women gathered
September
A time of worship looks like:
A monarch butterfly feeding hungrily
The glory of a full moon
And the landscape subtly fading into its Fall colors
September was also a celebration of family. A six-month milestone for Baby Jack. The joy of what it looks like to watch the new branch of our family tree thrive and connect with each of us.
The story God teaches us as we grow in relationship with one another is connected to the growing of our legacy. It is stretching our limbs, opening our hearts, and reaching new directions into this idea of what family is all about. The unfolding is my favorite part of observing this family God has so graciously given to me. What is your favorite part of your family?
Let's take a picture walk through summer and discover the beauty of worshiping in new ways. #TellHisStory #linkup #timetoworship Share on XMay you discover new ways to worship this week and see God in unexpected places. Open your heart to receive all God has planned for you. Let’s walk together into the unfolding of new beginnings and heart-filling joy as we move forward this week.
Blessings,
I always love a good photo journal post! May the next four months bring many more photo ops to capture moments that bring about a grateful heart whenever gazed upon.
I share your love of worshiping in all sorts of settings. I pray as I walk, enjoying the birds and the sky and the fresh air. Your pics are beautiful! Thank you for sharing!
I also pray as I walk. It is such a profound way for God and me to connect. Thank you for being here and sharing your encouragement.
So enjoyed your post…and wonderful photos! All of them – but especially those of Mr. Jack!! Too adorable!:)
I love having you along for the journey, Jennifer. Baby Jack is as sweet as he is cute.
I absolutely love this. Thanks for taking us all along. laurensparks.net
Thank you for coming along. I pray your summer was wonderful too.
Mary, I so love when you share photos from your walks and your life, and this was like an abundance of worshiping together! Thank you so much! He shows us so many beauty within our days.
I’m so glad you were here to receive the overflow of worship abundance. God delights in showing off His creation, doesn’t He?
lovely pictures! I so enjoyed being back home with our church family and worshipping in the park – we meet there once a year for a chicken dinner and a time to be all together in one place.
Sounds like a wonderful way to worship as a church community. And who wouldn’t enjoy a chicken dinner??
I love your moments of worship, Mary. Worship is so much more than our Sunday morning time in a church building! Your pictures show that so well.
I agree. I love worshiping through song but have found that God recognizes worship in everything and everywhere.
Mary, I loved this post! All the beautiful photos, the family, nature – all part of worshiping God. Beautiful!
Thanks for being here, Gayl. It is a beautiful thing to see God’s Hand in many places and then to praise Him for the gifts He leaves behind.
I loved this little look back over your last few months, Mary! Lots of lovely pictures. I especially loved the one of Jack and his dad reading Bible stories together.
It was fun putting the memories together and reflecting on how each depicted worship. I love the picture of Jack and his daddy too.
Celebrating all of your many memorable and meaningful moments this summer alongside you, Mary! That precious grandbaby’s face is worth celebrating all in his own right! Can I get an “amen!” Thanks for giving us a peek into all that you’ve been up to, my friend! God has richly blessed you!
Thanks for celebrating with me. Time with the grandboy is a treat no matter what. I see you just spent time with your grandson. I pray you continue to find your own moments of worship throughout this Fall.
I love this, Mary! Your beautiful photos and poetic memories of worship. The picture of little Jack looking so intently at the pages his daddy was reading to him really drew me in. His little eyes so full of intelligence and the curiosity of learning. 🙂 Such precious memories in everything here. Thank you! Love and blessings to you!
The picture of daddy and son is one of my favorites. Jack loves it when someone reads to him. God is in the business of creating scenarios for us to be present in and capture to our memories. It is one of my favorite gifts from Him.
Love your photos! I agree that outdoors in the midst of God’s creation is a wonderful time to worship!
Oh, those cheeks on Baby Jack!
I feel most myself when I am outside and it is also a time when I feel God’s presence more deeply. Winter is hard especially if the weather does not cooperate.
