CANDACE COFER

Have you ever thought about what scent your life offers to others? Is it the sweetness of a honeysuckle or the rancid rank of a heart that has been "through a lot" and seeming a bit more like a water treatment plant, where all the muck comes together?

Rachel Britton is sharing her reflection of Psalm 149 with us and reminding us of the power of praise, but even more beautifully and profoundly, to recognize this is an invitation for God is already singing over us. When we choose to praise and sing worship, we are joining the Choir Master's song. And not just that, but the song of "the Mighty Warrior who saves."

When was the last time you were "scooped up"? Whether in the safe and reassuring arms of someone we love or in a bed full of pillows, being "scooped up" is deeply comforting. As my friend, Abby McDonald, points out in her reflection of Psalm 142, God's love is ready and waiting to "scoop" us up. Our part is simply to come - to be honest and transparent, to bring our cares and burdens to the one who not only carries them but carries us.

Indeed, there's a glue which bonds families together and it has no respect for blood relation, for sometimes these families start out as acquaintance then build into friendship, then by God's grace, are forged into brotherhood and sisterhood. No matter how these "families" are formed, the glue which holds us together is story-telling. It's stickiness is determined by the laughter and tears the story holds.

What does it mean to fear the Lord? Once we understand this, how do we cultivate fear of the Lord in our hearts so we live in fear of the Lord? Why is this so important? My friend, Alexandra Jensen, helps us comb through these que As my friend, Abby McDonald, points out in her reflection of Psalm 142, God's love is ready and waiting to "scoop" us up. Our part is simply to come - to be honest and transparent, to bring our cares and burdens to the one who not only carries the

It's... "Peanut butter jelly time! Peanut butter jelly time! Peanut butter jelly time!" We're singing all the sillies this week as we read the hilarious story, How Not to Make a Jelly Sandwich by Ross Burach. As we do, we'll discover Frankie's wildly overcomplicated attempt to make a jelly sandwich looks a lot like how we sometimes approach our faith and relationship with God. It's so very easy to overcomplicate the Bible, but God doesn't ask us to train unicycle-riding h

When we read God's Word, we're not alone. The Holy Spirit is with us and leading us, making this truth come to life to us in new and exciting ways. The Bible is the only book which reads us as we read it. I love this reflection of Psalm 121 from my good friend, Amy Lively, as it illustrates this so beautifully. God led her to read this psalm while resting on a height, and deep insight gushed forth. Insight for her life, but also for ours, because God is cool like that.

Drifting is a reality for our spiritual lives too if we are not intentional to cultivate faithfulness. My friend, Karolyne Roberts is sharing her reflection of Psalm 119 with us today to help us reflect on what our summer is revealing in our hearts and how we can continue walking with God and closer to Him even when routines change.

Whether hiking mountains is our "thing" or not, my friend, Lauren Vander Linden is sharing her reflection of Psalm 107 with us to remind us the spiritual ascent is one we all need to make, again and again. As we do, we'll find God's love is steady, gently leading us up one step at a time.

Dancing invites joy and smiling, and as my friend, Kathy Izard, points out in her reflection of Psalm 100, dancing also invites gratitude. These "holy spirited steps" as she says are welcomed by God.

If we want our children to become curious about God's Word and love God with all of their heart, mind and soul, the most important thing we can do is love God's Word and love God with all of our hearts, minds and souls in front of them. Read this excerpt about how Fred Rogers' intentionally cultivated curiosity in children on the Neighborhood to understand more why this is so.

There's no better way to be the Summer heat than with a splash. But, sometimes we get more than a splash. We get a wave or waves of chaos. My good friend, Valerie Ellis, is sharing her reflection of Psalm 93 with us today and reminding us of the stark contrast between chaos and Christ and the invitation that awaits us in these inconvenient and overwhelming waters.

What does it mean to "live by faith"? Relying on our know-how and limited understanding while also trying to be a follower of Christ is a common picture of a divided heart. And, we're not the first to struggle in this way. King David prayed for God to give him an undivided heart in Psalm 86.

Maybe this Summer, foreign is exactly what you need. But no bags need to be packed. Not a single one. No airline reservations need to be made. You see, praise in times of plenty, that's easy. It's natural. But praise in want, it's never easy. It's unnatural. Foreign may be an even better word. It feels strange, unfamiliar, unsettling.

My good friend, Sarah Philpott, shares her reflection of Psalm 72 with us today and the gentle redirection meant for all us - who are we worshipping? In whom or what have we put our hope?

I want us to embrace a moment of nothingness, as hard as it may be for us. Keep the TV off, put the phone away. If not for a whole summer, how about today? How about for five minutes? For, it's only when we're bored that we start to ask ourselves the question: "What sounds fun?" Fun. We need more fun!

If we want our children to become curious about God's Word and love God with all of their heart, mind and soul, the most important thing we can do is love God's Word and love God with all of our hearts, minds and souls in front of them. Read this excerpt about how Fred Rogers' intentionally cultivated curiosity in children on the Neighborhood to understand more why this is so.

As we begin our Summer in the Psalms series this Summer, we're getting to hear from my friend, Cole Feix, as he helps us understand the Psalms as "the nervous system of the Bible."

Connecting "The Clock" to the promise of eternal life and the gift of second chances.

As we continue thinking about how we can experience God's presence through our five senses, we are going to focus on feeling God's embrace through our closest relationships - family. It may be a parent or grandparent, a sibling or neighbor, or someone else who has served in a nurturing or mentoring role for you. God is so very faithful to bring the family of God around us, especially when our earthly family may fail us.