Category: Wisdom

Posted on in Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Miscellaneous, Perfectionism, Perseverance, Personality, Wisdom

No Problem!

For a planner like me, interruptions to my schedule used to throw me off. If I had several tasks on my to-do list, but then someone needed something, it would stress me out. It’s not that I didn’t want to help or hang out, but my perfectionistic personality was easily overwhelmed as I (most likely) tried to figure everything out on my own.

If I spent time with people, I sacrificed getting anything else done. But if I focused on tasks, I felt like I was neglecting friendships. It was frustrating and I rarely felt like I was doing a good job at anything. I was stumped. 😉

Of course, people take priority. And, life is full of interruptions and distractions (some good and some not so good). Thankfully, God took my gnarled mess and helped me adjust.

To start, parenthood, cancer, and grief, all provided dramatic circumstances for God to transform me. With His refining, the hidden blessing is I now have balance.

When people request my time, I see it as God’s gentle reminder to take a break and have fun… or serve others with my whole heart. When I do have more time to myself, I feel free to work on projects and tasks without guilt. I have learned both work and rest are good.

Now, I can usually just roll with it, knowing God will help me accomplish everything I’m supposed to do. After all, He knows exactly where and how I need to spend my life.

Lately, I have been thinking about how God orchestrates our lives in perfect timing. Similarly, our struggles can be perfect opportunities for God to show up. From ancient times, we see He has a certain dramatic flair and enjoys displaying His power and might!

Creation started with His words, “Let there be light,” as if He was setting the stage. Then, He created a vast universe, which we still have not fully discovered. Wow!

In the Bible, we see lots of other dramatic interventions where God steps in to save the day. He rolled back the Red Sea to save the Israelites out of Egypt. He helped David defeat Goliath with five smooth stones. He protected Daniel in the lions’ den. He walked with the three men in a fiery furnace; they came out unsinged and didn’t even smell like smoke!

God even forewarned King Nebuchadnezzar and then made a fool of him by making him act like a mad cow, eating grass on his hands and knees for seven years until he repented of his prideful ways. Can you imagine?!

Jesus was born of a virgin, made wine from water, calmed a storm, walked on water, and paid His taxes with a coin from the mouth of a fish. He healed many people, raised the dead, and performed other miracles. He also died on the Cross to pay for our sins (with a dramatic earthquake and tearing of the holy veil from top to bottom). Boom.

Then, God’s power raised Jesus from the dead precisely when He said it would happen (cue another earthquake rolling away the tomb!). Later, the Holy Spirit enabled uneducated outcasts to perform miracles and turn the world upside down as they spread the gospel message. Whoa!

I guess you could say God loves a good story!

Seriously, God can do far more than we can ask or imagine! And, if you let Him fight for you, it’s likely He will come through for you in creative ways you would have never guessed possible. Just wait on Him!

Whatever challenges you are facing, bring them to Jesus. Sickness, debt, sadness, anger, frustration, fear, confusion, disappointment, bitterness, resentment… big or small it all matters to God. He knows how to handle it.

Example: Recently, one friend had her (rather large) bill from surgery forgiven, while another friend received back pay from an old job she had forgotten about, and still another friend got a new job with more pay. It was cool to see how God creatively provided for each of them according to their unique needs!

Nothing is too big or impossible for Him! It’s no problem!

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Ah, Lord God! Nothing is too difficult for You! Your plans for us are good! Help us trust You as we wait for You act. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: What challenges are you facing right now? How can you trust God more? Are you willing to let Him move on your behalf?

Task: Make a list of all your previous challenges and then mark down how God was faithful. Watch for His creativity and look for hidden blessings.

Posted on in Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Wisdom, Worship

Singing in the Rain

Usually, by this time in July, my grass is crispy and brown. But this summer, we’ve had more consistent rain. We’ve had some big thunderstorms lately, and the grass is still green!

One day last week, I woke up to a gentle rain pounding on the roof. It was still early enough that I could have slept more, but I kept listening to the rain instead.

As I thanked God for the new day, I heard a little bird singing in the rain!

