Hi friends!

Hard to believe this is the last episode for June and we are going to do something in July that I haven’t ever done on the podcast. I’m going to be sharing some episodes from the past few years that were some of your favorites. I think it will be fun to revisit some of those and for some of you, it very well might be the first time you’re hearing it so that’s even more fun!

In case you missed it the SHE IS Summertime Collection came out this past week and it’s been such a cool experience for me to hear which piece speaks to you and which one you are choosing for a room in your home.

It’s interesting, as a creative, you create for the sole purpose of simply that. Creating.  I write words…not with the intention for someone to read, but simply to allow them to come out of me. I paint and sketch not for what someone else will see but for what I see in it.

I create because that was wired deep within me and it’s wired in you too. It’s impossible for it not to be because we were created in the image of God our creator. It’s who we are. 

As I’ve said many times being creative isn’t all about visual or performing arts, it’s about you bringing beauty + order to chaos.  However, that looks. Could be your organizing your child's closet;)  

I can see this beautiful cycle in scripture where Jesus tells us what the most important commandments are that we should be focused on and live by.

Which 1. Is to love God with all of our heart, mind, and strength.

And 2. Love others as we love ourselves.

As we spend time with God and allow and recognize his presence in all the moments of our day. We are strengthened by all that he is….which in turn strengthens all that we are…which affects all those around us.

It's like the hand and heart thing I shared with you last week. When we put our hand to what’s in our hearts. It brings beauty and order to the world and touches those around us.

So this week I’ve been sharing my stories about the summer collection and I got a response in my dm’s one day

Which said…”I love your art in the Summer collection Susan, but I hate Summer!”

It made me laugh and I responded Same girl…same.

It brought me back to the whole purpose around she is summertime.

This collection was a response to me leaning into the rhythms of grace Jesus talked about in the book of Matthew.

These rhythms invite and allow me to living life freely + lightly.

So after all this talk about Summer these past several weeks, it might surprise many of you that Summer is actually my least favorite season haha

I hate the humidity, I hate the heat… 

Most everything about it has always been so uncomfortable to me.

Yet here I am…

Sitting in midst of a sweltering summer

If it were up to me I would probably skip this season in the rotation of the 4 seasons. Heaven to me would be a beautiful vibrant spring unfolding into a colorful, homey fall

But that’s not the way it works. And as much as that’s what I desire…

It’s not what I need.

I need to experience discomfort in my life.

The most beautiful and life-giving experiences in my life have come out of pain and discomfort.

So as much as I hate and resist at times, as I shared a few episodes back about Surrendering to the season, that’s where the miracles happen.

I believe it was the last episode I mentioned not wanting to be seen as putting my head in the sand…

Even with breaking news again this week I had the thought pop into my mind before posting something that was totally unrelated to what was going on in the world is this ok?!?

And yes it’s ok.

We don’t lack for “breaking news” these days.

We need more “good news” and Jesus was all about spreading that good news!

So I guess here’s the bottom line of what I want to remind you this week.

We can’t wait till every circumstance in our life is easy and enjoyable to live the abundant life we can experience no matter the circumstance.

The tendency to “wait” till a better day is such a lie.

The moment we are in is the moment we are in. live in it.

The season we are in is the season we are in. Live it to the full!!

I’m so grateful for you and my hope is that in some small way as I put my hand to what’s in my heart it will encourage you to do the same and in doing that beauty and order will replace chaos.

If you haven’t had a chance to check out the Summer Collection yet I hope you will take some time to do that. You can find all of that at susanbeth.com

Have a great week friend!