Tag: patience

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

Finding Grace #396

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!

Free Autumn Fall photo and picture

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

This week was busy but really good! The mornings are darker, but the sunrises are gorgeous. It is definitely feeling like Autumn now; we’ve had some cooler temperatures and a little wind and rain. The pretty fall colors are starting to pop!

Lydia’s been enjoying orchestra class at school, where she is learning to play the viola. It’s fun to hear her talk about it and tell me new things. She can play a few notes of “Ode to Joy” and is really proud of herself!

Work went well, and we learned more about the current plan for when we cover two maternity leaves. My role will be slightly changing, and I will be working a few more hours temporarily – no more than about six months. I’m grateful for the flexibility and that I can help cover what needs to be done. While I didn’t exactly volunteer, I agreed to do more, knowing God will use this for my good and for my provision. 

This week, I realized it’s been about two years since my book, Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward went live! Thanks for all your support. If you have read it, I’d love to hear what you thought and would appreciate you telling your friends! 🙂

Today, we mostly relaxed. We did a little housework and Lydia showed me her viola again. Then, my sister and I discussed a book we are reading together, and I worked out.

Tonight, Lydia and I have another baby shower to attend. This will be a barbecue and should be a lot of fun with friends. A perfect night to enjoy the weather, too!

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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 Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Wisdom, Worship

Never and Always

Driving to work recently, I heard another ‘radio reminder’ of God’s grace. I was listening to the song “Never” by Tasha Layton and was moved. The chorus of her song talks about how God has never abandoned her:

Never forgotten
Never forsaken
Never abandoned
Not for a second
I am safe in Your hands
Always and forever
You’re never not working
My heart is the proof
There’s not a broken too broken for You
Will there ever come a day when You’re not holding me together?
You say “never”

Free Stones Pebbles photo and picture

Of course, the opposite of never is always. So, I started thinking of how God is always present and always there for me. He always provides for me, protects me, and showers me with His unending love. Every step I take is filled with an overwhelming level of grace.

He is always faithful and always leads me forward (occasionally pushing or pulling, as needed!). He always comes through for me!

It also hit me how the extremes of never and always impact me. It has been said, “never say never,” but I really can’t “always say always” either. Neither is physically possible or wise. Even in those moments where I can “sometimes say sometimes,” I am easily wiped out if I need to maintain the effort for too long.

While I can’t handle such extremes, I am grateful that God can. Jesus Himself was a man of extremes yet abundant grace and self-control. He was a part of creation (the Word), and then put on human flesh as a needy baby. Jesus lived without sin and then lived a nomadic life in his adult years. He was later betrayed, scourged, and nailed to the cross, asking God to forgive those who wanted Him dead. And if that wasn’t extreme enough, three days later, Jesus was raised to life again before eventually ascending into Heaven!

I am so glad that Jesus did all the difficult work… because we just can’t. Although life is tough sometimes and can feel extreme, we can rest knowing that nothing is out of bounds for God. We can sleep restfully because He never does (Psalm 121:4).

Yes, there is great peace in knowing God operates in the extremes. He is far above and far beyond anything that comes at us. His holiness is extreme, but He also removes our sins as far as the East is from the West – another extreme only He can handle because the two will never meet (Psalm 103:12). Nothing is impossible for Him!

So, today, I hope you are able to rest in God’s ‘extremeness.’ Work hard, sure, but know that He is your strength and shield. He is your protector and provider. He is carrying you!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for Your extreme love and grace. It can be difficult to accept Your love and grace sometimes, but thanks for the reminder that we don’t need to be perfect or suffer alone. Help us rely on You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: How are you handling life’s extremes right now, and what can you learn? Are you trying to handle them on your own, or are you taking them directly to Jesus?

Tasks: Think about the extremes in the post above, in addition to the many extremes we see in Nature (climate patterns, landscapes, animal species/size/colors/eating habits, etc.). Pray about how God wants to show up for you today… then rest in His mighty, capable hands!

