Tag: prayer

Posted on in Being Gracious, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Prayer, Wisdom, Worship

No Surprises

Ahh, another Election Day is done, and a new day is ahead. I don’t love politics or watch much news firsthand, but I always enjoy watching the back-and-forth to see who wins. As the states turn blue or red, it’s as if I can see God moving across the country based on our participation!

Sometimes, I have to laugh at the media’s hype and catastrophizing. “Too early to call. This is surprising. What will happen if?” People may feel uncertain, confused, or even sick about the state of things. I get it. But, while the stakes are high, we go through this every four years! 😉

I usually like to stay up and see the results, if possible. But, last night, I prioritized sleep, resting in the fact that God is in control. He understands the complexities and is not phased by them. I voted last week, and He will use all things for my good and His glory.

Ultimately, God doesn’t lose sleep over politics. He is not anxious or dependent on the results. There are no accidents, coincidences, or surprises that fall outside of His jurisdiction. He reigns over all, always has, always will!

Free ballot ballot box american flag illustration

The Bible says that God places people in their positions or removes them. He can make a donkey speak and morph people into humility. Nothing is impossible for Him!

As Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:12, “… our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

There is so much more going on that we can fully fathom. Yet, we are overcomers because Jesus has already conquered Evil, Sin, and Death.

Regardless of how you feel today—exhausted, upset, happy, or relieved—take heart. We Christians are God’s ambassadors, His representatives. Our peace, joy, and hope are not in any mere man or woman. Our security and eternity is in Jesus.

In Revelation, we read that things will be wild in the last days. Some would say the world is growing darker, but we do not need to fear because we have Jesus, the Light. Nothing can thwart God’s plan or purpose.

Jesus will soon return, and The End grows nearer every day. So buckle up. May we be found faithful and ready for the King of Kings and our Prince of Peace! Come quickly, Lord Jesus!

Even so, we have a great responsibility to be wise, vote, and then pray for those in power. We can also step up and help our community to make a local difference. Whatever you do, don’t wait four years to show His love and grace.

**********

God, You reign over all… including politics, statistics, and legalities. Your purposes stand. Thanks for covering us with mercy and grace. May we understand what You are doing and join You in Your work. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: Do you enjoy watching the Election Night news, or do you prefer tuning out?

Tasks: Listen to this song and pray for the leaders of our nation. Even if you don’t like them or agree with them. Remember how much grace God has given you, and extend that to others.

Posted on in Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perfectionism, Perseverance, Personality, Pivot, Wisdom

Goals Are Only a Guide

Yesterday, we had our annual goals meeting at work. We do this every year, focusing on national and departmental VA goals. The funny thing is, I never really have any goals that match my manager’s expectations. It’s almost a running joke at this point!

This level of goal setting is above and beyond our normal work duties, which are already immense! So, it’s good to challenge ourselves but it’s not the end of the world. I usually offer to help others with their goals, and that is good enough.

It’s not that I don’t have goals – I have lots! I love learning, but not all of my interests are transferrable at work or a good fit for my patients. For instance, I am interested in plant-based diets and would love to promote them more often. Yet, it’s not for everyone, especially a population that is often rural, mostly male, and meat-loving. These guys tend to rely on microwave meals or let their wives do all the cooking.

Also, focusing on my own mobility exercises has been key for me lately, but that’s a bit out of my current scope of practice. Even if I decide to train in this area (a fitness or pain certification to complement my foodie side), I may not be able to apply it as well as I would like. But it’s something I am considering!

Free goal target success illustration

For me, it’s a good sign I don’t want to set excessive goals. I want to do exactly what God is calling me to do. No more and no less. I don’t have to be perfect or overachieve. My top goals are to stay close to Jesus, listen to the Holy Spirit, and bring my Heavenly Father glory through serving and loving others. Everything else is just a bonus! 

God is good at showing me when I need to make a change, personally or professionally. He leads me and is patient with me until I get where I need to be. Therefore, if God Himself is not telling me anything different, I can be at peace. I don’t need to apologize or explain anything. I trust I am on track!

Goals are good, but they are only a guide. They don’t override God’s plan for me!