What a cool surprise! Between the rain and my excitement about the little bird, I couldn’t sleep anymore. The bird caught my attention because it chose to sing instead of retreat.

The steadfast song really made my day. I don’t know if the bird expected the storm or if it caught him by surprise. But, I’m sure it thrilled God’s heart to hear him sing his heart out!

We have a similar choice to make.

When storms come, we can retreat into our comfort zone. Or, we can look beyond our difficulties and sing about God’s faithfulness and goodness.

Singing in the rain and stepping into uncertainty is not for the faint of heart. It takes a fair amount of grit to persevere. In fact, many of the beloved old hymns were written out of excruciating heartache. Despite all odds, these famous songs are filled with the truth of God’s loyal love.

For example, the author of “It Is Well with My Soul” suffered great loss including the death of five of his children. The song was his response to the painful tragedy. Powerful.

The author of “Amazing Grace” also recorded his thoughts and feelings of gratitude after God saved him from a life of sin and disgrace.

There is freedom when we see storms of life as opportunities to sing and shine for God. We release ourselves to God’s care and shift the burden back to Him, where it belongs. Then, He gets the glory for what happens next.

Peace comes when we realize we don’t have to figure out all the details. God already knows what to do. He is more than capable, and His mercies are new every morning.

God is worthy of our praise no matter what circumstances we’re facing. He is faithful and true. So come as you are… He longs to be with us, help us, and show us His loyal love.

Rest assured… it’s okay if you can barely carry a tune! All of us can still make a joyful noise. Let’s use whatever gifts we have and praise the Lord. 🙂

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Heavenly Father, thanks for your mercy and grace! We have so much to be thankful for, despite life’s challenges. Open our eyes so we can see all of Your goodness. We’ll give You all the glory and praise. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Are you a bird watcher? What can you praise God for today?

Tasks: Make a list of all you are grateful for, and start singing your praises! If you don’t know where to start, try Psalm 117.

 

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Wisdom

Finding Grace #176

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?

This week was a little calmer than last. Lydia still had swimming lessons, but we had fewer commitments otherwise. We were able to enjoy more time with friends as a result!

Early in the week, I finished some important paperwork. That freed me up to work on some projects later on. I made a lot of progress, in part because I really relied on God to help me be wise with my time!

On Thursday, Lydia and I enjoyed time together at Caribou Coffee. We had planned to do this for the last few weeks but finally got around to it. We bought bagels and fancy drinks. Lydia read some library books while I worked on my laptop. She had fun reading me trivia from one of her books. We ran into several people we knew as well!

Yesterday, my new treadmill finally arrived! It is really good to have one again, and I look forward to using it. This treadmill feels like an upgrade compared to my old one. It has several updated features my old one didn’t have. It seems more durable and doesn’t make excessive noise. I’m grateful!

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Posted on in Being Gracious, Fruit, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Personality, Wisdom, Words

In Defense

“Maybe we should stop disliking people for what we have heard and be grateful God does not dislike us for what He knows.” –TobyMac

That quote reminds me of the impact of our words. Recently, someone was talking negatively about a friend of mine and put me in an awkward position. Yes, my friend certainly has faults, but I still enjoy their company.

I couldn’t discern if the person talking to me was jealous of my friend or actually had valid information. Either way, I heard an earful of unwanted gossip and was caught off guard.

While I tried to defend my friend, I don’t think I did an adequate job. Now that I’ve collected my thoughts, I’ll be sure to speak up next time. In the meanwhile, here’s what I should have said to the other person, but didn’t.

I don’t know about all that, but I really appreciate my friend! They have been good to me. They have selflessly helped me in countless ways over the years, often putting their own tasks on hold. I have learned so much from them, just as they have learned from me.

We have prayed for each other, and we have seen each other grow in Christ. Yes, perhaps they still have things to work on, but I’m grateful for how far they’ve come.

Furthermore, I want to see the good in people and hope they do the same for me. God knows I have faults too. But, because of Jesus, we have received mercy, grace, and forgiveness. We should extend the same toward others.

Similarly, let’s offer the benefit of the doubt. We weren’t there, so we don’t know the full story. Even if we were there, we wouldn’t necessarily know why things happened.