Posted on in Books and Movies I Like, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Wisdom

Hidden Blessings

BIBLE = Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth 🙂

Yesterday, I was scrolling social media and came across someone who quizzes people on the Bible. On Instagram, he is @tophertownmusic. Apparently, he is also a musician and an Army Veteran.

So, he walks up to people and starts a conversation. He gives them one hundred dollars if they answer three Bible questions correctly. It was fun to see him talk about God’s word with total strangers and then reward them!

That got me thinking… if Topher walked up to me, would I know the answers to his questions? So far, I’ve known the answers to all his questions, but I didn’t watch each post. 

I watched some of his other videos and commentaries, too. He is kind, generous, and funny, but he is also firm and able to discern the truth and apply it well. How refreshing!

This was a great example of the importance of God’s word and how it grows in our hearts. It’s not just random trivia. The Bible shows us how to live and walk in holiness. It is vital for understanding God’s character and His purpose for us. It can challenge us but also brings comfort.

There are many ways to interact with Scripture. If you are new to all of this, I recommend learning about Jesus first, starting in the Gospel of John. Beyond that, we can simply read one chapter or a few verses at a time. Some people read until the Holy Spirit illuminates an idea or speaks to them personally. There are daily/yearly reading plans, devotionals, topical books, or online studies. Find what works best for you!

Bible Studies with others can be fun ways to discuss Scripture with friends. I like to listen to the Bible on the YouVersion app while I get ready for work and often use BibleGateway to look up verses for blogging. The Bible Project videos are also great.

Going a little deeper, you can re-read the same passage of Scripture a few times to start noticing themes, repetition, similar verbs/actions, and more. You can search for clues about context to interpret the narrative, the meanings, and the message God (the Author) intended. Then, we are changed from the inside out!!

Life is short. We never know when we might need the truth of God’s word. It won’t return void, though we have to allow it to do its work in us. Yes, it acts as a ‘check’ on our hearts. It takes time and committment but always brings blessings as we draw close to God.

When life presses in, may God’s word squeeze out of us and bless others!

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God, thanks for the Bible and for Jesus who embodies Your grace and truth. May we hide Your Word in our hearts and use it correctly. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: How do you like to connect with God’s word? What are you learning from the Bible lately?

Tasks: Read your Bible today and pray for understanding! If you need help, check out this link: Scripture Engagement (biblegateway.com)

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

Finding Grace #392

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!

Free Coneflowers Flowers photo and picture

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

This week was full but fun! We started off with a total relaxation weekend for Labor Day. I took a nap, did some reading, and made some treats for a birthday at work. Just what I needed!

 We had a four-day workweek, which included the birthday celebration, some meetings, and a training class. So, it went pretty fast! I didn’t have as much pressure toward deadlines, which was nice, too.

On Thursday, I took Lydia to the grocery store. The twist is that she made all the choices and paid! She’s learning about value and costs, and it was a good exercise to see how to plan and stick to a budget. Knowing that the money is limited makes us consider our choices. She had to compare brands and expiration dates, weigh produce, and more. It went so well that we will be doing it regularly!

The grocery trip helped us be creative with the pantry foods we sometimes forget about. We talked about our values and goals related to money (on Lydia’s level). One bonus is that she saw parallels with her clothes – what’s worth the money and when it’s better to choose the basic brands vs. name brands. 🙂

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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 Gratitude, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Pivot, Wisdom, Worship

By Grace, Through Faith

The ultimate privilege and responsibility I have as a parent is to influence Lydia for God, encourage her faith in Him, and show her how to walk with Jesus. I am proud of her spiritual growth as I disciple her relationship with the Almighty.

Lydia has been reading her Bible just about every day for several months. She has worked through the Gospel of John; 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John; Galatians; Revelation, and others. I loved her commentary on Revelation (talking about scary dragons and Hell): “Well, that’s a great way to start off my day!” She had insightful questions about the imagery and end-time events, too.

This week, Lydia started Ephesians. She aims to read about a chapter per day. Mostly, she reads the material, thinks about it, and then we talk about it.