I always aim to go above and beyond to meet the needs of my patients, even when it is inconvenient. I don’t see that changing any time soon! But, God has given me a lot to do outside of work, too! As a single mom, I need to use my energy wisely.

Free Road Curve photo and picture

Prayerfully, my long-term work goals are fairly simple and have worked well so far!

  1. Eat a good breakfast since I don’t know when I will get to eat my lunch. I always manage to eat, but it’s not always predictable due to patient care.

  2. Show up. There are gonna be days I just don’t “feel” like going to work. Do it anyway. (As it is, I find I am always happier when I go and see people. I hate to miss something important!)

  3. Have a good attitude. Be a team player. Smile! I can encourage those around me, and not complain or drag them down.

  4. Have patience with my patients. Every day is different, and I work with a wide variety of personalities and problems. There are similarities, but there are still so many nuances. I have to bust myths and break through barriers daily!

  5. Do my best and minimize “late notes.” This is more of a behind-the-scenes billing thing, but I can only do my best!

I am beyond grateful for where God has me right now. This time, this space, this routine. My coworkers and family and responsibilities. I know things will change someday, but I am content going at His pace and walking in His peace.

**********

Heavenly Father, thanks for taking such good care of me. You are so gracious and kind to provide for me and lead me. Help me stay close to You so I can move when You do! In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you like setting goals? What goals are you working toward right now?

Task: When setting goals, pray first, then make them SMART! That stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-based.

Posted on in Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Pivot, Prayer, Wisdom

Tuning Out and Tuning In

What do you think of when you hear or read the word “tune?” You may think of the melody in a piece of music, or an action, such as tuning a radio or tuning an instrument. This may include picking up a new frequency as you drive along or changing the channel to find something new. We can also take our vehicle in for a tune-up.

Just as we can tune in, we can tune out! For instance, we can tune out background noise when having a conversation. Or, sometimes, I am playing a game on my phone, and Lydia asks me a question. Not too often, but it does happen, and I have to ask her to repeat her request. We can also tune out of social media or television shows or sinful habits.

I read an article yesterday (not worth posting here) about how people are tuning out political advertising regarding the upcoming November elections. Each side is spending a lot of money to convince voters, and very few of us are paying attention! It seems people have already made up their minds and don’t care about the details now. Or, perhaps they are just tired of the incessant barrage of information! Maybe that’s just me?!

Politics are important, yes. It is our right, privilege, and duty to vote! But, regardless of who ends up winning, God is still in control. He will use anyone in office for His ultimate purposes. Whether they know Him or not. So, we don’t put our hope in a mere human, but in Jesus alone!

Free Violin Musical Instrument photo and picture

The closer we draw to Jesus, we start to see things as they really are. As we tune out of world’s noise, the less thrilling it becomes. At best, our bling becomes blah. At worst, well, I’m thinking total filth, dirty rags. The glamour and excitement fade away when we realize all Jesus has done for us. That’s not to say things aren’t still worthwhile; it’s just that they don’t hold power over us anymore.

Nothing and no one compares to Jesus! In Him, we can lay down our desires and expectations and look for greater things. All things become new!

There are many ways to draw close and tune our hearts to God. We can pray and seek Him as we go about our day. We can read the Bible and learn about Him. We can listen for His voice and do what He says, right away. Trust and obey!

We can tune in for a deeper understanding of who God is and what He has done for us. We can better grasp His forgiveness, which changes everything! We can drop all pretense that it all depends on us. We can eagerly await eternity with Jesus, yet live for Him today!

We can observe His work in our lives. He has good plans for our lives, and we just have to walk them out. With gratitude, we can find His grace and provision for all our needs!

Wherever you find yourself today, I encourage you to tune in to all God has for you! Perhaps sing a little melody to Him. He is so good!

**********

Heavenly Father, thanks for all You do for us! Help us turn away from worthless things, and help us tune in to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Who or what are you tuning into this week? Where is your hope? Do you need a tune-up?