And, yes, those cheeks are the best!
Such beautiful photos, Mary! And Baby Jack just keeps getting cuter and cuter. Thank you for sharing this glimpse into your summer worship journey!
Thank you for joining me. I love sharing how God is working in my life and Baby Jack is a big part of that. He is my favorite!
Love the photos you share and how you have worshipped this summer. My post today is one of the things that stirs me to worship.
You have a way of sharing worshipful moments on your blog too. It seems we have similar ways of expressing worship.
Worship for me this week looked like talking to a drunk student as she sat on the ER gurney and lamented that she always messes things up and admitted that she needs help for her alcohol addiction. I listened, affirmed our love for her, and keep my mouth shut and my mind open to the Holy Spirit. She didn’t grow up knowing Jesus, but I hope she’s getting to know him through everyone who works with her here. May the picture we paint draw her in and teach her the joy of surrender and worship available for her life.
Thank you for sharing this story of worship. I am praying for your student that she sees love through your example and others around her. I have worked with difficult students but this takes it to a new level.
Mary, it looks like you had a beautiful and worshipful summer! The lessons and photos will be held onto and cherished during the colder days of winter.
I will have to pull out these beautiful memories when winter seems to go on forever. Thank you for joining me.
Thank you for sharing your season of gratitude & worship Mary 😀 You do indeed have much to be thankful for.
Blessings,
Jennifer
I do have much to be thankful for and sharing my memories through photos reminded me again of the abundance in my life. I’m grateful for you.
Pictures are worth a thousand words … yes! Thank you for sharing your family with us, Mary, and all those other warm blessings from recent months. There’s always so much to praise God for.
I try to begin each day with gratitude. It certainly helps me to go walking and capture all the memories with my camera. I am praising God for you today. Thanks for being here.
Mary,
I love this pictoral journey of worship through the months. You are such a wonderful photographer – you truly capture God’s Creation and that’s a gift! Love the pics of Baby Jack (especially). I’m sure you’re over the moon in love with him?! Delightful to visit this am.
Blessings,
Bev xx
Thank you for encouraging me with my photography. It brings me such joy. It’s good to know it brings others joy too. And being Baby Jack’s Mimi is the best.
I love this glimpse into your summer and your reflections on worship. I have been thinking a lot lately about worship and how much I need to focus my mind on God and his love and power.
Worship is so many things and it looks different for everyone. That’s what I love about it. Praising God does not just have to be done through prayer or song. Praying you find yourself more focused on God this week.
Mary, thank you for this peek into your summer months–a sacred time in every way!
You’re welcome! It sure is fun to share a bit more of me through my photos.
Mary, this is beautiful. Those pictures of Baby Jack, especially of his daddy reading him the Bible are heart-warming. Your summer looks like it was a wonderful one!
I find myself worshiping in various ways . . . as I serve Him through serving others, on my morning walks (although I go so early it is usually still dark these days), and my heart worships when one of our boys shares a piece of their hearts with me.
My summer was wonderful but not a typical summer in many ways. I know your morning walks must be worshipful. There is nothing like our kids to provide moments that we not only celebrate with them but thank God for His hand on the occasion. Thanks for being here.
This is at least part of the heart of worship: seeing His fingerprints in all around us.
Worship manifests itself in multiple ways. One of my favorites is Jack listening to his daddy read which reflects how we listen to the Father. Glad to have you here.
What sweet experiences you had this summer. And you have these memories to hold, treasure and learn from!
The best and recording the highlights through photos is a fun way to hold onto the memories. Thanks for being here.
Good morning Mary. Yours is the first blog I have read since slowly returning. Wow! I felt as though I was on this beautiful worship journey with you. I receive this blessing from Jesus and your post. Have a wonder-full day, dear friend and sister in Christ, Julie
I’m blessed to know you stopped here first. I pray your retreat was everything it needed to be for you and the other women. Worshiping through pictures is even better when you have friends along for the journey.