I love Ephesians, and it has been fun to hear Lydia’s thoughts, too. Sometimes, she understands the material right away, and sometimes, she understandably needs a little help.

Free Ocean Sunset photo and picture

Now, parts of Ephesians 1 are a little wordy. It has lots of adjectives and run-on sentences. But it’s also jam-packed with all the spiritual blessings we have as followers of Jesus. Mind-blowing, really!

On Sunday, we discussed Ephesians 2, and I unexpectedly got a little emotional as I read some of my favorite verses with Lydia. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

I asked Lydia for her take on those verses. She gave me her best shot, that we don’t have to earn salvation, we just have it through faith. It is a gift of God’s grace. Not bad for an eleven-year-old!

Then, I asked her, “Why do you think God only requires us to have faith? Why wouldn’t He make us do something for salvation?” Of course, one answer is that we could never be perfect enough.

But then, I heard myself explaining, “You know how sometimes an online company might hold a contest? Often, if you want to enter, you have to like and share their post on social media. So, I could enter if I wanted. But, what if you didn’t have a phone then, and Tappa didn’t have social media. And Lily (my toddler niece) wouldn’t even know a contest was happening. Thus, if I was one of the only ones to enter, I could brag about my good fortune. Everyone else would be disqualified; they would have no chance.“

I have read those verses so many times, but they took on a different meaning on Sunday. I thought of any family, friends, coworkers, etc. whom that fake contest would have disqualified (no social media). And, in the context of salvation, it made me want to share the gospel even more!

Immediately, I understood a whole new level of God’s perfect grace. Teary-eyed, I thought of how kind and wise He is to make coming to Him a level playing field. It doesn’t matter where you live, what you’ve done, or your background. No favoritism exists for a certain race, skin color, or language. ALL are welcome and invited.

 We can never be good enough to earn salvation; because of Jesus, we don’t need to. He did His part; now believing and accepting His sacrifice is our part.

Yes, God took all of the requirements of salvation and put them on Jesus. The weight of the world’s sin was a heavy burden! And, all we have to do is believe and receive the free gift.

Now, as I reminded Lydia, FREE simply means ‘no cost to you.’ Indeed, salvation was very costly to Jesus, who paid with His life and blood. May we never take it for granted!

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God, thanks for the gift of salvation through Jesus. Thanks that we don’t have to earn it but can accept it by grace through faith. Help us live out Your gift of grace every day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Have you accepted this most generous gift of salvation? Are you living according to God’s grace, or are you still trying to do it all on your own?

Tasks: Read through Ephesians 2 and meditate on it. Note any verses that jump out at you and pray about the application in your life.

Posted on in Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Perseverance

Collision Course

Yesterday, I had a few minutes before work, so I went to get the mail that I missed the day before. On my way back inside, I looked up at the sky and noticed two airplanes. From my perspective, they were only an inch or so apart. 🙂

In fact, based on their trails, they looked like they could collide. Though I knew they wouldn’t. The air traffic controllers would have them on separate paths at different elevations. Safety first!

I tried to take a picture, but they were gone by the time I came back outside. I could only see part of the trail from one airplane. It’s crazy how fast they moved apart!

Free Plane Aircraft photo and picture

But, then that got me thinking… we are all on our own course, but God makes sure we get where we are going. Your destination might be work or school today, or maybe the grocery store. But, for those of us who know Jesus, our final stop is Heaven.

I also thought about how there are people on the journey with us, such as family, friends, and coworkers. At times, our paths collide and we go together, and occasionally our paths diverge. But, in both cases, we can trust God to lead us.

Finally, I was thankful for all the ways God keeps us safe, even when we can’t see the danger around us. We face many possible “collisions” (or challenges) in a day, but God watches out for us. We typically have all potential problems on our radar, but He does.

Occasionally, we see life from a different angle and get a glimpse of who God is or what He is doing. It’s like we are on a collision course with God’s grace! He won’t let us get too far from His love!

In those moments, let’s praise Him for carrying us, protecting us, and providing for us. Let’s encourage those who are on the same path (or plane) as us, too!