Task: Listen to this old hymn: “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” 

Posted on in Being Gracious, Books and Movies I Like, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Pivot, Prayer, Wisdom, Worship

Healing Connections

Pain comes in many forms and is an excellent signal that we must pay attention and address an issue. It can be physical, mental, emotional, relational, or spiritual (sometimes all of the above). Each of us should determine the cause and solution and seek professional input if needed. Often, we can start with the basics on our own!

On Sunday after church, I went to the front of the sanctuary for prayer for my hip and back. Both muscles and nerves connect the two areas I am dealing with. I have been praying and practicing mobility exercises to improve my flexibility and relieve pressure.

The lady who prayed reminded me it’s all God’s power combined with my faith, not her words, that brings healing. Even today, I still feel a little pain, but it is improving!

Praying in faith is key, but we can also take practical action. On Monday, I decided to try a new three-week program for a healthy back. I appreciated the hip challenge I did recently, and the back version is equally intriguing and educational!

As we know, God can heal instantaneously, but often, it takes time. In my case, nerve impingement likely happened over many years of repetitive motion. So, it seems, I need to learn how to take better care of myself and let God heal me that way. Then, I can sustain the results!

Free Woman Exercise photo and picture

Instead of trying to diagnose myself, I am simply working on a total body approach. It’s all connected and if one area is feeling “off” chances are at least one other area is, too!

I have been learning a lot lately. Muscles, bones, and nerves are all related but show up in separate issues. Sure, I learned some of this in my college courses, but it has been a while, and it is good to have a refresher!

On Monday night, I started week five of my mobility routine. I have been doing the exercises four times a week, so this was round seventeen. I was praying, and suddenly, something just clicked!

After that, I was able to do all fifteen exercises fairly easily! I have been able to do most of them but struggled to do three or four because my hip wouldn’t go past a certain point without pain or catching.

I was in awe and yelled for Lydia to come and watch. Praise God! Even if it gets a little tight again, I know healing is close at hand! I woke up the next day still able to do the exercises, though I still need to practice.

Then, yesterday, I had a follow-up appointment with a certain Veteran. We previously connected over being authors. God used the act of writing to help me lead this patient to make changes.

We talked on the phone this time, and immediately, he wanted to discuss my book. He had read the entire thing and marked a few pages that he had questions about. He really wanted to talk about healing.

He asked about page 107 and asked me to verify what I wrote: that spiritual health is more important than physical healing. He was fascinated by this and mentioned that we often pray for temporary physical results but run the risk of overlooking eternal spiritual matters.

We briefly discussed how Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, but eventually, even he had to die again. I also quoted 3 John 1:2, which hit home for him.

God is always faithful and willing to heal, one way or another. At the same time, He is gracious in teaching us about His power, love, and provision along the way. He can use pain or wellness to our benefit, though our wounds may accomplish more as we draw close to Him.

We did manage to discuss nutrition, of course, but it was so cool to see how my story was helping this man think about God’s healing in new ways!

**********

Father God, thanks for all the ways you heal us and make us whole. Help us seek You more than what You can do for us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: What is God teaching you this week? How is He healing you or changing your perspective?

Task: Bring all your aches, wounds, grief, and expectations to Jesus. Praise Him through the pain. He will never let you down. Nothing is impossible for God!!

Posted on in Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance, Personality, Prayer

Focused, Not Frazzled

Well, we are a couple of weeks into Lydia’s school year! She’s starting well and seems to be enjoying it. She has been tackling homework, and I am helping her stay on track and set some boundaries with her time. There are natural consequences if she “forgets” to complete an assignment, and we are both learning as we go!

Sometime last year, I felt God prompt me to stay available for Lydia. It’s just the two of us at home, and I am her main support. So, I have needed to say ‘no’ to many requests for my time to have flexibility. I won’t say I have cleared my schedule completely, but by and large, that’s exactly what I’ve done!

When Lydia was younger, I was much more active with friends, church, and moms groups. She was well-behaved, and I could trust her to attend events with me. As a single mom, I didn’t have many other options! I quickly learned that if I wanted to be involved in something, it had to work for Lydia, too. Often, that meant hosting events at our house so she could go to bed at a reasonable hour.

