The source of every Good thing
I had another newsletter in the works and I felt like the Lord told me to start with a “blank document.” I will share that one day soon, but for now I walk in what I know. I know that when we let Him speak, it goes way faster and the work is far easier.
“Abide.”
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me” (John 15:4).
I am reminded that the Lord just needs us to abide. He deeply desires that we abide. He wants you in him and him in you, with no separation.
“Abide in me, and I in you, and there you will bear much fruit.”
I don’t know about you, but this summer already feels like a whole summer packed into a few weeks, equal parts the fun and the crazy. I’m so thankful for the memories we’re making, but also slightly bracing myself for the whirlwind of sports practices and swim lessons that are just around the corner. If you're already there, I know you feel me when I say... whew.
Some days, the to-do list feels never-ending, like I’m juggling more than seems possible, rushing to get out the door, prepping the house for company, or just trying to keep up with the pace of this season. But in those moments, I’m gently reminded: God isn’t asking me to do it all, He’s inviting me to abide.
And it’s in that place of abiding that everything changes. Somehow, things fall into place. There’s more peace, more joy, and I’m able to slow down and actually see the beauty right in front of me, the beloved faces, the little toes, the laughter, the life I once dreamed of living. I’m especially grateful for my amazing husband, who not only walks beside me but shows me what it looks like to carry one another’s burdens. In so many quiet, unseen ways, he lifts part of the load, reminding me of the heart of Jesus, who offers rest and lightens what feels heavy.
I don’t want to miss this. I don’t want to race through it with a frantic heart. I want to be present. Grateful. Steady. And In Christ, that’s actually possible. In Him, there’s a calm strength. His yoke is easy, His burden is light, and He gives supernatural rest, not just for our bodies, but for our souls.
When I live from that place, surrendered and rooted in Him, I’m reminded why I do all of this in the first place. Not to keep up, but to pour out, joyfully, for His glory and for the incredible gift of loving, serving, and mothering.
This summer, I want to invite you to take on a different kind of assignment: abiding.
It doesn’t mean doing nothing. Instead, it means doing everything with Jesus and in Jesus. John 15:4 says, “Remain in Me, and I in you.” This is where fruit comes, not from striving, but from staying connected to the source.
Abiding is where our labor becomes fruitful. Where peace replaces pressure. Where we don’t miss the moments we once prayed for. This is the source of every Good thing. It is in this place that new ideas, adventures, and “yeses” are birthed as Christ in you brings them forth.
John 15:5 (Passion Translation) "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
In Christ,
Mae Rose Stark