Fields rolled by and I wondered which farm was her’s. I took photos just in case this was the one.
It wasn’t. But we were getting close to the gravel road that would lead us to our resting place. After speaking at a women’s event in Ontario all weekend, I was traveling with my friend Leah to the Farm to visit with my sweet friend, Ann Voskamp.
I couldn’t wait to see Ann and meet her family. Each one as unique and wonderful as I had imagined. Two boys hid (and giggled) under the porch while we visited. Her girls sat on the swing and listened. Flowers bent in the breeze behind the white picket fence.
And a zip line waited for us in the backyard. I didn’t know about it until dinner time. Listening to each child describe their father’s creation and how much time it took to build, voices echoed excitement. So I decided to ask if I could try it.
Smiles stretched big across their faces. No one there knew that this city girl is a farm girl at heart who loves a little adventure.
I even talked their mama into trying it for her first time!!
The next day we sat on the porch, eating apple slices and talking. We talked about the power of naming things like self-doubt, anxiety and fear, as well as the beauty He brings that we easily miss. How naming them can bring clarity to our thinking and invite God into our everyday moments.
Then we talked about framing the moments and messes so we can see God in them and worship Him there. Will you join us on the porch?
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Lord, we want to see You. We.Need.To.See.You. Open the eyes of our hearts and our souls, slow us and show us how to frame the gifts You give us each day – the moments, the messes, the simple, the sacred. In Your Name Amen!
Join Us On The Porch
Slip a note in the comments below this post by clicking “Share your thoughts.” As a special gift, when you join Ann and my conversation you will be entered for a chance to win one of three copies of A Confident Heart or a copy of Ann Voskamp’s New York Times Best-Seller, One Thousand Gifts.
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Re reading one of ur posts has made me realize again I’m battling again with doubt as just one thing again. I first realized I’m dealing with doubt at the moment and rejection self and others, fear of failure, fear of ppl doubting me and if there right. Lisa tyrkurest’s booked helped me work thru a lot. Of these things but as my marriage seems to b failing again its coming back, but I’ve made it a long way since then. I desperately want to talk to Renee about dealing with a child with ASD, ii, and adhd and having add and bipolar and multiple health issues myself. He doesn’t believe school re son and tells me I’m a hydro chondriact. It is so hard. There’s other issues going on as well. I’m so confused. Lord just help me deal with my doubt and their rejection as a start. And. Hold my son in ur hands and protect his heart and soul.
God told me thru someone at church, he hasn’t left me and he will be my strength
I am continually amazed as God is walking me through this journey with you, Renee! My devotions, my conversations with my husband, sermons at Church, your book, the videos… as all pointing the same way; keeping my eyes on Christ … who he is and what he is doing. He IS providing and taking care of me (us). There is much to be thankful for and to stand on God’s word as we stand against Satan and his wanting to create doubt and fear. Thank you so much for this journey… it is a God thing… in God’s timing. I look forward to continuing this journey in him and through him and by him. I do believe in Him and I am getting much stronger at believing Him as well.
Wow! God is amazing! A friend gave me a copy of Ann’s book a few weeks ago….but have not read it…Until on Sat morning, I got up very early-5:40am….struggling…and crying out to God…and started to read His word and Ann’s book…and God stirred my heart to look at gifts that He has given and not focus on the struggles….and my cup began to be filled with His peace and love and JOY!! Thanksgiving, Grace. Joy!
It made me smile when I saw my email today…God is Amazing!! May He continue to use Ann’s book to encourage others to see the gifts that He has given us!!
Im brand new to this blog…but I’ve visited “The Porch” and hope ya don’t mind…but I really want to stay a while! Naming these moments, photographing these moments…hello…where have I been? This could bring order to my life, names for my experiences and blowing-up (once again) this cute box of my understanding of God. I’m staying. Thanks!
What a blessing to have such a wonderful friend.
