Before We Rush Into Fall ... A Simple Labor Day Examen + What's Stirring at the Sanctuary this Fall
(Read below or Click Here to Listen to the Podcast)
“Oh my soul, bless God. From head to toe, I’ll bless His holy name! O my soul, bless God, don’t forget a single benefit!” Psalm 103:2 The Message
Hey friends!
Welcome to fall—and to a brand-new season of the Sanctuary Stirrings podcast! It’s so good to be back with you again.
As we settle into regular rhythms, I wanted to stop by with a quick update, a peek at what’s ahead this fall, and a simple prayer practice that feels perfect for this Labor Day weekend.
Summer at the Sanctuary
Summer has been a wonderful season at the Sanctuary. We’ve watched God work in guests who came to spend time in the Prayer Cabin, to walk the trails, to sit by the creek, and simply to be with the Lord. New people are finding the Sanctuary every week, and we’re so thankful for the privilege of making space for people to deepen their relationship with God.
One of the funniest comments we heard from a guest this summer was that, as beautiful as the cabin and grounds were:
“As beautiful as the cabin and grounds are, the thing that stuck with me the most was the outhouse! I never expected to open the door and find a sparkling-clean white flush toilet!”
Ha! Sometimes it’s the little things.
We continue to make progress on the Retreat Barn and the property. We’re hoping to order kitchen cabinets and a custom hayloft door this week and are working on furnishing the living room and bedrooms. If all goes well, we’ll be ready to welcome overnight guests by the time the snow flies.
Bryan and our son Eric spent a week with an excavator, widening the Creekside trail and strengthening its banks with beautiful rock retaining walls. The creek is such a life-giving piece of guests’ time at the Sanctuary. We’re thrilled that it's being developed in these ways.
Before We Rush Into Fall ...
Before we jump into all that’s ahead—all the new and exciting things filling our fall calendars—I want to invite you to take a few minutes this Labor Day weekend to look back before you look ahead.
To savor the summer.
To remember the blessings God lavishly poured over your life.
To praise Him for His goodness.
And maybe even to talk with Him about the things that were less than rosy—the disappointments, struggles, or questions that are still troubling you.
I don’t know why it’s so easy to skip looking back. Pausing to ponder and praise can be challenging. In our humanness, impatience, and excitement about what’s ahead, we often want to jump right into the next thing.
But God’s Word reminds us:
“Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—” Psalm 103:2 NIV
I also love the way The Message puts it:
“Oh my soul, bless God. From head to toe, I’ll bless His holy name! O my soul, bless God, don’t forget a single benefit!”
Don’t forget.
Because it’s so easy to forget if we don’t take time to look back.
Giving thanks helps us recognize the Giver of all good gifts and deepens our appreciation for Him. Amidst the continual problems and challenges of life, gratitude helps us notice all we’ve been given rather than focusing only on what we lack.
It slows us down in this rushed world and helps us to be the intentional, grateful, soft-hearted people we long to be.
A Confession from My Retreat
Last week I took a 24-hour retreat. A normal practice for me is to jot down a list of the things I hope to do during that time.
So, I wrote:
Spend time with my Abba Father and in His Word.
Gain clarity on my fall plans.
Rest and be rejuvenated from the intensity of summer.
Ponder the blessings of the summer and give God my thanks and praise.
Guess which one I didn’t get to?
Number four.
Apparently, even on retreat, looking back can be easier to postpone than looking ahead!
Truth be told, pondering the blessings of summer didn’t seem possible until I had cleared some of the mental, physical, and emotional clutter through the first three.
So I brought #4 home with me.
Maybe I should have started there. Maybe in my most spiritually mature moment, I would have. But I didn’t. And perhaps the invitation isn’t to practice gratitude perfectly.
It’s simply not to forget.
“He remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:14). He knows our limitations and meets us there.
"He remembers we are but dust." Psalm 103:14
He knows our limitations and meets us there. So this weekend, I’m giving Him my imperfect obedience and finally making space for #4.
A Labor Day Examen: Pause & Praise
Here’s my plan.
When I have a few quiet minutes, I’m going to pull out my phone and journal.
Then I’ll scroll all the way back to Memorial Day and slowly make my way through the photos of summer.
I’ll notice the people, places, ordinary moments, surprises, joys—and even the hard things.
And I’m going to imagine my Father sitting right beside me, smiling over those photos with me as I talk with Him about what I see, give Him all my struggles, thanks, and praise.
Maybe you’d like to try it too.
Scroll, notice, give thanks. It’s simple yet so life-giving.
Want to join me? Sometime over the holiday weekend or whenever this article finds you, take a few minutes to pull out your phone, flip through the photos, and bring Him your gratitude.
What's Stirring This Fall
And then—we’ll look ahead!
We’ve got a fabulous fall season of the Sanctuary Stirrings in the works, with inspiring topics and a wonderful lineup of guests.
Next week I’ll be talking with the most important guest I’ve ever had on the program—or ever will!
I know. That’s a strong statement. But it’s true.
My husband, Bryan Melton, will be joining me as we celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary and talk about Christian marriage. We were married September 19, 1986, and I’m so excited for you to get to know this incredible man a little better and hear some of the wisdom he has to share.
From there, we’ll continue a conversation we began last season about reading as a vital part of our discipleship—exploring some of the unique gifts God offers us through different genres.
We’ll also explore what we can receive from Christians of other cultures and how even reading Scripture through another cultural lens can deepen our understanding of God. I’ll share some of what I’ve experienced this year through the First Nations Version of the Bible.
And finally, we’ll wrap up the season celebrating the one-year anniversary of Journey with a Giant and the incredible gift of the spiritual giants God uses to strengthen our faith.
I may even find a way to include some of you in those episodes. More about that soon!
There are so many wonderful things ahead!
Resources Worth Noticing:
When a Book Becomes a Mentor: Reading as Discipleship with Sue Donaldson
Gratefulness poem by George Hubert
Worth Remembering:
It is so good for our heart, soul, and spirit to look back.
I’ll leave you with this beautiful quote from George Herbert (1593–1633)— English poet, Anglican priest, and spiritual giant whose writings invite us into a life of prayer, gratitude, and wholehearted devotion to God:
"Thou that hast given so much to me, give one thing more, a grateful heart." from the poem Gratefulness
Amen.
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Happy Labor Day, friends! Join Bryan and me next week for our intriguing conversation about Christian marriage and our 40+ year journey together. You’re not going to want to miss it!
In His love,
Lori