Tag: prayer

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

Stubborn

I recently had similar conversations with two people about stubbornness as a character trait. Of course, we talked mostly in generalities, not identifying ourselves as stubborn! 😉

We all agreed that stubbornness can be a positive or negative trait, depending on the context. One form of stubbornness comes with perseverance in trials, where one simply pushes ahead and refuses to give up. This may include certain military leaders, parents fighting for their children, or someone seeking justice. (Stubbornness does not mean staying put in an abusive situation. Do what you can to leave and get help!)

That said, sometimes, stubbornness is a refusal to compromise or work with others. In that sense, stubbornness can hold one back. The Bible refers to stubbornness as rebellion. The Israelites rejected God and were referred to as a stiff-necked people! Yikes.

Naturally, someone can be stubborn and experience both situations at different times. In fact, many character traits can be strengths or weaknesses depending on circumstances. For instance, confidence taken to an extreme can become arrogance!

After those two conversations, I kept thinking about stubbornness. How do you tell if stubbornness propels you forward or holds you back?

The first thing that comes to mind is… your heart. Are you seeking the benefit of others? Are you standing on strong principles? Are you willing to compromise if certain conditions are met? Or, is your heart hardened by fear or pride? Are you stalling for personal gain?

I’m sure there are some other factors to consider, but for the sake of brevity, I encourage you to start with those questions above. If you are dragging your feet, maybe consider why and work through it with Jesus.

Jesus made you for a purpose. Whether or not you are stubborn, He already knows. I guarantee He has good plans for you. He can use all of your personality traits for His glory and your good! Don’t let resistance or quirks keep you from Jesus!

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God, thanks for making each of us unique. Help us understand our strengths and weaknesses so we may bless others and bring you glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you consider yourself to be stubborn? Why or why not? How is this a positive, and when does it become a negative?

Tasks: God gives each of us time to get to know Him, but He will not wait forever. If you have not chosen to submit your life and heart to Jesus, now is the perfect opportunity. Don’t wait!

Posted on in Being Gracious, Gratitude, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous

Egging Me On

If you make lemonade when life gives you lemons, what do you do when life gives you eggs? Make an omelet? Write a blog post perhaps?

Yesterday, we woke up and realized our house had been egged overnight! One egg made it through the window screen, breaking it, and the other landed short. Blech.

I think it was just a random prank. Either way, I told Lydia to ignore it so it did not draw any extra attention among her fellow students. That age group is already tough, and I didn’t want give them any ideas!

Unfortunately, I had to leave the yucky mess so I wasn’t late for work, which meant it was baked in the bright sun by the time I returned home.
Free Egg Cracked photo and picture
But thankfully, within minutes of posting on social media, three neighbors offered to help out. One offered to supply a patch for my busted screen, one reviewed his outside camera, and one offered to pressure wash the area for me.
After work, I cleared out the egg yolks and eggshells inside the window. Then, a fourth neighbor and his son actually came over to help. They brought a ladder and used my hose, along with some scrubbing, to clean what they could of the outside portion of the window and siding. He understood what to do because his house was egged about a year ago. Thanks, Lord, for good neighbors who look out for me!
I should probably replace the screen because, even with a patch, it’s pretty beat up. It still smells eggy, too, so maybe I’ll borrow the power washer afterall! But, I am grateful that the damage wasn’t too bad overall. In terms of pranks, we fared pretty well. And, I am pleased that no one messed with my little free library, which has easy access in my front yard. It could have been much worse.
As I thought about my neighbors’ kindness, I was reminded of the Bible verse in Hebrews 10:24, which says, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds…”
My paraphrase could read: Let’s egg each other on to keep loving, encouraging, and serving…. 🙂
Now, I would not recommend defiling someone’s house, but maybe you could bring them dinner or offer to watch their kids when they are in a pinch. You could invite someone over for coffee and eggs brunch or help with yardwork when they are sick.
It doesn’t take much to make a difference—a smile, gift card, hug, or prayer go a long way. Bonus points if you do something practical. Yesterday, it was reviewing a camera reel and offering a screen patch, pressure washer, and a ladder. Whatever you have to offer is enough.
In fact, I have found that doing something is usually better than doing nothing! Even doing something “late” is better than skipping it altogether.
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God, thanks for all You do for me. Thanks for your protection and provision. Help me a good neighbor, having the wisdom to know what to do and the courage to do it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
Questions: Have you ever been pranked?! How can you bless someone else today?
Tasks: Next time you see or hear of a need, offer to help. Even if you don’t know what to do, show up and be willing to serve. It may be in your wheelhouse or outside your comfort zone. Don’t worry about it; just do your best. I guarantee it will mean so much.