That doesn’t mean we ignore bad behavior, make excuses, or skip accountability. Yes, restitution is important, but there are many complex factors involved. It’s not always an easy, black-and-white answer.

Instead, when I sense an issue needs to be addressed, I ask my friend for their input and perspective. We don’t always agree, but we trust each other. We don’t make assumptions; we try to understand each other’s heart and intentions.

Remember, each person has God-given potential and a unique purpose. If we define someone by all their faults and failures, it’s likely they’ll never rise above them and fulfill God’s plan for their life.

They won’t come higher unless we raise our expectations of them. Let’s challenge them and encourage them along the way. Let’s agree with God and call out the good we see.

Let’s focus on everyone’s strengths, and cover their weaknesses with love. Let’s pray for people and mentor them, when possible. Not everyone is our responsibility to reach, but we can still set a godly example and point people to Jesus.

We need to be very careful not to ruin someone’s reputation with hearsay. So, let’s walk in a worthy manner and be wise in our interactions with everyone. We never know what they may glean from us… positive or negative influences that shape who they become.

We cannot change anyone, but we can extend grace toward everyone so they see Jesus and come to Him. Watching our words is difficult at times. But with Jesus, nothing is impossible.

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God, thanks for Your great mercy, forgiveness, and grace. Please help us continue to grow and get along with each other. Give us the unity of heart and purpose. Strengthen our relationships with each other so we can bring You glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: How do you deal with gossip? What else should I have said?

Tasks: Before you talk about someone, check your own heart. Memorize Ephesians 4:29, which says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (NIV)

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Wisdom

Finding Grace #175

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?

This week was a little overwhelming… but still very good. You know it’s a busy week when you run into the grocery store for a few items before swimming lessons and notice bread is on the list three times in different places. 😉

This week and next, Lydia is taking swimming lessons in the late afternoon. Learning how to swim, is in my opinion, non-negotiable. It is a matter of life and death. Still, two weeks of lessons get kind of stressful. It’s two of the busiest weeks of our summer! But again, I am grateful for the opportunity for Lydia to take lessons!

On Thursday, a friend brought a homemade strawberry-rhubarb pie to our ladies small group Bible study. It was so yummy… a real treat with ice cream on top (pic). We all had so much fun talking and catching up. Then, my friend left a piece for the next day, too. Lydia and I each had a small portion for breakfast (no ice cream in the morning)! 🙂

This week was filled with important errands and paperwork and meetings. All good things, but each of those tasks was added to an already busy week. I reminded myself periodically to take breaks and have fun with Lydia. I can always catch up on housework and other tasks, but I can’t get more time with her or other important people in my life.

Today, Lydia and I went to the county fair with another family. We watched their oldest son play drums in a band. Then, looked at 4H projects and other judging events. We ate some fair food and walked around to scout out games and rides. It was a beautiful day and we had a lot of fun with our friends. I’m grateful!

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Posted on in Miscellaneous, Wisdom, Worship

Deluge

This week and next, Lydia is taking swimming lessons. I have enjoyed having time to catch up with a couple of mom friends while our kids are swimming.

We’ve been getting done with the lessons around 5:15 pm. We take the highway from the Minnesota side back to North Dakota. Traffic can be heavy at that time.

On the way home Monday, I saw an ambulance. I prayed right away for safety and healing for whoever needed the ambulance—and wisdom for all the medical professionals.

Then, the thought occurred to me that my friend, who was driving ahead of me, probably prayed too. Perhaps many people were praying for that one ambulance as it sped by.

Then, last night, as we drove home, it started storming. We made it to the car just before the rain hit. As we listened to the radio, a tornado warning was announced for a community about an hour away.

I prayed again, for God’s mercy, that the storm would subside. I’m sure others did too.

We made it home just before it started pouring…cats, dogs, buckets, you name it! A few minutes later, part of my yard and bike path were flooded.

Thankfully, the water quickly receded into the drain at the corner of my lot. And, my sump pump probably helped too. All of this makes me think how rich in mercy God is. He pours out a deluge, really!