I volunteered last fall at church for a Wednesday night class. It worked well since Lydia was there at youth group. I loved meeting some new friends! But the class has changed to a different evening, and I chose not to be involved so I can be home in the evenings. Perhaps it will work out in the future, but I am confident I made the right choice for now. 

Time is flying, and I know I won’t always have this opportunity with Lydia. I am grateful for God leading me to step back a little. Anyone can serve in their free time, but only I can be Lydia’s mom!

Free Leaf Hand photo and picture

All of this has been good for me, too! I have enjoyed a slower pace, which is probably my natural preference. Slow and steady wins the race… 🙂 I have loved having time to pray and listen to God because my mind is focused, not frazzled. I am also enjoying getting up early to exercise before work. As a result, I have more energy, less pain, and a better attitude. All because I said yes to God and no to other things.

That doesn’t mean I am doing nothing with or for other people. I talk with people all day at work, serving them to the best of my ability. If anything, because I am well-rested, I am more present and patient with my patients!

Outside of work, I sometimes meet with people God Himself puts in my path – often on a last-minute basis. I will encourage another single mom when she calls. I may write a note to a friend in need. I can go meet the new neighbors because I am not rushing out the door.

I know this season won’t last forever, so I will trust God and His timing. We are still plenty ‘busy’ with mowing, house chores, work, school, etc., but I appreciate having less stress and more peace. All advantages of listening to God and doing what He says!

His thoughts are higher, and His ways are greater. He knows exactly what we need!

**********

Lord, thanks for helping me find peace in this season. Give me the strength and wisdom to say ‘yes’ and ‘no’ to the right things. May I have a humble heart and be quick to obey. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: What do you perceive God is prompting you to do? If it is the same old message, try obedience.  If you are having trouble hearing Him, start with the last thing you know for sure! After you’ve tackled that, He will probably say something new!

Task: Take a little time out this week to listen to God. Pause and seek solitude. Turn off social media and any other distractions. Check in with Him and see if you need to make any changes.

Posted on in Food and Nutrition, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Personality, Pivot, Prayer, Wisdom, Worship

Our Daily Bread

I don’t know about you, but I have already gone to the store twice this week for groceries! The first time, I forgot bread, so I had to go back for it. I also picked up a few other things since I was there and all.

The bread reminded me of the verse in Matthew 4:4, in which Jesus said, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” In context, He is quoting from Deuteronomy 8:3, referencing the manna that God sent to feed the millions of Israelites after they were led out of bondage in Egypt.

Jesus is talking to Satan after a forty-day fast in the wilderness. Satan is tempting Jesus with grandiose (yet empty) promises if only He would bow down and worship him. And yes, the Bible does specify that Jesus was hun-gry!

Jesus often used common everyday items to point to profound truths. Interestingly, in John 6, Jesus multiplies five loaves to feed 5,000+ people, and soon after He calls Himself the Bread of Life. He is all we really need!

Free Bread Loaf photo and picture

Anyway, I have been thinking about bread this week and how God often shows me grace and provision before I even realize I need it!

Lydia goes back to school today, and this week, I’ve had several other random tasks on top of normal priorities. Each night, I have at least two obligations—last night, it was three!

For example, I left work an hour and a half early yesterday (Tuesday) to write this post before going to Lydia’s school to meet the teachers. Then, we needed to eat dinner, before I edited my blog and attended an online workshop—all that before trying to go to bed early!

But, it all turned out well because God made sure I didn’t have a late patient scheduled. In His wisdom, He knew I would be crunched for time before I did. So, He made me aware of the opportunity to leave, let my manager agree, and helped me finish some charting that was due all in the nick of time.

God also reordered my steps a few times as the night progressed. By His grace, I accomplished everything that needed my attention and time. As in the Lord’s Prayer, He really does give me my daily bread!

Free Loaf Bread photo and picture

One “God factor” that has helped me is that our church added an earlier Sunday service, which matches my Monday through Friday start time at work! Thus, I’ve decided to stay on the same basic schedule by going to bed at the same time every night and getting up at the same time each day. There are days it still feels like I’m running around, but it feels good to be consistent.

