s I say on the podcast, “Hello my bold friends!” I pray you and your precious family are finding some summertime sunshine to enjoy. Last issue, we introduced the theme for this year: stepping in—to the most important homeschool priorities. Of course we had to start with faith.

This issue, we’re focusing on stepping into family.

If I am to be the person my family needs me to be, there’s only one way: This mama runs on Jesus fuel.

Each day I have to take time to drink from the well of living water. I don’t need just a sip; I often feel like I’ve run a marathon through the desert so I need to drink deeply.

What a beautiful scripture. Do you need fresh mercy today? I know I do! It produces hope to think of God having mercies that never end, doesn’t it? As I mentioned above, I feel as though I come to the end of my patience, my strength, etc. on a daily basis. So to think that we have an endless supply, a well that never runs dry no matter how often I drink from it, is simply amazing.

When one of my mentors came across a Scripture she hadn’t really noticed before at Bible study, she would say, “I found a gift for you today!” That’s how I feel about this next verse. I believe the Lord led me to this as a fresh promise for you and me today. A gift from His heart to ours:

At times, our homes can feel a little like a sun-scorched land— when the kids have been bickering or the laundry pile seems to be towering. This verse tells us that even under those conditions He will satisfy our needs. We’ll be like well-watered gardens if we allow the Lord to guide and strengthen us. That’s a picture I want to abide in and explore.

In order to be the life-giving source I need to be for my family, I must regularly be reminded who the Lord is for me. Scripture is a key in this reminder and refreshment, and so is connection. I need to connect to the One who holds my heart and allow His love to minister to me. I also want to bless His heart with my worship. And I need to listen to what He’s saying. Are changes needed somewhere? Is there something He wants to show me that I’m not seeing? I want to make sure I’m praying over the things He has entrusted me with and called me to intercede about as well.

During some seasons, this can be nearly impossible. So find what works for the season you’re in.

If you can, set that alarm and add a little more time to your morning before the kids get up. Maybe put your kids to bed early and use that as your time with the Lord. However you choose to connect, just make sure you’re setting aside time.

And remember, this should leave you feeling refreshed. So for some, that will look like a short passage of Scripture and time for prayer and worship. For others, it will be movement, like going on a walk and listening to a sermon or podcast. Others are refreshed by reading chapters in their Bibles. Or maybe you like to take just a verse and meditate on it while you do something creative. Your way of connecting could be to worship while you clean. I think most of us would say, we do all of the above at different times.

Ask the Lord to help you discern what it looks like for you. He loves to connect with us and made us the way we are for a reason, so don’t try to make your way of connecting look like someone else’s.