I’ve just returned from our yearly church kid’s camp where the Lord moved in both the kid’s hearts and all of the adult staff. I’m looking forward to listening to this video and seeing how the Holy Spirit weaves it’s message together with what he has been sharing with me all week. Self-doubt, worry and anxiety have been constant companions for several months now and I’m ready to recognize them for what they are and step out of their stranglehold and be released to do the work God has for me to do.
Thank u for sharing the gifts. For encouraging us to see the frame and seeing Gods work in our lives.
How I would love to be on that front porch!!
Hi..I really enjoyed your conversation on the porch. It made me think of the verse ‘whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are true think on these things. ” I have to admitt that I spend too much time focusing on what is wrong in my life and forget to look for the “pictue framing moments” that I know are a part of my reallity….I am a city girl with a farm heart too. My husband always tells everyone that my favorite store is TRACTOR SUPPLY. Thank you for the reminder to shift our perspective from the darkness and to focus on God’s light and goodness in our situations…I know there are wonders all around me that I sometimes miss because I don’t take the time to look for them . God bless you and your families.
Thank you Renee and Ann for sharing your life experiences and helping me to get closer to God and be able toappreciate Him. I see His Love shining through you both. Thank you so so much. May God continue to bless you both and your families. Lots of love.
I loved this! I am all about taking pictures for memories and this is an awesome way to think of that. Thank you so much for sharing your heart and I have been wanting to get Anns book for quite some time now. Love you ladies!
I wish Ann would invest in a hair clip to hold her hair back. There as some quite attractive ones. IHer hair flopping in her face is obviously a nusance for her and I found it distracting myself.
I can’t thank you enough for sharing these two porch visits with us. I learned so much from both of them. I think I need to go out and get a frame to keep empty to remind me to frame the events of my life and see God in them. I especially needed to be reminded to do this right now–my son is about to be deployed and my daughter is living with her boyfriend. My heart aches over both situations. Now I need to reframe what I see and see God in these situations. I know He is there.
It is all about perspective, isn’t it? Beautiful message! I have been enjoying joining my sisterss ‘on the porch’. Be blessed.
I’m amazed at how God uses conversations to bring home a message He has for our hearts. In my Bible study right now(Gideon, by Priscilla Shirer) she talks about “seeing” God and how that is what transfer what is in our head to our hearts. When we “see” God things become personal to us. We know God for ourselves. It’s through seeing God work in our lives that change us, not when we “hear” about God working in someone else’s life. It’s so simple, but yet so profound. Reading the prayer above reminded me of what the Lord is trying to teach me right now. I’m praying to “see” the Lord in the everyday moments. Thank you for sharing this video! What an inspiration it was to me!
Both of you ladies show your love for God. I enjoyed listening and sharing in your moments. Thank you! He is the only way and my prayers go out to you on the back porch praising our lord and saviour and realizing that there is a frame around the picture. It’s so wonderful to know him and that we can talk to him anytime of the day. He has healed my body so many times and I give him praise for the healing. He is an awesome God.
Sometimes we clutter our lives with so much technology and things we think we have to do or have that we no longer hear the voice of God or see the wonders he puts before us. We often miss the DIvine Interruptions and write them off as interuptions or delays. I am thankful that I am making time and being more present in the moment.
Love, love , love this time with both of you on the porch!!! I have read both books and they blessed my heart and soul. I love the idea of the frame and filling it with “God Sightings”. My heart has grown so much from both books. Thanks ladies for sharing what God puts on your heart.
Love the message, thanks so much for sharing. I love shifting from the darkness to the light, all the darkness fades away when we focus on God!!! If we would only remember that instead of focusing on our darkness and letting it overwhelm us!!
I love to hear Renee talk about,”OUR HOLY WALK THROUGH LIFE WITH JESUS!! I also love how she brings her friends and Sisters in CHRIST to all of us. Thank you , Renee ! And can’t wait to read yr book Ann!!!