 

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

Ducks In A Row

Spring means a lot of birds are arriving daily! I have noticed songbirds, geese, and ducks lately. Did you know there are over fifty types of ducks worldwide, including geese and swans? (This site reports 165, to be exact.)

Apparently, there are thirty-three different duck species in the United States. Some are friendly and some are territorial. As a side note, loons are not ducks. Now you know!

Not too long ago, I saw a picture of a duck with seventy-six ducklings following her! This article describes it as a ducky daycare of sorts. That makes me smile just thinking about it!

Just like God cares for the sparrows, he absolutely cares for the ducks, too!

Free Ducks Ducklings photo and picture

When life gets busy, we may say, “I need to get my ducks in row.” This expression suggests that we need to get organized or ensure all the details line up just so. It can be difficult because no one can keep all their ducks in a row for long! The ducks (or tasks) are constantly changing, even if they all cooperate and things go smoothly.

I definitely feel that way sometimes, and I am sure you do, too. I try to bend several ways to accomplish much more than I probably should. Lord help me!

I am listening to John Mark Comer’s book The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. He writes how hurry and busyness lead to distraction and burnout. We tend to run, run, run, and leave little room for margin.

As Christians, this puts us in a dangerous position because if we are so busy all the time, we don’t take time to check in with God. Doing something FOR God is different than doing it WITH God.

King Saul learned that the difficult way in 1 Samuel 13. His soldiers were afraid and leaving the battle, and Saul got tired of waiting for God’s prophet to come. He took matters into his own hands, and because of his impatience and disobedience, Saul eventually lost everything.

Free Duck Ornithology photo and picture

God’s pace is SLOW compared to the world’s pace. We can only survive spiritually if we roll back the busyness and walk with God at the pace He sets. Not several steps ahead without checking in to see if we are actually supposed to go in that direction.

The author mentioned that God is love, and perfect love takes time. So do joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. For example, we need to slow down to love people well, enjoy the present moment, and have peace of mind. Helping people or listening to them takes intention. When we are faced with temptation, we are at risk if we jump right in before weighing options.

Slowing down likely means having fewer ducks overall (tasks on my to-do list). I won’t shirk my responsibilities or give away my little duckies, but when it’s time for them to fledge (our time together is complete), I don’t have to get more ducks ‘just because.’ I trust God to help me know what I can handle and what that looks like.

After all, God cares for the ducks, and He cares for me, too. All the world’s ducks are His. And all circumstances and the tasks in my little world are under His guidance, too. Or, at least, they are if I ask for His help and go at His pace!

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God, thanks for the gift of ducks! Thanks for the new life they represent and the joy they bring. Help me submit my daily schedule to you. Give me just the right amount of tasks and help me stay focused on You. I want to walk with You, In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: How many “ducks” are you in charge of right now? Is it too much or just enough? Are you trusting God?

Tasks: Let’s honor God by checking in with Him regarding our schedule. We can trust Him to give us just the right amount of ducks. Keep in mind chaos and overwhelm are NOT from Him… don’t beat yourself up if your ducks are running wild. Just bring them to Jesus and let Him help you!

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

Living Redeemed

Spring is in the air, and I sense God doing something new! In some ways, I feel like this season has already been drawn out since we had hardly any winter snow. But, I also feel a little behind the game because it is easy to coast along when I am busy with other things. Sometimes, it is nice to have some urgency, and at different times, it is good just to relax. Either way, I am excited to see what God is doing.

On Easter Sunday, Psalm 103:1-5 was shared, and the sermon was about what it means to be redeemed. Essentially, redemption means that a ransom was paid (Jesus’ blood) so we can live freely with new purpose. Living under God’s grace has many benefits, as you can read below:

1 Praise the Lord, my soul;
    all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the Lord, my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins
    and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit
    and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Free River Stream photo and picture

Below are a few of my notes. I certainly have some thinking to do, but this is a good place to start. I hope you find these points useful and can personalize them for your circumstances! 