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God, thanks for taking good care of us and navigating our path. Help us trust You along the way. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: When you see airplanes, do you ever imagine where they are going or think about the lives on board?

Task: Next time you see an airplane, briefly watch its trail… from where it has come and consider the trajectory. Remember, each person and plane is important to God!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Food and Nutrition, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Parenting

Finding Grace #390

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!

Free Dahlia Flower photo and picture

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

This week was a little hectic but good! Lydia and I had several events that took planning ahead and felt ‘big.’ I had to keep praying, working hard, and trusting God. I also took several deeeeep breaths. But, it all turned out really well.

 On Sunday, we volunteered at church in the morning (greeting at the kids ministry) and in the evening (an outdoor women’s event). We had good food and saw some friends. I thought I would be really tired after a full day of serving, but I was actually energized!

On Monday, Lydia babysat for a little baby all on her own. She is very responsible and good with little ones, but I was a little nervous anyway since we had not previously met him. Lydia had a blast and entertained him for two hours. She even earned a few bucks!

Lydia started middle school this week! She had fun and already has three favorite teachers, so I think that’s a good sign! We are excited for this next season.

Work was good but fairly busy and full of problem-solving. Nearly all of my patients came this week, but it made me happy to be using so many of my skills. I also had fun attending a yoga session with my coworkers on our lunch break! Then, I worked a couple extra hours on Friday and also went in today for two hours (my on-call weekend). Whew!

My mother-in-law came to visit this week, as she sometimes does when I am on-call. She took Lydia shopping, and then I joined them for a few other activities. We always have fun together and have some more things planned for tomorrow!

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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 Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Pivot, Wisdom, Worship

Rush Hour

Rush hour in Fargo is, well, nothing compared to say Chicago or Minneapolis! In the big cities, you could be in traffic for over an hour and barely move. I don’t think I could handle that on a regular basis!

In contrast, you may drive for fifteen to twenty minutes in Fargom yet typically keep moving along. But you still need patience, especially when people try to rush ahead or cut in traffic on the highway.

Yesterday, I spent some time running errands after work. I decided to skip the busier route and went through town. I still hit some traffic, though not as many vehicles switching from one lane to the other. Funny how the other lane always seems to move faster!

I am just as guilty as others trying to get home after a long day or move on to the next activity. But yesterday, I just took it easy and enjoyed the ride. Even so, I was home within eleven minutes after finishing my errands.

Free Traffic Cars photo and picture

I thought about how a spiritual “rush hour” might go. Now, often, God’s timing is much slower than ours. He is never early, never late, and always right on time!

Second Peter 3:8 says, “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” God’s timing is unique, but so are His purposes for us.

So as I sat in traffic and watched other people, I wondered how often I rush to move closer to God or hurry up my routine to spend time with Him. I don’t usually have a lot of wiggle room, so I have to set aside time diligently and even invite Jesus to come with me.

Do I speed up and ‘switch lanes’ to get to Him?

Do I readjust my schedule and rush to Him, or do I rush through my time with Him to move on to the rest of my day?

Every day is a little different, with a morning and evening rush (traffic, and often at home). But ideally, we should be excited to spend as much time with the Lord as possible. I am challenged to rethink my daily routine, and I hope you are, too!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for these little insights into the spiritual world. Help us throw off everything that entangles us so we can run toward You.  Help us keep You as our main priority. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: How can you focus on God in your travel time? Do you like to sing and worship God; pray for your day or others; or listen to a podcast or audiobook about spiritual matters?

Tasks: Listen to God’s word through the YouVersion Bible app. Or, tune your car radio to KLOVE or your local Christian radio station (in Fargo, that’s Life 97.9 FM). If you have SiriusXM, check out The Message. Several of these have phone apps, as well!

 

Posted on in Being Gracious, Gratitude, Kindness, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Personality, Wisdom

Closer

I overheard some really joyful news this week about a not-so-close-friend. I really like her, but, I am not sure I will reach out. We haven’t seen each other in a couple of years, and I don’t know how she would respond. I assume if she wanted me to know, it would be clear. I’m sure she will make an official announcement when she’s ready.

