Monday morning I sat in my Starbucks in Minneapolis one last time, and today (Wednesday) this is where I’m sitting with my coffee in Luzern.
John and I are serving as short-term interim co-pastors at the international church here. A pastor had to leave suddenly (thankfully everything is ok) and we were able to put some stuff on hold and jump in quickly . We are loving this new adventure in a beautiful city with a wonderful church community! If you want to follow along, I’m posting on Instagram and Instagram stories. There is no snow yet and probably won’t be until maybe January. The climate is more like London, but we are surrounded by mountains.
We’re fighting jet-lag and trying to remember what day it is. We are so so grateful for new friends from this faith community who have greeted us with such incredible grace and hospitality!
When our luggage didn’t arrive, they delivered jammies and underwear! Candles were lit when we walked in the door, and our apartment is stocked with everything we could possibly need!
One of the passages that God has spoken to me about this season in Switzerland that also ties into my post last week on being where your feet are, is this from Jeremiah to the Israelites when they were in exile:
Build houses and make yourselves at home.
Put in gardens and eat what grows in that country.
Make yourselves at home there and work for the country’s welfare.
Jeremiah 29:5,7
In other words, invest and seek God where you are!
Advent has already started, so I’m going to post this gathering of resources early instead of waiting til Friday. Enjoy! And let me know in the comments what you’re doing to make the season meaningful!
For a delightful Advent podcast, check out Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership.
I had the privilege of participating in two years of retreats with The Transforming Community. If you have a ministry leader on your gift list I highly recommend Ruth Hayley Barton’s book, Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership: Seeking God in the Crucible of Ministry. Ruth uses the life of Moses to draw out principles that guard your soul.
For many, the holidays are very difficult. Here are a couple of really good articles and a good reminder that might make you smile:
When Grief Looms Heavy over the Holidays
Also, check out The Best Holiday Music Playlist Ever . This is so great – has categories for every mood or occasion!
And some inspiration from Instagram…
That’s it for now! Have a great weekend and let me know what’s going on with you in the comments!