Put simply, mercy is when we don’t get what we deserve.

As it rained on and off, I was reminded how we receive God’s mercy because Jesus took the punishment for sin (death) for us. He diverted the penalty away from us. Thank You, Lord!

A little while later, Lydia and I saw a faint rainbow after the storm had passed. What grace!

Put simply, grace is when we get what we don’t deserve.

Water can be life-giving and fun… or dangerous and unpredictable. Sometimes we can splash in the puddles and sometimes we need to take cover.

This life brings both calm and chaos, and we will certainly have some wild days. But God is constant. Sometimes He calms the storm, and other times, He calms us instead.

He God floods us with His tender, loving care. His showers us with mercy and grace.

He is quick to help and quick to come to our defense. He protects us even when we are unaware of the danger. He is mighty to save!

Last night, as the blue sky finally peeked through the clouds, I was reminded no matter what storms may come, God is always with us. His love knows no bounds.

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Father God, thanks for Your mercy and grace. How wonderful You are! May we always be reminded just how much You love us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you pray when you see an ambulance? Do you like thunderstorms or not?

Tasks: Listen to the song, “Alive,” by Big Daddy Weave.

Posted on in Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Wisdom, Worship

On Being Content

This week I am doing another YouVersion Bible plan with friends. It is called, “The Power of Christian Contentment,” by Andrew Davis. It is so good. 

For this post, I wanted to capture a few of my thoughts in one spot. Contentment is a lifelong pursuit, so this simple post is by no means exhaustive.

The author talks about how rare contentment really is. I never thought about it that way. But I know many people (even Christians) who are mad at God for how life has turned out. They blame Him for what did or did not happen.

They choose to grumble and complain, but they refuse to take responsibility for their role in it. Not everything is someone’s fault, of course, but we have to do our part.

Sometimes, evil things happen and it seems like God has failed us. But God’s love never fails. He is always good, even when life doesn’t make sense. He is trustworthy!

To me, contentment means having peace and joy while going at God’s pace. It’s trusting Him, by not rushing ahead or setting lofty expectations, nor getting overly discouraged when disappointments come. We can’t avoid ups and downs entirely, but we can control our reactions.

The author mentioned that it takes supernatural effort to be content. Without Jesus, it seems we are always lacking something. In Jesus, we have everything we need. That doesn’t mean life is perfect, but He is with us and helps us through each of life’s challenges.

We weren’t meant to live with anger, anxiety, or fear!

God never sends bad or evil things upon His children. But, He will use everything (good or evil) for our benefit. Only He can orchestrate each of our paths and help us navigate life’s ups and downs while still bringing good out of it ALL! Wow!

The author mentioned the Apostle Paul and all he went through in spreading the gospel. To start, Paul was imprisoned, beaten, and shipwrecked. Eventually, he was executed.

Contentment is a lifestyle, an attitude, and a choice. Whether Paul had a lot or a little, was hungry or fed… in every circumstance, he persevered and learned to be content (Philippians 4:11-13).

In the ancient town of Philippi, Paul shared the gospel with a crowd. A woman named Lydia chose to believe the message and receive Christ. On Sunday, MY Lydia jokingly said, “No, they have it all wrong. She wasn’t from there, she was from North Dakota!”

It was funny, but it made me think. How often do we try to change or interpret God’s word to fit our goals and plans? We need to align ourselves with the Truth, that is Jesus!

Contentment comes when we know God’s heart for us and accept His path. It is not dependent on how much physical wealth we have or how little. It is not dependent upon whether or not all your personal dreams come true.

We can be content when our day takes a drastic turn. We can hold our tongue when people gossip about us. We can accept God’s will when we are not promoted or plans fail, knowing He has something better. We can maintain our joy, even when we have to make toast in the bathroom.

We can follow God wholeheartedly, even in the midst of pain. In fact, choosing to praise Him while suffering often brings an even better opportunity to show His goodness!

God loves working on our behalf despite the odds against us! That’s when His power shines bright and He gets all the glory! Woohoo!

We learn about God’s love by spending time with Him in two-way prayer, reading His Word and applying it, and learning to trust and obey the Holy Spirit.