Thank God for His grace because I have had the goal to wake up early (trying on and off) for well over a decade. Sometimes, it’s a struggle, and I am tempted to roll over and go back to sleep. The difference now is that I have wanted to get up early, and generally, I haven’t felt like it is a chore.

I enjoy spending time with God in the quiet mornings, and putting Him first is always a good idea. But when I am short on sleep, it is hard to focus. This time, I don’t feel I am just relying on my own feeble effort. History shows that doesn’t work well!

I may need to adjust my sleeping pattern a bit, but I’m currently doing some gentle movement and stretching while I connect with Jesus. It’s been a great start to my day!

All in all, I am grateful for God’s help in pivoting and persevering. He always knows exactly what I need!

**********

God, thanks for feeding us with Your Word, and for giving us Jesus, the Bread of Life and Your Word made flesh. Help me keep my priorities in the proper order—You first and foremost, while trusting You for bread and everything else. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: What is your favorite kind of bread? Where else do you see the significance of bread in the Bible? (Among other things, Jesus also uses it to signify His body in Communion!)

Tasks: Let God direct your path today. If you need a little daily encouragement, check out “Our Daily Bread” online or in print. You can learn more about these short, encouraging devotions here.

Posted on in Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Personality, Pivot, Wisdom, Words, Worship

Four Kinds of Sight

My friend and coworker – the other Natalie! – posted a link online yesterday encouraging people to watch and listen. It was a recent homily from Father Mike Schmitz, a priest in Duluth. I am not Catholic, but I can learn from anyone. And, I appreciate hearing about different branches of Christianity. We can always come back to the commonalities we have in Jesus!

We have many deep and spiritual conversations in our downtime, so I gave it a go! I am glad I did. Father Mike referenced the Israelites complaining out in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt. We sometimes think they were fools, but we are much the same.

Father Mike talked about four different kinds of spiritual sight or vision. This has less to do with our actual eyes and more with our attitude or heart. I will only capture the main points here, with a few of my own thoughts, but I strongly encourage you to listen. It’s really good!

To start, Father Mike mentioned that we become short-sighted when we can only see what’s right in front of us. That might include focusing on our circumstances, such as grief, problems, or lack. In these moments, we refuse to admit there is more beyond what we see right now. We grow impatient, place blame, and want to give up or return to our comfort zone. Egyptian slavery wasn’t all that great either, but at least the Israelites knew what to expect!

Free Sinai Desert photo and picture

He then talked about having foresight when we want to know the future. It is fine to look forward knowing the best is yet to come. The problem is that we fail to appreciate and trust all God has done. We just want answers… and to skip ahead of the pain! Instead of worrying, we can rest and lean on Jesus. He is faithful and good.

His third example is relying on hindsight. This occurs when we look backward. Instead of reflecting and learning to move forward, we stay stuck in the past. If we only trust in what we can see or know, that’s not really trust or hope. We have to learn and let go to keep growing.

Finally, Father Mike said the only real option is using insight. Insight happens when we slow down to gain Jesus’ perspective and see what He is doing. We acknowledge the trials and accept His presence. We understand God has led us where we are, and He has not abandoned us. It might be dark or crazy, but He will help us get through it. We can wait for Him to move on our behalf. 

There’s so much more I didn’t jot down here, but I hope you are blessed as much as I was. After listening, I thanked Natalie for sharing the link, and we chatted about which of these ‘four sights’ we most relate to right now. I appreciate having friends and coworkers who know Jesus because we can pray for and encourage one another. God is so good!

**********

God, thanks for being with us in every stage of life. Thanks for leading us and giving us vision. Help us see You clearly and follow You wholeheartedly. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: What type of sight do you relate to most right now?

Task: Listen to the homily linked above. It is about twenty minutes long. I’d love to know your thoughts after!

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

Signs and Signals

I love to shop online, as it is often faster and easier. The items come right to my door! However, I also want to promote local businesses when I can. It is fun to see products in person and pick out the best option. Then, I can decide in the moment if it’s right for me.

