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Pretend for a second that the Bible was an Instagram feed. A bright, shiny highlight reel of each person’s triumphs. It is the Bible after all, so the moments of triumph would be displays of faithfulness, obedience, courage, and conviction. People delighting in God and their circumstances, overflowing with gratitude. Can you see it? 

Sarah, hand on her belly, rejoicing in her long-awaited son.

Noah, surrounded by building materials, preparing the ark.

David, confident and humble, fixed before Goliath.

Peter, eyes forward, taking step after step on the Sea of Galilee. 

Sarah’s unbelieving laughter, Noah’s drunkenness, David’s adultery, Peter’s betrayal… those moments wouldn’t garner the same kind of double taps. They certainly wouldn’t make the feed. But God, in his kindness, gives us more of the story. If we’ve spent any time in Scripture we know these people had their triumphs and failures and still God used them to point to the one that never fails. 

I’m reading the book Side by Side right now with some friends from church. The book explores what it looks like to walk alongside people in wisdom and love when they are hurting and need help. The general premise is that all people are both needy and needed. The author asserts that most people aren’t looking for a subject matter expert or a credentialed professional in their time of need, but instead we are looking for someone ordinary. Someone that has experienced this life and has come to the understanding that things aren’t as they should be, someone that knows they need help too, help that comes from a perfect savior.  

It’s this ordinary-ness that made me think of the Bible and this hypothetical Instagram feed. God is in the business of using ordinary, imperfect people to accomplish his purposes and participate in his kingdom. He didn’t give us a highlight reel of everyone’s shining accomplishments and grand displays of obedience. Instead the pages of Scripture unfold the story of a messy, broken humanity that points to one man’s perfect obedience. It is our need for Jesus and his complete and perfect work on the cross that qualifies us to participate in the kingdom of God, not any of our own effort, accomplishment, or accolades worthy of a highlight reel. 

Is that good news? That we don’t have to be perfect because Jesus is. We can help those in need, not because we can make it better, but because we know the one who can. We don’t have to go through life curating a highlight reel and avoiding failure, because that’s exhausting and impossible and it’s our ordinary-ness that paves the way to point others to an extraordinary God. 

Just like countless people throughout the Bible, because God has first helped us, he can use us to help others and point them to Him.

If you know me, you know I love a good board. Especially in the summer, because #nooven!

Here is everything you need to be the friend that shows up with the perfect summer snack board! You can get everything from Trader Joe's, but feel free to improvise at your favorite grocery store.

Step 1: Choose the cheese- my current go-to's are the Rosé Soaked Tuscano, Unexpected Cheddar, and Honey Goat Cheese.

PRO TIP: Make sure to get a mix of hard and soft cheeses and don't be afraid to pre-slice them before putting them on the board, it is easier for everyone!

Step 2: Mix the meat - You want 2 or 3 different kinds of meat, try to get one you can fold and one you can bunch. The difference creates dimension and texture on your board AKA it makes it pretty! I used prosciutto and pepperoni on this one, but salami or soppressata are also great options.

PRO TIP: cut your prosciutto slices in half before you bunch them – you get more bites for your buck that way.

Step 3: Fill with fruit - Get all the summer fruit, but avoid anything too watery (skip the watermelon). Think peaches, cherries, summer berries, etc.

Step 4: Crackers for crunch - The new Rosemary Sfogliette (thin, crunchy Italian rosemary crackers) are SO good! This board also has the Fig and Olive Crackers, but they just came out with a new box of Strawberry and Jalapeño Crackers and that is what I would grab if I were making this board again.

Step 5: Add accouterments - Grab whatever sounds good to you - candy, nuts, chocolate, olives, honey, cornichons, Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Joe-Joes, etc.

Build the board by going one step at a time. Spread out your cheese and any small vessels you plan on using for accouterments to “anchor” your board, place your meat and try to nestle it next to the cheese, then comes fruit, then crackers, and then fill in the gaps with the accouterments!

If you make a board, send me a picture! I'd love to see it! 

 Things I'm loving right this very minute!

• I've been in a church history class for the last seven weeks and while it has been one of my harder classes, it has been one of my favorite seminary classes to date (and I only have 3 left, so that is saying something!). I read this article for the second time this week, written by a dear friend, and it's another reminder of why diving into church history is a worthwhile journey. We all need the reminder that the Church endures and we have so much to learn from the faith of those that have gone before us.
• I've added a few dresses to my closet over the last few months because dresses are all I want to wear in the summer! This one is casual enough for a Tuesday, conservative enough for church, and simple + chic enough for a summer wedding; I'm saving this green guy for a special occasion (don't let the color scare you, it's SO CUTE on); and this is the swimsuit cover up of my dreams (size 2 sizes down).
• I am all the way in on this podcast from Christianity Today. It's a fascinating look at a familiar story, one that is not meant for gawking but examining what went wrong and exposing some bizarre aspects of American evangelical culture
• I've also been listening to this gem. It has been a joy to my high school heart! Did you know I was a DVD dealer in high school? I was constantly leading all of my seasons of One Tree Hill to everyone in my grade.
• July is a no shopping month for me (and now I've told you… accountability) but if it wasn't I would be shopping this 30% off 4th of July sale (code: 4JULY) and rearranging my budget for these or these.
• I preordered this precious book about prayer for some of my favorite little ones, but I may need a copy for myself. If you preorder it comes with some great bonuses like crafts for kids (something to fill those summer days?), family discipleship activities, and some encouragement for parents on how to teach their kids to pray.

I pray this note is a bright spot in your inbox! If you love getting these emails, would you consider forwarding it to a friend? This newsletter has become my favorite creative outlet and I'd love to be able to share it with anyone you think might find it encouraging.

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