Jesus showed us how to be content. He chose to follow His Father’s will, even to the cross. It would have been much more pleasant (for Him), had He done His own thing.

Jesus knew what was at stake, and He was strong to the end. Can you imagine how the story would have changed if all He did in Scripture is whine and complain?! Yikes!

Our Heavenly Father always does what is best for us. It’s our job to agree with Him and not run the show. Life is an adventure… but don’t be afraid. Be encouraged.

Jesus always leads us to Victory! May we be content and live in grace!

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God, thanks for You grace and love. Give us courage to let go and trust You. Help us grow in contentment. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Was this post on contentment comforting, challenging, or convicting? How can you cultivate contentment today?

Tasks: Check out the YouVersion Bible app for great reading plans that speak to everyday life. Invite some friends to join you!

 

Posted on in Miscellaneous, Prayer, Procrastination, Wisdom

Awesome Accountability

What do you do when you have a lot of goals, but keep losing motivation?

You get an accountability partner—or several!!

There are many benefits to having personal accountability. Often, it can mean the difference between success and failure.

We see the lack of public accountability in politics, but I’m not focused there today. In my own life, I appreciate having accountability because I am more likely to meet my goals!

Not meeting our goals can lead to a domino effect. We can slip up or grow stagnant in our life and faith walk. So it is imperative to have others around us who speak into our lives and provide wise counsel.

Thankfully, an accountability partner can check on progress, challenge you, and partner with you in prayer. As we draw closer to God and each other, we are encouraged, strengthened, and grow in character and fellowship.

When someone asks how it is going, it can feel like a pep talk or a call out. It can feel awkward at times, but if we are teachable, we will learn and grow!

Recently, some friends kept me accountable to reach some goals. I was sleeping in a little too often but wanted to maximize my time by getting up early. The hurdle was difficult to get through on my own.

Getting a head start on my day meant I could spend more time with God. I also decided to exercise early before distractions crept into my day. And, I wanted to work toward a personal deadline, where I have previously been procrastinating.

Bring on my accountability partners! I explained my goals to the ladies in my weekly small group. Amazingly, even just the idea of someone checking on me did the trick. I woke up early and did the work!

Friends and family are vital for our own accountability. It is so encouraging to have people rooting for me and cheering me on. Life just goes better together!

Thankfully, the Holy Spirit is an ideal accountability partner. He leads and guide us perfectly, though it’s up to us to listen and obey. Jesus personally intercedes for us as well. We can’t go wrong with that!

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God, thanks for putting wonderful people in my life to keep me accountable. Help me seek Your input and guidance every day. Help me make wise decisions as I live for You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Who helps keep you accountable? What are some goals you are working toward?

Tasks: Seek one or two people to keep you accountable as you take steps to reach your goals.

Posted on in Fruit, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Wisdom, Worship

Twenty-four Seven

I am still working on scribing the Gospel of John. I’ve only got a handful of chapters left, and it should be fairly straight forward. I had planned to do it every day but realized I wanted to take more time and really soak up those truths.

Recently, I spent a lot of time in John 15 and 16. One of my favorite passages of scripture is John 15:5, in which Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

It is important to regularly evaluate the status of our relationship with Jesus. If we are walking in step with him, we will bear fruit. The Holy Spirit cultivates an abundance of high quality, life-giving fruit in our lives (if we cooperate with Him).

Spiritual fruit can be seen in many ways.

The fruits of the Holy Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. How each of us portrays those character qualities, however, can be as different as our personalities, stage of life, and zipcodes.

Spiritual fruit is not the ‘Midas touch’ of everything turning to gold or going our way. Fruit takes a lot of perseverance. Often, it takes conscious effort to not give up or get ahead of God.

Jesus is the vine, and we are merely the branches. We have to yield to His control and grow on His terms. Thankfully, Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit to help.

In John 16:13-14, Jesus says, “When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.”

The Holy Spirit is such a wonderful gift. To start, He is our advocate, helper, and comforter. He empowers us with wisdom, courage, and grace through the pruning process.

