Greetings, dear hearts.

Might I invite you to step a little out of the way, down a winding English footpath, to a blue and white cottage nestled in center of a little flower farm.

Kindly wipe your boots on the mat, and follow me here, into the little round, turret room.

A cup of tea? Coffee or coco perhaps? Snuggle down on the sofa beside embroidered pillows and cozy throws. Watch the twinkle lights and feel the breeze through the open, arched window.

Alas, this place exists only in my imagination, but nonetheless I welcome you to it warmly.

You are welcome here.

This is the first edition of my monthly Collaboration of Light. Which is really what it sounds like, a gathering together of all the light from this month; books, music, art, poetry, and little scatterings of hope and laughter that show how God is always here, loving and being. Worthy of all honor and praise.

I believe firmly that the good, the true, and the beautiful are intertwined with one another by the God who is the very source and definition of all goodness, truth and beauty. Christ is the good, the truth, and He is true Beauty, and anything that bears these qualities serves to turn our hearts to Him.

Friends, there are whispers of His glory all around, in the night, in the day, through the barren land and the weariness. That is the point of these collaborations, to seek the presence of Jesus through the gifts He scatters on the way.

So, these are my three categories, good, beautiful, and true; but all the true things are good and beautiful, all the beautiful things good and true, and et cetera. 😉 That said, and with a hot cup of something delicious in hand, let’s explore what is displayed in the round room today.

The Good: books…

I’ve read more this month than I have in a good while, probably because I’ve stumbled upon some treasures. I’ll include titles here, spare you most of the rambling I like to do about books, and link to descriptions for you to explore as you choose.

• The God of the Garden, by Andrew Peterson (slow at the start, but so very fruitful, like a tree growing and growing in a quiet, ancient wood).
• Liturgy of the Ordinary by Tish Harrison Warren (I’m not far in this one yet, but it captures so much of what the Lord has been working in my heart lately).
• The Wingfeather Saga, by Andrew Peterson (I finally listened to the many voices telling me I HAD to read The Wingfeather Saga, so I picked up the first and read it with my sister and I am certainly not sorry I did. We’re enjoying the second one right now).
• Given: Poems by Wendell Berry (it is naitional poetry month, after all).

…and music

I was hugely blessed by Bethany Barnard’s All My Questions: Behind the Scenes album, my mum and I listened to it while driving to the city yesterday and oh… Oh the love, and oh the pain. It asks questions, cries to Jesus, is deeply honest and clings to the suffering love of Christ in a beautifully broken way. It was exactly what my soul needed.

For me, April has also been the month of folk music, and watching sunsets and dreaming of picnics in overalls and big floppy hats, with gardens to plant and wildflowers to pick. Ahem, is anyone else desperately ready for spring and summer?

The Beautiful: agates in the sand

My dear sister sent me a picture one day this month, of her notebook page, covered in what she called, “agates in the sand”, little moments of beauty. Here are mine.

• sugar snap peas in the kitchen window
• reading over and over again the story of Jesus during Holy Week
• painting easter eggs while reading The Good Master
• a new painting in the living room (and much happy squealing that it brought about)
• birds singing (truly!! it has been glorious).
• smelling like peppermint (little things, y’all)
• a letter in the mail
• hearing random laughter outside
• sunshine, painting a square on kitchen floor
• blueberries
• joy
• quiet
• a soft, black sweater
• Helping my little sister sew her first pointe shoes for ballet
• making a baby smile
• learning ‘A Million Dreams’ on the piano with my sis.

Also, a huge gift from this month has been waking up early and creeping out to the porch, in my pajamas, my hair still a mess, to watch the sunrise and pray. It has made such a change in my days, a gift I’m truly thankful for.

Spring

hath alighted in my heart

joy

The True

It is ever the Holy Spirit’s work to turn our eyes away from self to Jesus; but Satan’s work is just the opposite of this, for he is constantly trying to make us regard ourselves instead of Christ.

He insinuates, ‘Your sins are too great for pardon; you have no faith; you do not repent enough; you will never be able to continue to the end; you have not the joy of His children; you have such a wavering hold of Jesus.’

All these are thoughts about self, and we shall never find comfort or assurance by looking within. But the Holy Spirit turns our eyes entirely away from self: He tells us that we are nothing, but that ‘Christ is all in all.’

Remember, therefore, it is not thy hold of Christ that saves thee—it is Christ; it is not thy joy in Christ that saves thee—it is Christ; it is not even faith in Christ, though that be the instrument—it is Christ’s blood and merits.

Therefore, look not so much to thy hand with which thou art grasping Christ, as to Christ; look not to thy hope, but to Jesus, the source of thy hope; look not to thy faith, but to Jesus, the author and finisher of thy faith.

We shall never find happiness by looking at our prayers, our doings, or our feelings; it is what Jesus is, not what we are, that gives rest to the soul. If we would at once overcome Satan and have peace with God, it must be by ‘looking unto Jesus.’

Keep thine eye simply on Him; let His death, His sufferings, His merits, His glories, His intercession, be fresh upon thy mind; when thou wakest in the morning look to Him; when thou liest down at night look to Him.

Oh! let not thy hopes or fears come between thee and Jesus; follow hard after Him, and He will never fail thee.

‘My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesu’s blood and righteousness:
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.’”

Charles Spurgeon

Blog Recommendation of the Month: Brianna at Singing in the Rain. For beautiful words woven with honesty, redemption and love, I highly recommend this blog. Especially for weary souls ❤️.

Here’s a lovely post she recently published, give it a look 😉 https://singingintherain157252239.wordpress.com/2023/04/15/little-things-and-fishing/

Those who hope in Christ shall never be disappointed 🤍 (1 Peter 2:6).

What about you? How has your April been? What has been a little flicker of light? I would truly love to hear!

May the road rise up to meet you, and may your hope be fixed, secure on Christ,

Josie