We have never been ‘super’ close; we just had a few good times together. For now, I will pray for her and cheer her on behind the scenes. And, if I get the chance, I will tell her how happy I am for her.

Do you have friends like that? Or maybe the term really should be acquaintances. 🙂

Indeed, many people are in my not-too-close category. It’s not that we don’t connect; people consistently tell me I am friendly and approachable. I am compassionate and good at listening. When asked for help, I always provide a basic plan to follow. But, then the problem is solved, and they tend to move on.

Free Flowers Siberian Bugloss photo and picture

So, I don’t know if it is me or them, or both! It certainly could just be a bunch of random circumstances not worth mulling over. Yet, here we are. 😉

When it comes to relationships, we’ve all heard something to the effect that if they talk about other people with you, they will talk about you with other people. But, I avoid gossip because so many people trust me to keep their confidence and I take that seriously.

I’m also fairly low-key. No drama here… but that also makes me one of the last to know!

Similarly, I use caution (wisdom!) when opening up to people. I’m fairly good at reading people and know not to misplace my trust. (#boundaries) I am okay with having a few solid friends who ‘get me’ rather than many loose acquaintances. It is important to know who’s in your corner.

Free Forget-Me-Nots Flowers photo and picture

Randomly, I think, “Hmm, maybe I’m just not that memorable, or maybe I just don’t have anything exciting to offer.” Case in point: I am great at remembering names and personal details, but I often have to reintroduce myself to people… multiple times, which gets old. Thankfully, Jesus never forgets me – He knows me better than I do!

I suppose most of these thoughts reflect my introverted personality. I am quiet and appreciate solitude, but I’m not really shy. I shine in asking good questions, but people don’t often reciprocate. I’ve been told I’m ‘blendable’ and can relate to a wide variety of people and interests. While that may mean I get lost in a crowd, maybe I’m the gel that helps keep everything cohesive. I appreciate that about myself!

Building community can be an art. Though, I only have so much extra time and energy, and we are all going in different directions with various obligations. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it may preclude vulnerability.

Free Forget-Me-Nots Purple Flowers photo and picture

To clarify, having a lot of friends and acquaintances is a huge blessing. I have needed help from at least four friends this summer (Lydia, yardwork, questions, etc.). Yet, while my friends (and family) are sometimes unavailable, Jesus is always there for me.

Despite my occasional self-doubt, I understand it’s not ‘all about me.’ I am an Ambassador for Christ, so I am happy to share anything personal to help someone grow closer to Jesus for Eternity. It could be embarrassing, but as long as it is useful, I don’t mind! If that brings awkward conversations, so be it!

Ultimately, our contact list, Facebook likes, birthday shoutouts, or blog followers can only get us so far. They have a place, yes, but they don’t measure our true worth. Afterall, we don’t have to be popular, but we do need to live purposefully.

So, let’s draw closer to Jesus every day. He always welcomes us in and is eager to chat, no matter how much time may have passed!

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God, thanks for Your Friendship! You never let me go! Help me be a good friend, and help me keep drawing closer to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Did you know there are more than seventy varieties of forget-me-nots? How do you invest in your friendships?

Task: Make a list of your best qualities and how they apply to friendship. When it feels like people have abandoned you, pull out the list and pray about your next steps. (Don’t sell yourself short. Not all relationships are intended to last forever, and that’s okay!)

Posted on in Being Gracious, Food and Nutrition, Journey of Grace, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Wisdom

The Battle Belongs to the Lord

The last two days, work has been a little hectic. Not bad, just busy.

I already had a full schedule without much time in between patients. And then, I had some unexpected phone calls to return. Phone calls are normal, but these were a little more involved and time-consuming.

I ‘inherited’ a complex patient with many medical problems. I was assigned to take over after they made unfounded complaints about a very qualified coworker. Simply put, the patient’s family did not get the answers they wanted, and sadly, his prognosis is difficult to accept.

