Ahhhhh, summertime.
It's a time of backyard barbecues and homemade ice cream. A time for splashing in the water and basking in the sun. A time for road trips to see the Grand Canyon, and Grandma, too.
And, what a marvelous time to behold the natural beauty all around us and make it a special point to honor our Creator, our Savior - our God.
To help in that regard, we offer these 20 simple suggestions of ways to pay tribute this summer to the one who deserves all glory and praise:
1. Sit outside in the cool of the morning and meditate and pray.
2. Give anonymously to someone you know who is struggling financially.
3. Read through the book of Psalms aloud.
4. If it has been a while since you had a child in your house and you are missing the stomp, stomp, crash of little feet ... borrow some kids for a day from their harried parents. Take them outside and show them how to have fun unplugged from electronic devices.
5. Write a letter of encouragement to a missionary or a member serving in the military overseas.
6. Stay home, save gas and skip eating out one night, and donate the money to a soup kitchen or another
ministry that helps the homeless.
7. Put together a family prayer list.
8. Send a thank-you card and a gift certificate to that older member who greets you with a warm smile and handshake each Sunday.
9. Make it a point to think about others. Overcome your self-focus.
10. Don't just take a good book to the beach - take the Good Book.
11. Visit someone who shaped your life spiritually and thank them.
12. Bake cookies for Vacation Bible School.
13. Make a list of 10 ways God has blessed your life this year. Pick two or three and make them a blessing in somebody else's life.
14. Stop what you are doing in the afternoon and just think about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
15. Pay the toll or the lunch bill for the car behind you in line.
16. Write or call a favorite childhood teacher to let that person know how your life turned out and how much you owe him or her.
17. Make a list of New Year's resolutions that you didn't have time for in December. Complete them over the next six months.
18. Pick up the phone and call a couple of people just to tell them you are thinking of them.
19. Treat each day as a special gift from God and thank him for your many blessings.
20. Make a list like this of your own, only better.
works as a Hospice Chaplain for Valley Hospice in Paramus, NJ. She is also the Parish Associate at First Presbyterian Church in Freehold, in which she also grew up in. Jessica is married to Sam Malek and has 1 daughter, Alannah and 2 step daughters, Mary and Sara. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family and pets. 
salaried position, currently based on 15 hours per week for ten months of the year.