As God’s children, we are redeemed from sin, death, and fear. We are given new life and have the freedom to walk it out in faith and Victory. Collectively, we are redeemed to participate in God’s Kingdom and do good works, which He has prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).

But what good works did Jesus redeem me for specifically? They will be unique to me. I have a special purpose and hidden potential. My life belongs to Jesus, and what I do matters, but it will likely look different from everyone else.

What are the consequences of not living my full purpose? What will I miss out on? Who is depending on me to be faithful? Whatever the answer, it affects me, my family, my community, and the Church in general. If I don’t do my part, everything suffers. Jesus already did the main work, but He still has a plan for me to complete. Get going!

Sooo… What am I waiting for? What is holding me back? This could be apathy, rebellion, fear, etc., depending on the situation! It’s definitely worth thinking through and dealing with the root causes. Otherwise, I’ll never get started.

Each of us will have different answers to the questions I listed above. But, it is worth praying about what God wants you to know and do. There is great blessing joy, and peace when we are on His path for us. That doesn’t mean we won’t have a struggle, though!

Living redeemed takes courage, but what an adventure it is! Do your best and focus on progress, not perfection. Remember, we live under God’s abundant grace! He is committed and more than able to complete the good work he started in you (Philippians 1:6).

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Heavenly Father, thanks for redemption, new life, and grace. You are good, and so are your plans for me! Help me understand Your work in my life and how You have equipped me for it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: What do you think God has redeemed you for specifically? Do you anticipate any changes, or are you already where you need to be?

Task: When praying for specific next steps, consider your personality, talents, passion areas, and life experiences. All of these can help determine if you are on the right path.

Posted on in Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #421

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 Robin Red-Breasted photo and picture

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

This Holy Week was good. I did a daily Bible devotion on YouVersion about Jesus’ las week, and it was good to keep that at the forefront of my mind.

On Sunday, I met with a dear church friend for coffee. She has been growing in her faith but is working through some tough issues. I am so proud that she mentioned her questions to me, and we were able to discuss them. She was dealing with fear, and I encouraged her and challenged her to not give up. As long as we keep moving forward toward Him, we will have Victory!

Work was surprisingly slow! I had a lot of patients, but a few canceled or no-showed, and some rescheduled or just didn’t want to talk long. I was able to stay on top of my charting and am fully caught up! I was able to do a few projects and even cleaned my desk!

Otherwise, it was a quiet week. I have enjoyed the calm, and often, during these peaceful moments, I can hear from God best. Of course, He has given me a few new things to think about and pray through. 🙂

Today, I saw my first robin of spring! I had just woken up, and the bird was singing on my deck. I was delighted and am sure there will be many more in the coming days!

Finally, three people mentioned my book to me. One asked how to get a copy for a friend, and two gave positive feedback. I love that my works are encouraging others! It’s been awhile since I shared the link, but here is how you can get one (or three!).

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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 Food and Nutrition, Fruit, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Words

A “Walk-By Fruiting”

Recently, I had a really funny patient who wanted to make some nutrition changes. He loves cooking and preparing meals for his family, which is good because he said his wife only knows how to order pizza for her turn in the kitchen!

This Veteran made me laugh and certainly had unique ways of saying things. For instance, he said that butter means love in his family. So, when someone makes potatoes or toast (or whatever!), they “add a little love.” He had been “adding a lot of love” based on his lab work! Yet, he had already made a break with butter by the time we met. He was still using some but had reduced it.

He also “had a feeling” for Baby Ruth candy bars since he associates them with comfort and good memories of his youth. Regarding my recommendations, the Veteran was willing to get rid of something else, if needed, and leave those alone. I was 100% okay with that since he is not eating too many.

Finally, he used the phrase “walk-by fruiting” to describe the little basket of fresh fruit in their walkway between the kitchen and living room. If he is hungry, he can grab a piece of fruit as he walks by! It makes total sense, right?!

March is National Nutrition Month, and of course, fruit is food! But, fruit is also used to describe evidence of growing closer to God and becoming like Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Words matter, and I have been thinking of walk-by fruitings ever since!

Whenever I read my Bible or hear a verse from Scripture, I will think… walk-by fruiting! It’s catchy and encouraging! Whenever I reconnect with God during my day to find new strength… yes, that’s a walk-by fruiting!

