June 1 | DEUTERONOMY 5 | How will I know which way is best? How will I know what to do? Where should I go? Who should I follow? How long should I stay? Who should I go with?
Deuteronomy 5:32-33
[32] You shall be careful therefore to do as the LORD your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. [33] You shall walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.
God is working. He is faithful.
#MCheyeneReadingPlan
June 3 | CHURCH CAMP | 30 years ago this month I surrendered my life to Jesus at church camp. My life, eternity, and purpose were radically different when I got off the bus at home at the end of that week in 1994.
This morning our sweet girl and her friends from @northstarhsm headed out for camp and I am so excited about what God has in store! There are more things than ever clamoring for the attention of our kids…but you can find me over here clinging to weeks like this as the VERY best things to put as non-negotiable on your family calendar.
Thank you Lord for the gift of a student ministry with leaders who know that kids are capable of being challenged to grow in discipleship and fellowship with other believers. Holy Spirit come! #7000days
June 5 | SUMMER NIGHTS | Oh Acworth…we love the small town life! Walking the trails and bumping into friends all over town, enjoying the sunset over the lake, and front yard wiffleball with dear friends while we watch the fireflies. Thank you Lord for a change of pace! #7000days #WeLoveAcworth
June 7 | SUMMER FRIDAYS | Grateful for slow Friday mornings in the summer! Time to linger in God’s Word, a long walk with a dear friend, and beautiful mornings in our dear Acworth. Thank you Lord for a breath of fresh air! #WeLoveAcworth
God is faithful. He is working!
June 7 | Got the old girl all dressed up for summer. 🇺🇸
June 11 | SPRUCING UP | I think my favorite part of summer is the change of our evening rhythms. We aren’t rushing around a bunch of different places. I’ve been home almost every evening since school got out…and it’s been glorious! We’ve been thinking of planting in these brick planters for awhile and just couldn’t get ourselves together.
A precious friend dropped by yesterday and brought us some beautiful hydrangeas and we knew it was time! After a phone consult with my mom while at @homedepot and my sweet guys doing some heavy lifting…we were all set. And, less than an hour later…spruced up and looking fresh! I love what a difference some flowers can make.
Now here’s to hoping we can keep them alive! 🥵
June 14 | WINSHAPE CAMPS | Thank you @winshapecamps and @northstar_kids for an amazing week of worship, fun, friendship, and sports for our little guy and his buddies. The three amigos kept us entertained all week! Each day Eli was eager to tell us what he had learned and to do the evening family devotions. I’m so grateful for college students and adults who gave their week to invest in these kids to the glory of God! It is such a joy to be a part of a church that prioritizes the discipleship of kids! #7000days
June 16 | TO THE ONE WHO WAS MADE TO BE A DAD | Thank you @clintstrange32 for being interested in what our kids are interested in. Thank you for being a student of their hearts and minds. Thank you for loving and leading us well, for protecting and providing, and for cheering and comforting as needed. Emma and Eli know you are always in their corner helping them grow and pointing them to Jesus. Thank you for being fun as well as firm where needed. In true “Best Dad” fashion, you hit the road today for a volleyball tournament with Emma for quality time for the two of you “since Dad always spends more money when it’s just the two of us.” 😂 Happy Father’s Day Clint! You are a hero in your home! #7000days
June 20 | MEMORY LANE | It’s been a great week hanging with family and catching up. This morning everyone had places to be, so I just enjoyed some time to drive around and stroll down Memory Lane.
From 1992-1996, I spent the majority of my waking hours at White Station High School. I came to know the Lord the summer before 11th grade partly due to the influence of several godly friends, teachers, coaches, and my principal @steve.simpson_ who showed me what it meant to love and follow Jesus. I love being a Spartan!
From 1996-2000, I spent many of my waking hours at The University of Memphis. I lived in Rawls Hall the first two years before moving off campus with a friend. At Memphis, I had the benefit of watching @usmcoachmcnelis live out her faith in a way that caused me to want to grow in mine. Thanks to the ministry of FCA, I also had a lot of opportunities to grow in my faith and learn what servant leadership was all about. I love being a Tiger!
The Lord is gracious and kind and reminded me today of how formative those years were for me. I think that’s probably why I’ve always felt called to ministry for high schoolers and young adults. I am so thankful to the Lord for the adults He strategically placed in every circle of influence in my life in those days. Many of them still have great influence in my life to this day!
I’ll head back to Georgia early tomorrow…there is never enough time to catch up with everyone I’d like to…but I’m so thankful for the way the Lord worked in and through me in these pivotal years before He called me to Georgia for a new (also very exciting) season of life.
God is faithful. He is working.
June 23 | 30 YEARS TODAY | Today marks 30 years since I became a Christian. I came to know Jesus at church camp with Kirby Woods Baptist Church on Thursday, June 23, 1994 after a week of powerful teaching from the Bible, worship, and fellowship with other believers. And lots of fun shenanigans with my youth group friends!
The Lord gently, but firmly, convicted me of my sin and my lostness that separated me from Him and He welcomed me home. In that moment, God forgave me completely from the power of sin in my life and instantly answered the “there’s got to be something more” that my heart had been searching for. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to come to Christ, be baptized, to be discipled, and to be called into full-time ministry all as a part of that local church over a period of a few years.
Teenagers can handle the gospel. They can deal rightly with the truth of Scripture. It’s easy to tell that things in this world aren’t as they should be. The Bible promises us, that in Christ, all the broken things will ultimately be made right (Revelation 21).
Thank you Lord for calling teenagers to come to know You and to be a part of helping make You known.
The first 30 years of following Jesus have been more than I ever could have imagined…I can’t wait to see what the next 30 years hold!
John 14:19 Because I live, you also will live.
Colossians 1:17 He is before all things and in Him, all things hold together.
God is working. He is faithful.
June 25 | THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD | Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12). If we are in Christ, His light is in us (Matthew 5:14-16). This world is a mess, that’s no secret…in fact, everything after Genesis 3 is simply broken and won’t ever be right until Jesus returns. But, until then…Jesus has called Christ followers to be “the light of the world.”
Is there something different about our lives? Is there a hope that seems out of the ordinary? Is there a peace that passes all understanding? Are we caring for others in a way that points to a different purpose?
Lest I miss the point, the light isn’t to be a spotlight on me. I’m behind the light to illuminate Christ alone…to point to Him. “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)
God is working. He is faithful. Go light the world.
June 28 | Deuteronomy 34:7
What a powerful way for a leader to be remembered.
Finish well.
June 30 | SUMMER READING | Lots of great reads over the past several weeks. People often ask if I read fiction. Mainly my sister who makes fun of me for mostly enjoying books that I read with a highlighter or a pen. I do read fiction…and enjoy some of it…but don’t find much that I’m excited to share with others. However, I do like to read fiction because it helps me be a better storyteller. Mainly, I like to read to learn, to meet people I’d never otherwise meet, and to travel to places and times I’d otherwise not get to visit. So grateful the Lord has given me the gift of sight, the ability to read, and the privilege of so many books! I’ve posted several reviews at meganstrange.com if you are interested in any summaries.
#LeadersAreReaders
