Catching Up! Back After Summer Break

Summer Memories

Ya’ll, I have had the BEST break! It has been filled with dreams coming true for family and ministry!

I spent much of the summer prepping for our daughter’s wedding on September 3. This was our first wedding for one of our kids so we felt inexperienced, to say the least.

I was her “boots on the ground” person since she lives in another state. As a stay at home mom for much of my time as a parent, I wanted to finish well by helping her as much as she needed. It was a beautiful weekend full of family and friends. The Lord displayed His Grace and Goodness over and over and for that, we are humbled.

Now on to our oldest son’s wedding scheduled December 1. Today is my first day of focusing my mind and efforts on his behalf. He is marrying a lovely young woman so we are excited to have 2 new inlaws join our family within 3 months!

Ministry Memories

From slow summer days of being present with family, fully engaged with their moments, to loving my local community well by investing in them. Not only did I begin to serve on Sunday mornings at Church of Eleven22, but I also taught my first Bible study in Jacksonville this summer. I used my book “Press On! Encouragement to Keep You Moving When You Feel Overwhelmed” to disciple ladies from my church. They were a rewarding group to serve because they came faithfully and were eager to discuss what they were learning from the Bible.

I was also grateful for speaking engagements at two conferences during my break. I traveled to Michigan for the first conference and then had one in Jacksonville. I spoke on “Maintaining Your Passion While Pursuing Your Calling” at the Maranatha Christian Writers Conference in September and on October 2 I spoke for the national tour of She Found Joy that came through Jacksonville. I met some wonderful people at both events!

 

Speaking at conferences or retreats is one of my favorite ways to share God’s life-changing Word so I loved every minute! Check out this short video of when I was asked how fear had been an obstacle in my faith so I shared how my parenting had been consumed with fear and what I learned from that. FaceBook link for Gretchen Branstetter Fleming

As I end my break time, I feel filled up. I was able to enjoy God so much over the summer. I read my Bible for me, not for ministry. I loved Him, loved my family, loved my local community, and the moments of ministry near and far. There is something special about connecting with people personally, intimately, face to face. Giving them my full attention also ended up blessing me. Whether I was meeting young moms over coffee to mentor them or enjoying new relationships in a summer discipleship group, I was filled up in the process.

We are meant to live in the moment and in community so when that happened over the summer, boy did I ever benefit from it! Thank you for allowing me the time off from online writing and social media to become more engaged locally.

I have missed YOU as my online community and I am eager to start sharing with you what God continues to teach me in my devotional times. My journey through the gospels chronologically is coming to an end in the next weeks so you can expect a return to the Old Testament after that. The lessons from Jesus have been sanctifying for me so I cherish these last days with Him as He pours into His disciples before His approaching ascension.

Thank you for following hard with me! I love meeting you and knowing you are a part of my journey.

To His Grace & Glory,

Gretchen