I am also reminded that one of my friends had a funny word for extra food after a meal. Many of us call them leftovers, but he called them “remainders” like he learned when doing long division in math class. Spot on, really!

That is not too much of a stretch here. Jesus calls us to remain in Him; in doing so, we will bear much fruit. Just by staying connected, we can’t help but grow. Conversely, if we cut ourselves off, our faith will wither and die. It’s not really about doing more but resting in God’s love. Jesus has already done the most difficult work on the Cross.

Remaining in Jesus is a matter of the heart as we let Him position us where He wants us. So, let’s remain close to Jesus because we have Life and Victory in Him!

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Father, thanks for showing us new things daily through the people we meet. Open our eyes and hearts so we can learn and grow. Help us stay close to you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: Does your family have any cute sayings that have carried through the years?

Task: As you connect with God throughout your day, think about the growth that will occur over time. It takes diligence and intention, but I hope you are encouraged and keep coming back for walk-by fruitings!

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

Cornerstone

Lately, I have noticed a subtle shift in my house. It is a good and natural thing, but it has surprised me. I recognized it this week, which helped deal with it. At least for now!

Basically, I have been a little short with Lydia, and it bothered me. She’s a great kid and doesn’t deserve that. I couldn’t figure out the issues until I prayed about it on the way to work Monday.

I think my feelings of frustration were related to a few factors. First, Lydia is growing more independent. So, she wants to have some say in what we do. I also want this for her, but to do that, I need to let go and let her. And that’s complicated sometimes. 🙂

Part of this is related to “puberty brain.” Normally, Lydia is obedient and reliable. But now, she “forgets” to complete tasks or wants to negotiate. That’s fine sometimes, but I put my foot down this past weekend and reset some boundaries. I know this is just the beginning, and communication will morph over the next few years. Again, this is all normal!

Another factor is that I have been the only adult at home for over a decade, which is a lot of responsibility. And, I have expectations about my house and space! Over time, I have taught Lydia to do various household tasks, but if she doesn’t follow through or moves like a sloth, I either have to do it or reinforce it… again. Both take more time and dilegence.

Free Medieval Castle Detail photo and picture

On Monday, I was also nervous about the timing of things at work. I had two complex patients coming on top of my regular patient load. They were expected to come back to back and had a lot of similarities which I needed to keep straight. I lost a little sleep about this, and so I was just a little grumpy with all that on my mind. 😉

Then, before work, I had to remind Lydia to move her shoes after I tripped on them. She knows not to leave them in the middle of the floor. I yelled out of exasperation and had to apologize. It all worked out, but on my way to work, I prayed and asked God to help me readjust… and as soon as I did, He did a little heart work!

On the radio, I heard a few songs, like Tasha Layton’s “Look What You’ve Done.” There’s a line about God tearing all the roots up from our hearts, getting rid of lies and replacing them with His Truth. I envisioned God taking my fears and grumpiness as I soaked up His love for me.

Then, I heard the song, “Cornerstone” by TobyMac. It was a great reminder of what really matters: Jesus. My identity is found in Christ alone, not in if the dishes get done (or if Lydia remembers them or not).

Jesus is my cornerstone, the perfect foundation. My security is found in Him. He is my hope, my joy, my peace. Jesus encompasses all I am, and His expectation is that I walk with Him. His mercy and grace cover all I do. No more, no less.

As Psalm 73:26 says, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Life can quickly change, and no two days are alike. If we let our circumstances or emotions run the show, we’ll keep spiraling out of control. One minute, we are “happy” when things go our way, and the next, we are losing our temper over towels left in the dryer. Ahem.

We can’t always predict how things will go, but we can run to God, who is our Rock. He is strong and steady, a sure place to land. He is the only thing that matters in the end.

I know the Lord will keep working in my heart and household. I have invited Him in and give Him full reign (sometimes hour by hour!). I am excited to see what Jesus does in me and who Lydia becomes in Him.

So today, instead of getting bent out of shape, I will let God shape me. He is the beginning and the end and knows all things. His plans for me are good and trustworthy! He can use any challenge for His purposes. Nothing is impossible for Him!

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God, thanks for being my foundation, my cornerstone. Thanks for the reminder that I am not in control and don’t need to be! Help me trust You more and let You direct my path. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Questions: Are you relying on God to steady you this week? How has He come through for you lately?