The Holy Spirit teaches us about Jesus and how to implement the Bible into our lives. He convicts us when we do wrong, and leads us back to Jesus when we stray. As we yield to His authority in our lives, He even makes our relationships run in harmony and peace.

Any time we need help, all we have to do is ask. God is right there with us to guide us through it. If you are feeling blah or hopeless today or feeling confused or stagnant, don’t worry. The Holy Spirit is available to every believer 24/7. He will encourage you and lead to the truth. Draw close to Him!

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Holy Spirit, thanks for Your continual presence. Thanks for the work You do in our lives and all around us. Tune our ears to Your voice. Help us walk in truth and grace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you recognize the Holy Spirit at work within you? Do you check in with him frequently?

Tasks: Invite the Holy Spirit into whatever activities you are doing. Also, read The Holy Spirit: An Introduction by John Bevere.

Posted on in Life is Short, Little Free Library, Miscellaneous, Perfectionism, Personality, Procrastination, Wisdom

3,000 Emails

It’s no surprise I love to read. It’s a wonderful way to learn! I enjoy physical books, ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, pamphlets, and online reading. Growing up, I used to read for an hour each afternoon on the school bus. I also have a little free library in my front yard.

Reading and learning were always family priorities, and I also am instilling the love of lifelong learning in Lydia. She’s also well on her way to becoming an excellent reader.

I have an ever-growing ‘to be read’ book pile, but I’m especially fond of trivia (or otherwise random data!). My intuitive brain loves those details that connect everything together, but on their own don’t mean much.

Knowledge is a wonderful gift, but if I’m not careful, too much data input can be distracting. I’ll read a book or article and stop to look up something trivial. That will lead to another tangent and before long, I’ve got a whole lot of random ideas with no real purpose. If I don’t refocus my attention, my concentration is lost and I make no progress!

I love both ‘snail mail’ and electronic mail. Sometimes, I sign up through email to learn more about a topic. I like receiving free handouts, recipes, devotionals, guides, and more.

Well, as you can imagine, the emails stack up and I don’t get around to reading them all! Lately, it has been difficult to answer important emails because I’ve had so many to sort through. Time for an electronic cleanup!

On Monday, I woke up early and took advantage of the quiet. I purged about 500 emails right away. That fueled my motivation, prompting me to search topically and delete more.

I cleared out junk mail, spam, and advertisements. I unsubscribed from several newsletters, too. Many of them were nutrition-focused with yummy recipes I hope I can find later online. If not, I’ll find something similar!

Over the last 48 hours, I have deleted over 1,800 emails. It feels so good, and I still have more to go! I may never get to zero, but now I’m excited to check my email and read what I have left.

I don’t feel overwhelmed, and I don’t feel like I am avoiding my inbox anymore!

Life is too short to live distracted. Years from now, the status of my inbox will not matter any more than my to-do list. So why waste time or mental energy hoping I’ll get around to it? If it was truly important, I would have prioritized it by now!

We were never meant to hold onto extra burdens with no meaning. Who has time for 3,000 emails?! Even if many of the emails had good content, it was just too much.

Maybe your inbox isn’t a problem. But, maybe your focus is on organizing your pantry, art project, yard, finances, or relationships. Anything can distract us.

We have a daily decision to make. Do I put my hope, trust, and effort in Jesus or the World? One has Eternal value and the other will not last. Choose wisely!

If our eyes are on Jesus, we will avoid wasting time on useless distractions. (Sometimes, we have to make a sacrifice!) If something is from God, it will have a purpose and bring life. And, if it is not, it will fade away because it does not matter.

Even in challenges, with God’s help, we will be energized. If He is in it, we will bear an abundance of fruit. It probably won’t be easy and it might take all we have, but we will have focus and not be completely drained!

Jesus is worth every second and every breath… 3,000 emails… not so much!

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Heavenly Father, thanks all You do for us. Thanks for redirecting us and giving us an eternal perspective. Help us put You first and live wholeheartedly for You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you check email regularly? Have you ever gotten your inbox to zero? What changes might God be asking YOU to make?

Tasks: Start purging old emails! And, ask God to direct your path so you can hear His voice and follow Him.