Recently, I went to a few stores looking for specific things. I have to admit, I was a little annoyed when I showed up and saw they had summer hours. I have no problem with changing their hours if it is less busy during this season. The issue was that I didn’t know until I showed up! Often, the stores are out of my way, and so it felt like I wasted my time.

I parked, got out of my car, and then walked up to the entrances four separate times (one store twice on different days). That’s when I saw the sign that the stores were closed. I was irked because I looked up their hours online, but they were incorrect.

One of the stores posted that its hours had changed due to a family illness. I understand that, but I hope they can update their website soon and/or find someone to help cover while they heal. Another store has such random hours that it will take me a week to get back there since I work during the day. I took a picture of their sign and could possibly order from them online. But, the shipping costs are more than I want to pay when I could just pick it up.

Free Phone Confused photo and picture

Unfortunately, the signs on the doors did not reflect what I expected when I looked online. This happened all last week, so I started to notice the pattern. It was rather frustrating, though not the worst thing in the world.

I also thought of the signs and signals we portray to others. If we ignore people, they may not want to confide in us. If we grumble and complain, we may not portray our gratitude or the hope we have in Jesus. If we swear and yell at people, we may not reflect the grace God has given us.

Then again, people often make assumptions about each other anyway. We tend to judge and misjudge clothing, cars, lawns, and more! Someone who smiles often could be seen as joyful or like they have no problems! Someone who is quiet could come across as rude, socially awkward, or just shy. That’s why it’s good to try to understand and learn more about one another.

Clearly, we cannot live our lives to please every person we meet. That’s impossible and unnecessary. But, we can consider culture, circumstances, upbringing, personality, and other factors.

Overall, we need to do the best we can to please Jesus. However, it might be worth considering what signs and signals we are giving off. Perceptions are a two-way street! A negative vibe could turn away the very people God wants us to reach. While we can’t be true friends with everyone, we can be friendly and cheerful to anyone we see.

While it is not our job to save everyone, it is wise to connect with as many people as possible so they can meet Jesus, who does the saving! Ultimately, we can listen to the Holy Spirit’s signals and not worry about the rest!

**********

God, thanks for creating each of us uniquely. Help us grow in knowledge and understanding of those around us. Give us grace for one another. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Have you ever been misjudged? Was it all on the other person, or was there something in your control, too? Is there any situation you misread and need to reconsider? Is there someone to whom you could extend grace?

Tasks: Pray about your next steps this week. Consider how you can be more open with others and show them God’s grace, too! Forgive those who have misinterpreted your signals, as well!

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

Book Review: The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry

I hope you had a great holiday weekend! I am thankful for the brave men and women who gave their lives so we could celebrate or have the freedom to spend our time as we wish, more or less. Their sacrifices and those of their families are not forgotten.

We had a fairly relaxing weekend and prepared for a few upcoming plans. It is good to be able to rest and take breaks by ourselves and with friends and family. Life is too short not to have fun sometimes!

Recently, I have been reading a good book called The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer. It talks about how fast we go through life and all we risk missing. Essentially, we must stay in-step with Jesus’ perfect pace (which we often perceive as S-L-O-O-O-O-W).

Free Bike Blur photo and picture

Each of us has unique limitations, and most of us want to push past them! According to Comer, our limitations include our physical bodies, minds/thoughts, giftings, personalities and emotional wiring, families of origin, socioeconomic factors, education and careers, seasons of life and responsibilities, and God’s call on our lives. Some of these are great strengths, actually, but they still carry weight in how we live and the choices we make.

Sometimes, it is okay to rush, like in an emergency. But most of the time, being frantic leaves us frazzled. At the minimum, our body’s stress response takes a while to return to baseline, and over time, this leads to chronic inflammation and illnesses.

Over the years, and even more lately, I have had to step back from busyness. I am working on accepting (and understanding) my limitations as a widow and single mom. I am so grateful for the ways Jesus has covered me since I cannot be several places at once. I am becoming more choosy about my yeses. God knows all my strengths and limitations; He is using them to shape me and make me more like Jesus.