Task: Let God strip away everything that is not of Him. It is painful at times, but worth it! Check out this final song I heard on the radio, which helped tie everything together, “One Thing Remains” by Passion ft Kristian Stanfill.

Posted on in Being Gracious, Food and Nutrition, Gratitude, Kindness, Miscellaneous, Personality, Procrastination

A Tale of Two Patients

In my nearly eighteen years as a nutrition professional, I have seen a wide variety of patients. As you can imagine, some are eager to change, but many are hesitant or even ambivalent. Change is difficult for most of us. And that’s okay!

Lately, I have been thinking about how some of my patients react and how it relates to life in general. For convenience, let’s take two patients I have had this week. Let’s call them Jim and John. Both men were friendly and older.

Jim is now blind and lives with his daughter’s family. He is recovering from an injury and has people stopping in to see him throughout the day. When I met with him, Jim was eager to talk but also eager to listen. We covered a lot of topics, which included all I needed to ask and explain nutritionally. But I also got to ask him about his blindness and how he handles it. It was awesome to learn about the different resources he uses. Jim was so thoughtful, and I hope I get to see him again someday.

Free Vegetables Colorful photo and picture

John, well… I think he lives alone. But I couldn’t get all the information I needed because he wouldn’t let me talk! In those cases, I try to write down as many details as I can while they go on and on. Then, I try to graciously interject from time to time so I can do my job. While they don’t have to follow my advice, I feel it is important to cover at least a few basics.

John probably could use more input. I didn’t really feel I accomplished anything of value because I kept having to dispel nutrition myths. For example, he wants to take a couple of vitamin pills, but I usually recommend eating foods with those nutrients first. I also recommended getting some labs for a baseline to see if he is actually deficient or not. Otherwise, he could just purchase a lot of expensive pills without much benefit. At best, he will just pay for expensive urine. At worst, he could have a toxic reaction!

I gave both patients my phone number in case they need to reach out. Honestly, I don’t know if John will figure out how much he doesn’t know… We never got to talk about the necessities because he was off track. While it is alright to just talk about what’s important to him for a while, it wasn’t very productive! However, I hope he feels he got what he needs to make good choices for his health. I did my best!

Of course, I can perceive some spiritual parallels here. How am I like Jim, and how am I like John? Being like Jim means I am open to hearing from the Lord. I ask questions and listen. It is good to flow back and forth with Jesus!

When I am more like John… well, I don’t really want to think about that! 😀 In these instances, I think I know best. I ask questions but don’t really want to wait for answers. I have my own agenda. I may try to talk myself (or God) into seeing things how I want them to be. Not as they really are.

When we are like Jim, change is not far away as long as we don’t give up. Yet, when we are more like John, growth is not really an option. If we act like know-it-alls, we’ll just keep spinning our wheels and miss out on the details that can make a difference. Oh, Lord!

Whew. I don’t know about you, but this is humbling to think about. I have had so many other patients who are various combinations of Jim and John. And just like I try to extend grace to all of my patients, regardless of how they act, I am grateful God does that for us, too.

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Dear God, thanks for your infinite grace and love. Help us listen more than we blab. May we humbly grow in our knowledge of You and use that to help others know You, too. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Which patient are you more like, Jim or John? Or, are you a combination?!

Tasks: Reflect on your answer to the question above. Don’t worry either way, just try to tune in to the Lord. He is not surprised and can make you who you are meant to be! If you let Him and are willing to learn!

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

Praise Him Anywhere

On my way to work yesterday, I heard the song “Praise You Anywhere“ by Brandon Lake. It’s a good song, but I hadn’t paid much attention to it until yesterday. I sat in my car for a few minutes, thinking about various places I could praise God.

I like to sing in the shower, in the car, and while cooking. I’m sure there are other places I worship God, but I haven’t thought much about it lately. Sometimes, I like to just be quiet and feel His presence.

That said, I don’t have to sing in order to praise God! I often thank God for various things, either out loud or in my heart. I might praise Him for the weather, or a kindness I perceived. I may thank Him for light traffic or meeting someone else’s needs. I pray blessings of over people I love dearly and complete strangers I see as I go about my day.

I love that praise can be a part of prayer, which is just talking to God. I like to check in and pray at meal times, when I wake up and go to bed.

