Long time no see, my friends! It’s been a whirlwind for me the past few weeks! The last time we talked I was gearing up for our National Jr. High Conference departure. I hope you enjoyed their weekend review video, yesterday! You can watch it here if you missed it. We really had a great time together, they were a fun bunch!
Since then, we’ve prepared a few Lil’ Roots for Baptism. What a joy to celebrate William, Ethan and Charlie’s commitment to faith yesterday! I was of course, celebrating from afar, but proud of them nonetheless!
A special thanks to Katherine Tshudy who shared with you all about FAMJAM 2025 the other week! If you haven’t registered yet, do that HERE. Pre-registration is expected! It takes over 100 people to help make FAMJAM happen! Visit the display in the Gathering Area to learn more about the volunteer opportunities. Share the Facebook event or a FAMJAM postcard with your friends, family and neighbors! We’re praying for a “mountain top” experience for us all!
Also on the FAMJAM front, tomorrow begins our “FAMJAM Journey to the Mountain.” This reading, prayer and challenge plan takes us through the month of July, leading us up the mountain for FAMJAM! Grab your copy in the Gathering Area. There’s a version for both kids and adults.
Thanks to all who purchased Egg Rolls for the Sr. High Youth MVMNT Conference Fundraiser. We are very excited about this opportunity but have been running into some challenges with our travel plans. Would you be prayerful that God will clearly make a way for our teens to get to Montana? You can learn more about the conference here.
Scott and l will be away at the cabin with our Supper Club friends over this upcoming July 4th weekend, so it will be another week until I can worship with you all in person again. We are looking forward to some time away with friends in God’s creation. Between now and then will be jam packed with FAMJAM preparations, Youth Conference planning and reviewing materials and schedules for ministry launches in the fall.
Blessings to you all on these summer days!
What WE’RE Learning This Week: A nugget of what our Lil’, Youth and Adults Roots heard this week
Our Family Theme: God Is Worthy of Praise
Our Root Text: Psalm 100:1–5; 145:1–21
Verse of the Month: Psalm 23:1
How Every Generation Lives This Out: Teach family members to praise God daily and tell the next generation about Him.
What I’M Learning This Week: Sharing what I’m reading and listening to lately
This weekend I had the privilege to teach at and participate in “Camp Refresh,” a women’s retreat led by one of my friends. 14 women moved into a lodge in the woods in York county for the weekend. We enjoyed fellowship, good food, relaxation by the pool and time in God’s Word.
I taught on Psalms 1 throughout the weekend. I’ve enjoyed this Psalm so much as I’ve engrossed myself into it over the last several weeks preparing for my messages. This Psalm asks the reader to evaluate their life - choosing between two paths, the way of the wicked, sinners and mockers and the way of the righteous.
This Psalm is full of verbs, go read it and look specifically for the action words! All of the verbs in the Psalm have a connotation of lingering. What matters is WHERE we do the lingering. Are we lingering on unrighteous things; on the way of the wicked, sinners and mockers (verse 1)? Or are we lingering in delight and meditation of the Word and character of God (verse 2)? This Psalm says blessed is the one who chooses to linger in the way of righteousness. They are like trees planted by streams of water, fruitful and flourishing (verse 3).
Our proximity to the Living Water matters! Linger there today, friends!
Make Every Week Count: Parenting, Grandparenting & Spiritual Mentoring Resources
Something to Read: Breath prayers are a simple, unique spiritual discipline. Here’s a tool to help you learn more - Breath as Prayer: Calm Your Anxiety, Focus Your Mind, and Renew Your Soul
Something to Listen to: Maybe you’ve heard it already, but if not give Dusty Bibles by Josiah Queen a listen! Trust me, it’s worth it!
Something to Follow: Shared one of these videos with my D-Group Bible Study recently, they’re great snippets before studying a new book of the Bible. Check Out Paul David Tripp’s The Gospel: One Book At A Time
How Can You Pray? Prayer Requests and Praises from Roots Ministries
PRAY for FAMJAM registrations - new and familiar families that will come worship with us this weekend!
PRAISE for baptisms and new members!