THE DESERT

2 things I learned in the desert.

A few weeks ago, our little family took off for the desert! We found a fun home around Palm Springs, CA and had us a little 48 hour staycation. Basically, the house had everything our home has but it was fun because it still felt like a vacation. I don’t know about you, but laundry and household responsibilities can sometimes get in the way of relaxing for a weekend. It always seems that we put our hands to work on some type of project around the house so being in another home was fun and not quite as distracting. This particular weekend we were simply looking for a little getaway with our boys and to get some sweet time with the Lord in the desert!

Kendall and I really enjoy getting away to press into the Lord. Please don’t get me wrong– we believe you can press into Him at any moment of any day and we do that. Something we enjoy though, is getting away and pressing in. Somehow, getting away feels like you can look at your life like an outsider. It seems like your mind is a little clearer and you can see your life with a fresh perspective.

I think it is really healthy to get away for a few days every once in a while.

It’s been a fun journey with the Lord when we take time to get away and press into Him. Some ordinary things have happened during those times along with some answers and direction. I remember the exact trip I was on when the Lord gave us a name and vision for our business, The Well House. I remember a trip I was on when God showed me the importance of raising a family under His altar. I remember a trip when I opened up to my husband and felt like we entered into vulnerability and openness in our relationship for the first time ever. I remember a trip when God revealed to us that we needed Godly mentors. I remember a trip where I gained a new, fresh perspective on a family member and have loved her so hard ever since. So many beautiful and countless things the Lord has done in those moments.

On this particular trip in the desert, I was pressing in for something BIG. I wanted to know a clear blueprint of exactly what God wanted us to do in this season. It was so funny because all I could gather was that He was proud of us. He just kept loving on us that trip and said just keep going, just keeping taking step after step. It almost seemed so simple. But God, I want fresh revelation, I want something NEW + BIG! I was shocked, “Just keep going?” So, we will listen and we will press into what He said.

Shortly after I noticed that He was reminding us how much He loves us, I started to notice the Palms hanging over the pool in the yard. I noticed how there were so many leaves coming out of a single branch. Many of the leaves looked unraveled, they weren’t perfect when you looked at them individually. A lot of them were fringed on the sides but when I looked at them as a whole, it was literally breathtaking. I started to notice how the palms created shade. I noticed my kids sitting under that shade often. After all, the desert is HOT. The palm started to become so beautiful to me, and I kept thinking of all the creative things this could become. I could take a picture of it, play with it in photoshop, my kids could paint it, we could have so much fun with this beautiful bit of creation. I immediately saw an opportunity to display its beauty. All the branch was doing was keeping it simple. Staying rooted, it just kept going. Kept providing shade day after day.

It took me full circle to what God first planted in our hearts when we got to the desert, He is so proud of us and wants us to just keep going. Sometimes, simple is best. Keep displaying His love of His creation to those around and keep providing shade for others when they need it. Some seasons with the Lord are simple. Keep pressing in and fall in love with the process of growing in Him.

In the words of my wise husband…KISS: Keep It Simple, Silly.