Dear friends and faithful supporters,
A Season of Pivoting
I've recently adopted a new rhythm for January—slowly easing into the year rather than rushing headlong into resolutions and plans. It's been a gift to move more intentionally, to listen more carefully.
My word for this year is Pivot.
I'm already seeing what that means. I've broken my annual tradition of reading through the entire Bible and am focusing solely on the New Testament this year. It felt like a small shift at first, but I'm learning that pivots—even small ones—matter.
When Obedience Calls
There's a truth I keep coming back to: Obedience is better than sacrifice.
We can never know with absolute certainty when we're hearing God's voice, but for me, it usually comes as a quiet prompting or a simple sentence. There's no condemnation attached to it. And when I obey, peace follows—even when the obedience is costly.
Sunday the 18th , mid-afternoon, I heard it clearly: Shut down Olive Grove Life.
An Unexpected Answer to Prayer
Here's what makes this both surprising and confirming: I've been praying for months about focus and energy. Trying to manage multiple businesses has been diluting both, spreading me too thin to do any one thing with excellence. I wasn't sure how God would answer those prayers, but this is His answer.
So I have closed Olive Grove Life.
It Has Been an Honor
I want you to know that serving you over the past few years has been one of the greatest joys of my life. Every message you've sent, every story you've shared about how a scripture print encouraged your heart or how a journal helped you draw closer to God—these have been treasures I'll carry with me.
Olive Grove Life began from my own desperate need for reminders of God's truth. It grew because of your support, your prayers, and your willingness to invite these faith-filled reminders into your homes. Thank you for trusting me to be part of your journey.
Though this chapter is closing, please know I will continue to pray for you and your families. The relationships we've built, the community we've shared—these don't end when the store goes dark.
Isaiah 43:19
"Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."
Moving Forward in Faith
I don't know exactly what the next pivot will look like, but I'm learning to trust that obedience—even when it doesn't make complete sense—is always the right path. Peace follows obedience. And right now, even in the bittersweetness of this decision, I have peace.
Thank you for walking this journey with me. Thank you for supporting this ministry. Thank you for being the Olive Grove Life community.
It has been an honor.
With a grateful heart
Cathleen Thomas