As I began this September blog and podcast theme centered around transition and becoming, I never could have predicted the massive shift our culture would witness.
This past Sunday, at the memorial service for young conservative activist and outspoken Christian Charlie Kirk, hundreds of thousands—possibly millions—heard the Gospel proclaimed. They were invited to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and they witnessed Erika Kirk publicly extend radical forgiveness to the gunman who assassinated her husband. Yes, there was political messaging, but above all, the banner of Christ was lifted high. For nearly twenty years, my mom worked as a media librarian at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in Charlotte, NC. Whenever I visited her, I would wander the hallways, studying the photos of crusades Billy Graham led across the world. Thousands upon thousands of lives were changed by the Word of God and the love of Jesus at those events. I remember quietly praying in my heart, “Lord, do it again.” The idea of America coming back to Jesus became deeply imprinted on my heart, and I began to write the word revival in my prayer journals in middle school—a practice I’ve carried into adulthood. God and I have been having conversations about revival for decades. And there, on my television screen, I witnessed a memorial service transform into a mighty move of God. The scene wasn’t so different from the BGEA photos I once studied. It made me ask: Is this America’s transition into a season of revival?
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It’s hard to believe, but we’re already in the final stretch of the year. I saw a sign the other day: “100 days until Christmas.” At first, I laughed. Surely that can’t be right. But the truth is, the fourth quarter is here whether we’re ready or not. Before long, the Christmas tree Amazon is already trying to sell me will be standing in my living room.
But if I’m honest, this year doesn’t feel cheerful. Our nation has been rocked by tragedy—school shootings, random acts of violence close to home, and most recently, the assassination of conservative Christian activist Charlie Kirk. Social media is buzzing with outrage, opinions, and hostility. The heaviness is exhausting. If you’ve found yourself scrolling rabbit holes like I have, maybe you feel it too: weary, paralyzed, and a little hopeless. Here’s the good news… 
School drop offs are back and I feel like we’re perpetually late. No matter how quick we move in the morning, we always seem to be five minutes behind. Anyone else? There’s something about fall where the pace of life feels… faster.
As I was cleaning my house Friday, I dug into the back of storage to pull out our fall decor and began to transform our home into an autumn oasis. It’s funny how quickly one season can close and another opens. The time shift seems to happen almost overnight. While things get busier in the fall, we can choose to push back against the pace. The change in seasons is pushing us into a new rhythm whether we like it or not. We can allow that crisp fall breeze to usher in an intentional reset that will enable us to get on top of our lives instead or we can be behind the ball as we roll headfirst into school, sports, and eventually the holidays ahead. “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” — Lamentations 3:22-23 Fall is a season of change. It brings to my mind that, as Lamentations 3:22-23 states, God’s daily mercies invite us to begin again — spiritually, emotionally, and practically. Just like the leaves fall from the trees, we get to shed our sin and shame… and also what just isn’t working for us in this new season. Keep Reading to Reset Your Spiritual Rhythms … 
There’s something about the first cool breeze in September cutting through the southern humidity that always makes me pause. The long days by the water and slow summer sunsets fade, and suddenly, school drop-offs, pumpkin candles, and packed schedules take their place.
It’s a change I can feel — not just in the air, but in my soul. Change, even when expected, can feel unsettling. This was the summer we moved to the lake. Our first weekend in the new house landed on Memorial Day. We knew the move was coming. We shifted the girls’ schools, found a new church, and expanded our community. We planned for it — yet it was still hard. There are always growing pains with change. Maybe your life is shifting too — a new school year, a new job, a relationship evolving, or simply stepping into the last quarter of the year wondering, Where did the time go? Is it fall already? The truth is, seasons change — in nature, yes, but also in our souls. |