Loving well takes time. Joy involves staying in the moment. Peace requires wisdom and intention. Patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self control… All of these require a slower pace. We cannot bear the fruits of the Spirit if we are rushing off to the next thing.

Free Pocket Watch Time photo and picture

I highly recommend Comer’s book, which is food for thought and actionable. He reminds us of the Sabbath and the importance of rest. He encourages us to embrace simplicity and enjoy silence and solitude regularly. Comer suggests using airplane mode on your cell phone and having boundaries for using it. He says to intentionally put ourselves in the long line at the grocery store to build patience and make ourselves uncomfortable. These are just a few ideas; even if you do half of what he says, it will be good.

These ideas do not promote checking out of society but freeing yourself up to follow Jesus more closely. By taking time with Him, listening, and obeying, we will be working in His strength and have a greater impact than when we are doing it with our own effort, running on fumes.

Isn’t that what we want? To stay close to Jesus and influence others for Him. Instead, we are racing to keep up with the world and shortchanging ourselves in the process. Yikes!

**********

God, thanks for calling us to a slower pace with You. Help us eliminate any distractions so we can fulfill our true calling—to experience Your goodness and bring others to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: Do you find yourself stressed and striving each day, or are you calm and clear on what you need to accomplish in God’s timing and strength?

Tasks: Read and meditate (mull over) Matthew 11:28-30. Think about any changes you might need to make so you can experience God’s rest.

Posted on in Being Gracious, Fruit, Gratitude, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perfectionism, Perseverance, Personality, Pivot, Wisdom

A Secret Weapon

The last couple of weeks have been a bit…maddening. I’ve lost my temper once or twice and been a little grouchy. Some of it could be subconsciously being aware that the eleventh anniversary of Dave’s death is next week. But really, things have just built up.

At home, unexpected issues have popped up, including trouble replacing my screens after getting egged and picking up a ton of dog poop from my yard (though I don’t have a dog). Then, the fence at the edge of my property fell again (after a two-year fight to get it put back up). It’s just been a lot lately.

I’ve been tempted to have a little pity party, thinking things would be easier if Dave were still here. While that may be true, I know life is full of problems, so even then, something else would likely happen unexpectedly! I can be grateful my problems are not worse, and I know many people are facing greater trials.

Work has been busy as usual, too. Good, just not much downtime to think straight. LOL Thus, my patience has been a little short, but I have been trying to bring all these things to Jesus. I talked with my mom yesterday, and she reminded me that His joy is my strength!

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NIV

I recently heard Jesus was the most joyful person who has ever lived. In His presence is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11)! But He also had a very difficult life. He was born to suffer and die at my expense (and yours!). If Jesus can have abundant joy despite His circumstances, so can I.

Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, which means He wants to grow that in me. The seed has been planted, I just need to cultivate it. This goes for love, peace, patience, etc.

Fruit is meant to be shared with others, to refresh and encourage them, similar to grace. As my mom pointed out, God wants people to see Him in us, so how we display the fruits of the Spirit matters. This is a good reminder to keep looking for ways to serve others and take the focus off myself.

Here are some questions to consider: Do I show joy or grouchiness on my face? Do I bring love and peace to a situation or chaos? Am I loving, kind, and patient even when I don’t get my way? Do I call out the good in others? Do I speak gentle words or bring wrath? Am I faithful even when it costs me? Do I show self-control when life flings out of control?

While I don’t expect my house issues to suddenly disappear, I know they will all work out in time. And I can choose to enjoy life in the meantime. I can find fun and creative things to do, or at least look for ways to bring joy into small moments of my day. Joy is my secret weapon as I stay close to Jesus, for therein lies my strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

When things feel out of control, I will take them to the One who controls the Universe and cares for me infinitely (1 Peter 5:7).

**********

God, thanks for the fruits of Your Holy Spirit. Specifically, help me cultivate more peace, joy, and patience as I work through these challenges. Thanks for all You do for me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Out of the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit, which ones do you need to cultivate the most right now?  (Galatians 5:22-23)

Task: Next time you feel bent out of shape, consider why. Do whatever it takes to protect your peace and joy. Remember, people are looking for Jesus in you!