If you are reading this on the day this post went live, it is the last day of April. If not, it could already be May. Yikes! I don’t know about you but time has a way of getting away from me.
The saying “April showers bring May flowers” came true around here. We did have some scattered days of sunshine with warm temperatures, but rain was the order of most days.
During the month of April, we finished our walk to the cross and celebrated Easter. Lent was a time of deep reflection and awakening and I loved sharing what I was learning.
I loved diving deeper into Jesus’ walk to the cross as we matched our footsteps with His. We started with creation.
Creation’s journey to the cross began when God designed the world and all that’s in it. It was a foreshadowing of what is to come. God lovingly laid this foundation as a way for us to see Him in everything.
Next, we steered toward The Fall and how the walk into darkness still resulted in living in the light.
Redemption entered in and I contemplated how …
And finally, last week, I shared my slow awakening. Find that post HERE. You all were so tender with my words. I am grateful for each of you and how you rally around the members of Tell His Story.
I learned so much on this journey we took together to the cross. The chance to walk it out and allow God to teach me became a beautiful lesson of how God never stops pursuing or inviting me to join Him.
I learned again of the deep love the Father has for me. How walking with Jesus is better than any other walk I have experienced. That the journey to the cross is a lifelong process that grows me with every step. And that Lent was such a deep time of pruning but on the other side is the light of new life.
I loved having all of you with me for this journey. You are my people when I share my struggles as well as my joy. What a gift it is to know this community is by my side.
And I am leaning into the rebirth of Spring. The restoration of my own personal darkness into light and the hope that comes when the promises of God are realized.
Just as you are struggling to find the light, a new month dawns and what was becomes an echo of the past. Join me for April musings. #TellHisStory #linkup Click To Tweet
Throughout this post are some of my favorite photos from the month of April. It was hard to choose just a few. I am also adding a summary of the book, Chosen Not Cheated by Koki Oyuke, a member of the Tell His Story community. You can find her website HERE.
“Every heart longs for meaning. We all want to know that our being here, that our lives, small as they seem at the moment, bear deep significance. But we live in a fallen world, one that shines a light on the popular and successful. So our hearts thin a little each day as the sting of rejection burrows deep into our homes, schools and workplaces. And our lives go unnoticed. We wonder, “Is this it? Is there more to my life? Is God even here with me or will I only find Him at the peak of the mountain called success?”
Chosen Not Cheated seeks to answer these questions and more. It’s a book for those of us who’ve lived most of our lives feeling ripped off; an offering for those of us who feel cheated, unseen and behind in life while everyone else’s seems to be on course.
Through a mix of wit, candour and biblical story, Koki invites us to look back at our lives to see all the ways we have been chosen by God especially when we feel cheated. We tend to think chosen means easy, and big, and great, and definitely without challenges, but that’s the lie that sinks our dreams. We will seldom leave this life without a few bruises or the stink of death. But right there, in the mess, is where we find the sparks of chosen, the everyday holy, the God with us through it all.
Our lives may seem like they’re on pause but such is the quiet building of the Lord. This is a story about becoming in the in-between, thin and hard places we find ourselves in life. It’s about scars—yours and mine—and the journeys that led to them. It’s about discovering the stars that have been lighting our paths all along. Because we’re chosen, not cheated.”
Link to buy on Amazon: Click HERE
Take a look and cheer on Koki in this brave endeavor of hers.
Blessings as we begin May and shake off the things that hold us back from the Light!
Mary, Thank you for sharing your favorite things and your journey through April. I love your photo’s especially the ones of Jack. What a blessing. Thank you for hosting this beautiful place to gather each week.
Good afternoon Mary, it is May 2nd! I am seemingly a late party goer in the blogging world. I simply cannot keep up with reading all and then my own. Your words comfort me as I walk a new endeavor with Jesus this season. I am leading 13 women on a Jesus Journey, a class held at our church with a waitlist already for the next one! Thank you for the flowers and for sharing your family. Sweet baby Jack brought a couple smiles my way 🙂
I love this wrap up of what God is birthing in you and the sweet pics of His creation and your beautiful family. laurensparks.net
I am glad we are friends. Just a message away!
Wonderful pictures, Mary. And what a blessing to read how God met you on your journey to the cross … as the song says, “how great the Father’s love for us, how vast beyond all measure.” Hugs, friend.
Oh, your family is so beautiful, Mary. I’m just so happy you shared these snapshots.
Thinking of you often, praying for you even as we speak.
Peace, peace, He whispers …
Jack is super cute <3
Thank you for your words Mary. A lot of April showers here but equally warm. Also, thank you for opening your space to me. Deeply appreciate it.
A great summary, Mary. It has been quite rainy here, too, though the rain has often come during the night. I haven’t seen much in the way of blossoms yet, but sure am looking forward to their appearance. And to the warmer weather.