Currently, I am thanking God for sending us less snow than usual. I’m sure we will get plenty of it soon, but it has been helpful for my current role at work. The cold weather is important and beneficial at the same time. There is beauty to be found in every season!

With the winter we’ve had lately, my sister sent a picture of a sun dog. We see them a lot in North Dakota, but she hadn’t seen one for a while in Illinois, where she still lives. It was a praiseworthy thing to photograph!

I love what Psalm 113 says about praise. Here is part of verses 1-3:

Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, you his servants; praise the name of the Lord.

Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore.

From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.

Praising God doesn’t have to be awkward. Really, it is the most natural thing we can do. If you don’t know what to say or do, start with what you see. Tell Jesus how thankful you are for objects in your environment. Next, move through the other physical senses (hearing, touch, smell, taste, and proprioception). Make it a full-body experience!

Then, tell Him how you feel emotionally. Praise Him for His help, provision, healing, and anything else that comes to mind. If you are struggling, that’s okay. He understands. Praise Him anyway!

We were created for a relationship with our Heavenly Father. Whether you sing or talk, you don’t need fancy words! Just bring your heart!

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God, we praise You! You alone are worthy. Help us praise and worship You with our whole hearts and all of our gratitude. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Where do you like to sing or praise God? Do you find it easy or a bit awkward?

Tasks: As you go about your day, look for ways to praise God. Consider tracking your praises and see how long your list gets! For another great Brandon Lake song, check out “Gratitude.” Praise Him anywhere!

 

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

Fifteen Years

On Sunday, I celebrated fifteen years since I married Dave! It was my tenth anniversary without him here, but this anniversary felt fairly lightweight. Marrying Dave was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, and I am grateful for the time we had together.

Lydia reminds me of Dave daily; she’s a treasure like her dad. This weekend, we made a bit of forward progress… another project requiring more tools.

Fifteen years ago, Dave and I bought a closet organizer that had several pieces. We used it in our old house in Illinois but separated it into different rooms when we moved to North Dakota.


Over the last year or so, Lydia’s been requesting we remove the drawers and shelves that ended up in her room. The drawers have needed repairs on and off for ten years. I suppose fifteen years is a long time for particle board! Nonetheless, I kept putting it off.

Because of its size, it seemed like a lot of effort, mentally and physically. I knew I would have to do it all myself! But it was also emotionally tough because whenever I saw it, I could envision Dave installing it with great love and attention to detail. Oh, how he loved Lydia and wanted the best for her!

Well, thanks to our recent break from work and school, I finally felt relaxed and ready to tackle it. Lydia cleaned it out and cleared space. Then, I unscrewed it from the wall. We removed the drawers and shelves before I slowly pulled the unit down to the floor.

I’m pretty sure that the unit was just waiting to come down! Almost with a sigh of relief, it fell into two sections before hitting the floor! I could see what was happening, so I was prepared. Ironically, it saved me the effort of prying it loose! Then, the hinges on the door gave way, and the rest just came apart.

Finally, I carried it to the curb for garbage pickup on Monday. Lydia promptly moved her desk into that new space. It fits perfectly. In fact, the desk looks much better there than sticking out from the window, its previous location.



In hindsight, it was almost as if the wardrobe was just holding together until I could finally release it. It felt like an object lesson, a statement: It’s okay to hold onto the past for a little while, but it’s also good to let it go. That’s part of healing and moving forward.

I don’t know if you need to let something go… but maybe it’s time. It’s not that it means less now, but consider how you have grown past the point of needing it. Or, perhaps it is keeping you from growth.

Then again, maybe there’s nothing holding you back… But are you holding something else back? No rush. No pressure. Just something to consider. As Lysa TerKeurst says, “Emotions are indicators, not dictators.” God wants us to live a full life. But life is short, and we don’t have time to waste. 

Ultimately, we want to listen to Jesus and follow His timing in our lives. We don’t have to be afraid; He is trustworthy. He will make it clear when we need to keep moving forward!

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God, thanks for blessing me, protecting me, and providing for me. Thanks for the reminder to let go of things that aren’t good for me anymore so I can follow You more closely. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Questions: What is God asking you to do as a result of this blog post? Is there something holding you back from following Him?

Tasks: Take a little inventory of your environment, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Be brave and let go of what is not serving you well. Trust Jesus and keep moving forward!