A LONG RIDE, A BEAUTIFUL WEDDING AND A BUSY DAY

August 3, 2026 / joseph elon lillie / Leave a comment

After spending some time with the artists of our church at The Bridge Artist’s Day Apart I went home, walked the dog, fed the chickens and got ready for a wedding in Topsfield MA

The drive was about an hour and a half through some of the most beautiful country in Massachusetts. The venue itself was topnotch.

The grounds and facilities of The Evermore are absolutely gorgeous.

The wedding was an affair to remember!

I got home about 9:30 P.M. and got myself straight to bed to get ready for service at Cornerstone next morning.

I was up by 2 A.M. at the church by 7 A.M. and teaching my Foundations class at 8 A.M.

Service was at 10 A.M.

By noon I was in a board meeting. We got so much done!. We approved building use agreements for a local HEAL COLLABORATIVE – English Language Learners program, an AL ANON chapter starting at our church, and a homeschool playgroup. We discussed further investigation of the 25 acre project at the back of the church and we set up subcommittees to look at our HR employee handbook and our children’s workers/security policies.

By 2 P.M. I was home and so ready for a nap!

WHAT WAS YOUR WEEKEND LIKE?

Artist’s Day Apart 8-1-26

August 1, 2026August 1, 2026 / joseph elon lillie / 2 Comments

I feel like I have been behind since I woke up at 1:17 A.M. this morning. The rushing and being behind feeling is pretty common with me lately. I am learning to deny that feeling access to my heart. I am learning to walk in the truth that my times are in God’s hands and that everything that should get done will get done as I stay surrendered to Him and His timing. So instead of trying to write and administrate my early morning away I spent three and half hours in prayer, and then launched into administration and meetings. When my first meeting ran a few minutes late, instead of racing to the Artist’s Day apart at my church I calmed my heart and drove the speed limit knowing I would get there when I was needed.

Things were just getting going when I arrived 10 minutes late. The artists were just placing themselves on the map of the emotions as I arrived.

I was honest about my emotions and placed my own marker on the Rapids of Rushing. Even though I was denying them the right to control my choices I was still feeling them. I am learning you can feel without needing to be “all in your feelings”.

Our opening devotional conversation this morning was about hope. The picture below was made by our town’s folk at Winchendon’s annual food truck festival.

Here are a few of the questions that led our artist’s discussion this morning.

HOW DO YOU DEFINE HOPE?

HOW DOES HOPE INFORM YOUR ART?

I WOULD LOVE IT IF YOU WOULD SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS.

THE HAPPENINGS OF THE BLUE HOURS 8-1-26

August 1, 2026August 1, 2026 / joseph elon lillie / 2 Comments

The blue hours before the sunrise are some of my most productive hours of the day. I am usually up and at it around 2 A.M. This morning it was 1:17 A.M. when I first became aware of the world around me again. The day started with three hours of basking prayer. I will describe basking prayer to you sometime, but suffice it here to say, it is some of my most visionary prayer time, even if I don’t fully understand the visions.

Photo by Free Nature Stock on Pexels.com

Today is a busy day. I have a meeting at 9, an artist’s group at 10 and a wedding at 4 in Topsfield MA which is an hour and a half from here.

So my morning started with a mandatory weigh-in, step count from yesterday and a stretch ( the most mandatory of those three things is the stretch if I want to walk without a severe limp).

Then it was on to Bible reading, blog reading, more prayer and the making of my devotional video.

Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com

I am currently reading the Book of Numbers in my daily devotionals. IF YOU READ THE BIBLE DAILY WHAT ARE YOU READING? IF YOU DON’T PRACTICE BIBLE READING WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?

By 6 A.M. I was out doing the farm chores: walk the dog, feed the dog, feed the chickens, water the chickens, clean the coops, empty the dehumidifiers, feed the birds, de-sludge the furnace and walk the gardens to see what needed picking and what started blooming. I picked peas and radishes this morning.

Photo by Gansham Ramchandani on Pexels.com

By 8 I was having my second cup of coffee and was dressed in my first outfit of the day, ready for my 9 A.M. meeting concerning ministry opportunities.

ARE YOU UP DURING THE BLUE HOURS? WHAT DO YOU DO?