The Willamette Valley in Oregon is easily one of the most peaceful and breathtaking places God created. The rolling hills paint a bluish-green border around the city, highlighted by a handful of brilliant, snow-capped peaks. Everywhere you look there are fir trees, roses, wildflowers and gardens. Wheat whitens and berry bushes offer themselves under the golden sun.

Oregon is the place is where summer becomes a bride, fully arrayed in her best and beautiful hues, making all things lovely as she dances and twirls and sings. She makes the simple moments glitter with sweetness and meaning. My favorite memories these three weeks happened while sitting on back decks, standing on tops of hills, sharing over meals, riding in cars, chatting at cafes and gazing at stars.

In both the busyness and the quiet of these past three weeks, God spoke to me. He used conversations, sermons and personal study to fill my heart with His truth. Simple, golden, sweet – just like an Oregon summer.

Here are some of the truths that I have been pondering:

1) The gospel is still the main thing – No matter what else I learn or hear or say, the gospel is what I always, always, always need. The gospel – the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ – is what frees me from sin, fear of man and isolation. The gospel informs my decisions, my suffering, my future and my identity. Without it’s defining, unalterable truths, I would be lost in my own twisted understandings.

2) God will speak when it’s time – Just as He sent the ravens to feed Elijah, God will provide morsels of truth when I need them. I need not worry or strive. They will come.

3) God is jealous for me – He wants my first, my best, my all and He is willing to pursue my life and alter my circumstances in order to draw me to Himself. What would happen if I directed all of my energies into the one relationship that mattered most?

4) God gives guidance as we move – The Shepherd is always guiding and leading; it’s His initiative and His commitment. My role is to rise and go, walking in what I know to be true and trusting His hand to guide me as I move. I can rest in His character, taking my time in each phase because I know that He will get me where He wants me to go.

5) God redeems pain – Our world is full of broken, cheating, lying, selfish, sick, grieving, angry, uncontrollable people. But there in the midst of the sorrow and wreckage, you’ll find Jesus, our sympathizer and caretaker. He is restoring what has been damaged, healing what has been broken, redeeming what has been lost.

6) God will root out spiritual pride — Our theology or experience can make us proud and blind. How easy it is to hold our freedoms, knowledge or understandings over one another as the banner implanted on the moral high ground. God is in the process of purifying His church. “True church reform doesn’t add layers but rather removes them in order to reveal the original foundation underneath. While false teachers add doctrine and complications, Jesus is rinsing His church off with His word, making the truth about Himself simple and clear.” (Gregg Harris)

I am halfway through my sabbatical. Three weeks down, three weeks to go. I’m amazed at all the adventures and lessons that can be packed into such a short amount of time. Please be praying for me as I continue to rest, wait, seek and learn.

P.S. Feel free to track my travels via photos on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!