Can you believe it is already Fall? Summer flew by just about as fast as it took most of us to watch season three of Stranger Things. With the changing of seasons, Team LO always loves to have a time of reflection. What are we learning? What’s new? What is God doing? Where are we going? This is a moment to pause and look back but also to hope and set our gaze forward. All that to say, this is an exciting time. There is no shortage of laughs, lessons, and pumpkin spice lattes.

Every Wednesday, our team gathers for a devotional/prayer time. This is a time to come together and be unified and encouraged by what God is teaching us. Well, these times have been so fruitful that we started thinking, “Maybe this isn’t something that should just stay in this room. Maybe we should share this!” Sometimes, conversations are just too good not to pass along. So here we are! We want you to know our heart and how God is moving inside of LO.

As theologian Søren Kierkegaard said, “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”

We’re sharing the biggest themes of this season for our team!

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THIS SEASON AT LO?

Our team has entered a sweet season of closeness, vulnerability and of intentionality. We have grown so close through this season of refinement and intentionally pursuing God and each other. Through that, we’re learning that there isn’t always time for ALL the things. As much as we want to show up at every taco Tuesday, every Marvel movie night (it’s been a thing lately), all while giving our best to our kingdom work, there’s just not time for everything.  We want to spend our days and our time working on the things that matter most, the people we love most, and what God has called us to do. Knowing that when we can be there, it is God creating that space, which means He has something pretty special for us in that moment.

And friend, believe us, there will always be more people, opportunities and things knocking at the door. You don’t always have to say yes, though. Let your yes be the right yes.

We as a team try to lay our ‘yes’ down to what is most important: to love God and love His people. The minute we start doing anything but that, we make it about ourselves and take Him out of it. What’s the fun in that? That is why we make our “yes” to things the “right” yes.

Lysa TerKeurst famously stated, “We must not confuse the command to love with the disease to please.”

AMEN TO THAT! You don’t have to be all things to all people. All He asks is that we are present and loving people.

This season is full of learning to truly love Him and the people around us.

With all of that, this season is also not lacking in the fun category! There have been weddings (congrats Court and Taylor!), life changes (new puppies, new office, and LOTS of new dreams), and adventures! In all of these life changes, God continues to remind us to draw close to Him and live intentionally with each moment.

Through our adventures, our team’s eyes have really been opened to the church across the world and what God is doing on a global scale. We had the privilege to travel back to England this July and partner with a church called Holy Trinity Brompton and participate in their church wide festival called FOCUS (you probably saw Sadie posting about it). We don’t fully have the words to explain just how beautiful it is to see believers from across the globe all worship together. It was really inspiring to our faith to recognize the ways that God is moving outside of our own little world. We say we serve a big God all the time, but to see Him in action all the way across the world was such a gift.

 WHAT’S AROUND THE CORNER AT LO?

Speaking of dreams, we are seeing one come to life RIGHT NOW on our team! Our team is designing a new clothing line. Shhhhhh! We’re so stinking excited about this line because it is all about wearing clothes that speak words of encouragement and truth. Plus, we think it’s pretty cool. If we could show you all of it now, you know we would. But stay tuned! You’ll be the first to know about it 😉

Another big thing that we have going on is from inside our online community, LO Fam! We are excited to announce that we are launching our very first workshop inside the Fam, led by our beloved friend, Emma Jenkins. Emma will be leading our members through a 4-week bible study on Philippians and we are SO giddy about it! Want to be a part of the study and this global community? Sign up to be the first one to know when the doors open HERE. We hope to see you there!

Lastly, we are in full swing with, you know, a certain special someone’s WEDDING! EEK! We are praising God for marriage and God’s design in it during this season. Our team is so thrilled to see Sadie find the man that will support her, lead her, and see her the way God sees her: precious, a daughter of the King, and forever an original.

We could keep going on and on about what is to come but just know, our team is always seeking, praying, and hoping for big things and we have no doubt this next season is going to be unmatched. We hope you’ll continue to join us in it!

WHAT IS TEAM LO LISTENING TO?

• “Yes I will” by Vertical worship. It’s a beautiful reminder of how God moves and works to write our stories.
• “With you” by Elevation Worship. This vulnerable song reveals so much of our hearts cry to be truly found in Him. Have a tissue nearby and your hands free to worship.
• Lastly, we can’t get enough of Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors’ classic “I like to be with me when I’m with you.” What can we say, we love love 🙂

WHAT IS GOD TEACHING TEAM LO?

God is teaching us a lot about dependence and trust. This is with both God and friendships. Sometimes in life, we tend to make practical decisions quickly without letting anyone in, yes the big ones and the small ones. This can often shut down either God’s plans or the ideas of others! Friends, Say yes (but remember, say yes to the right things!) and let things happen and play out with those around you. Most of the time they work for His will and glory in the most unique ways. Overtime through practicing this openness, when the time comes to make a decision, or say no, your discernment will be strong enough to help you do that. Don’t shut things down too early because you just might miss out on something incredible.

He is also really teaching us about the true meaning of sisterhood. Sisterhood can look a million different ways but it should always be rooted in one thing, selfless love. We are learning to ask questions like: How can we learn to better love our friends? How would the words we say impact our sisters around us? How can we continue to put our friends first? And hear us, there isn’t a formula! There isn’t a friendship checklist, because that would be too easy, right? But there is a heart that we can have towards our people. Check it out:

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV.

This is the goal, friends! That in all we do, we would reflect a heart of love and softness for the people God puts in our life. It’s why we celebrate, why we create, and even why we dream for the future.

As Sadie puts it, “Dreaming is a constant pursuit of God.” No matter what you are facing right now, keep dreaming, keep pursuing, keep believing. He will use it in mighty ways.

We would love to hear what you are learning right now and what you are believing for in the future. Let’s look back together in 5 years and marvel at all that He’s done. Will you join us?

XO,

Morgan, on behalf of Team LO