This patient requires a feeding tube, but it’s unusual due to how the tube was placed and medical complications (not related to his VA care). To start, the patient has cancer and is undergoing multiple treatments. But the bad news just keeps piling up.

In many ways,  it reminds me of Dave’s own cancer battle… and my emotional reactions. Unfortunately, this patient has even more medical issues, if you can imagine that.

Free Doctor Doctor'S Office photo and picture

So, while I am empathetic towards the patient, he has a lot of needs. I have years of experience to draw upon, but each situation is different. I have fought to get them what they need, but more than once, the family has put me on the spot. While I encourage advocacy for loved ones, I consistently do my best to provide the highest level of care.

In the past, with other patients, I occasionally have been yelled at when trying to get to the bottom of certain challenges. For instance, I won’t order something if it puts the patient at more risk. I wait until I have adequate justification, but patients sometimes argue and make their own decisions anyway (which is their right). While it doesn’t happen often, this week, I felt circumstances were going in that direction.

Even though the patient’s family had been friendly on the phone, they went to other sources to try and get what I wasn’t quite ready to provide. I was still gathering information and needed them to work with me, not against me. Nonetheless, it made me feel like they thought I wasn’t doing my job.

And reflecting on my own journey, I remembered my fight is not against other people (Ephesians 6:12). Still, I dreaded calling the patient again. 

Then yesterday morning, I was in my car getting ready to walk inside to my office. I was stalling by listening to the radio in my car. One of my favorite songs, “Battle Belongs,” by Phil Wickham, came on. (Sample lyrics below)

When all I see is the battle, You see my victory
When all I see is the mountain, You see a mountain moved
And as I walk through the shadow, Your love surrounds me
There’s nothing to fear now for I am safe with You
So when I fight, I’ll fight on my knees
With my hands lifted high
Oh God, the battle belongs to You
And every fear I lay at Your feet
I’ll sing through the night
Oh God, the battle belongs to You
And if You are for me, who can be against me? Yeah
For Jesus, there’s nothing impossible for You
When all I see are the ashes, You see the beauty
Thank You God
When all I see is a cross, God, You see the empty tomb
So when I fight, I’ll fight on my knees
With my hands lifted high
Oh God, the battle belongs to You
And every fear I lay at Your feet
I’ll sing through the night
Oh God, the battle belongs to You
Almighty fortress, You go before us
Nothing can stand against the power of our God
You shine in the shadow, You win every battle
Nothing can stand against the power of our God
Nurse placed adapter in equipment probe of enteral nutrition, palliative care in hospital, conceptual image, composition hotizontal Nurse placed adapter in equipment probe of enteral nutrition, palliative care in hospital, conceptual image, composition hotizontal enteral nutrition stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images

Singing along, I was gently reminded that not only is God for me, He is also for my patient and his family. Not only is He for us as people, but He is also 100% against cancer. God will always aim for a win-win, and only He has the power to do it time and again!

Yes, I remembered this battle belongs to the Lord. So, I decided to let God fight for me, knowing He is also fighting for my patient. I had a good brainstorming session with two of my coworkers, including the specialist on the case before me. I was still nervous to call, but when I did, a creative temporary solution had already been provided. They were going to try that, and I’ll check back with them later this week. 

It’s still a very tough trial, and short of a miracle, this patient will continue to decline. But, while it’s my job to care for him nutritionally, I also feel responsible to pray for his comfort, healing, and well-being. Similarly, I can respond with grace and compassion, since I know what it feels like when the tables are turned.

Ultimately, Jesus is our living hope. There is no need to fear. We can trust Him in all things because He has already won the war, and our Victory is in Him!

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God, You are so good. Thanks for taking good care of all my patients and me. Thanks for fighting our battles, Lord. Help us rely on You and share Your love with others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Have you ever been in a similar situation, where you are doing your best and people misjudge your effort (or you feel like they are)? How did you handle it?

Tasks: Remember that fear and dread are not from God. Put your trust in Jesus, and watch Him fight your battles.