I love the line “Our lives may seem like they’re on pause but such is the quiet building of the Lord.” Often the Lord is doing something deep inside our lives and we are unaware of it until one day when the blossoms burst forth from our hearts and we see what has been taking place. Our lives may have outwardly been on pause, but inwardly life has been going on by the working of the Holy Spirit. Thanks for sharing. God bless you.
Lovely post! What a little sweetie Jack is!
Thank you for your review on Koko’s book, great truths there.
Bless you,
Jennifer
Can never forget how you woke me up Jen and talked me out of my fear that I had no career. Forever grateful <3
I went back and read last week’s post, I thought you were the one with the cardinal story, so you can appreciate that I now have baby cardinals, just a couple of days old. They are hungry, and the parents are feeding them. I so enjoy watching those little mouths. I found them living in an overgrown rose close to my back porch. Surrounded by roses and thorns, protected by by the Lord, a lot like us.
This is a great recap of your month and I love the photos. Baby Jack is adorable! Thanks for sharing about the book too – it sounds great! I hope you get some more sunshine in May!
Dear Mary,
All of these thoughts and images about spring and new life are just stunning. And this one especially speaks to my heart: “Redemption entered in and I contemplated how … Knowing a handful of seeds can grow deep roots and produce such beautiful goodness on the other side.” Thank you for sharing your heart and your days with us here. May spring continue to flow with such precious gifts of life for you and your family!
Such beautiful pictures you did choose! May your spring continue to spring forth renewal and rest in Him.
I love seeing the new blossoms of spring. So welcomed! Baby Jack is so adorable. “Jack” is definitely making a comeback; this is the third baby Jack that I know that’s been born in the past 6 months. 🙂
Hi Mary,
Thank you for hosting this linkup. That Baby Jack could not be more precious in his lil’ man suit!
Thank you for being here, Carrie! I think Baby Jack is the sweetest! 😉
When writing about the rebirth of spring, there could be no better picture to accompany your words than that adorable and precious Baby Jack! How wonderful, Mary!
Rebirth certainly looks beautiful when it is a grandchild. But what God has done in me since winter is also a beautiful testimony to the love of the Father. Thank you for being here.
What a full and deep month! And what a sweet picture of Baby Jack!
It has been a wonderful month and the blessings keep appearing. I am blessed with Sweet Baby Jack and the rest of my family. Love that you areas of faithful in stopping by each week.
There is so much value in looking back. At a month. At a season. Then we can notice the hand of God – working, leading, encouraging and shedding light. Thanks for sharing part of your look back. Your reflections are encouraging to me – and your photos are just delightful! Oh baby Jack!! Looking forward to May…and new mercies ahead.
I find growth and life in looking back. And I am able to count th blessings that came with the month. I love sharing photos but it is extra special when I share family. Here’s to looking forward to May and the new lessons that God is ready to reveal.
Havin’ kind of a hard time here thinking of anything else but that sweet picture of Baby Jack! I loved dressing my boys in handsome outfits, and this one is a prize winner!
Thanks for all the brave sharing of your heart that characterized your April writing.
Blessings to you and yours.
Right there with you! He is the best! I am brave because of God and sweet friends like you who cheer me on and walk right beside me. So many blessings as we get ready for the weekend!
Mary, I love the photos of Baby Jack – he is such a little man!! It never ceases to amaze me how the seasons change and always, always bring new lessons. A deepening never expected. A beauty never before experienced. So grateful our God is always at work in our lives and drawing us closer to Him. And thank you for the sharing about Koki’s book. Blessings on you and your family!!
Mary, first off, I love all your pictures from April. Both the nature and the family pictures. And Jack . . . well, he’s just the cutest little man!
I so appreciate the reminder that redemption began at the fall of Adam and Eve. How often has mankind (and how often have we) continued to embrace darkness because we thought it would lead to light? I’m thankful for God’s grace that He shows us where the true light is found, and that He provided Jesus so that we can find true Light.
Beautiful words as always, my friend.
Mary, I enjoyed your posts during the season of Lent and look forward to what you will share the rest of the spring. I love your family pictures here!
Congratulations to Koki on her new book! Yay!
Thank you for your sweet encouragement. It means so much! And I love my family and am thankful to be able to share a little of them with you.
It was such a rainy month here in Connecticut too! I kept telling myself: May flowers, may flowers, as if it was a promise to stand on.
Grateful for the truth we can stand on in Jesus!
I like that spring showers bring the beautiful flowers but gray skies for days is not my favorite. I am grateful that God’s promises are true and that He is always faithful.
Mary,
So glad you are sensing a season of rebirth after a season of pruning and reflection. I think we need to go through this seasons throughout our walk and in the end it reassures us of our faith in our Lord. What a wonderful community of writers we are blessed to be a part of!! Love the pics of Baby Jack – what a dapper and handsome little guy. You must be over the moon in love. Thanks for sharing about Koki’s new book!
Blessings,
Bev xx
I am thankful to be moving out of the darkness into light. It’s a process and one that God has been so loving and gracious to me throughout. And I am over the moon for Baby Jack. Thank you for being part of this community.