Month: January 2026

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Life is Short, MARPE/Orthodontics, Miscellaneous, Perseverance

Finding Grace #517

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

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

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

This week was pretty ‘chill’ since I was recovering from oral surgery! Lydia had her final orthodontic appointment on Monday, and I had my first! On Tuesday, I had my palate cut and the expander placed, and then I was home the rest of the week!

I’m glad I was able to clear my schedule, other than one appointment, and dropping off Lydia at school and picking her up a few times. Mostly, I was able to take some naps, read, and study (a little) for my training course at church. My coworkers have been great to check in, and they signed a card and gave me an adorable little plant.

It’s funny how long it takes to eat, brush my teeth, and take a variety of medications (separate due to timing). I think it will get better when I am done with the antibiotics. I am taking some kefir to help restore my gut bacteria. It’s helpful to be a dietitian, lol!

Overall, I am grateful for minimal pain and the flexibility I had this week. I still have a little pain and swelling, but I am figuring out what I can eat, and many of my other symptoms are resolving. It could have been much worse. I am determined to make the best of this and praise God for the opportunity to address these issues – staying home in the bitter cold was a bonus!

Lydia had a Speech meet today and placed third in her very first extemporaneous event! I hope to see her at one of her local meets soon!

While she was gone, I did some of my usual Saturday things at home. I enjoyed making some phone calls. I am feeling better day by day, and it was good to practice speaking with the MARPE device in my mouth!

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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 Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Gratitude, Life is Short, MARPE/Orthodontics, Miscellaneous

Doing Hard Things

Starting a new adventure is never easy! But we can’t keep moving forward if we are unwilling to do hard things. You can’t have transformation without tension.

For several decades, I have been told that I “should do something about my teeth.” Just about every dentist I’ve had has said something to that effect. By and large, I have ignored them. Although three years ago, I reluctantly agreed to at least talk with an orthodontist where Lydia was receiving care. He mentioned palate expansion with oral surgery and possibly double jaw surgery after that! I said, “No way, that sounds intense!”

Well, this past August, my dentist mentioned it again. To be honest, I was pretty annoyed. Per usual, I thought, “What’s the big deal? My teeth are fine!” Yet, to ‘get him off my back,’ I returned to the orthodontist to see if they had any new tools or ideas. Nope!

This time, I asked what the actual problem was and received a fair amount of education. I knew my palate was too small, but I didn’t understand the implications until that day. Essentially, my top teeth are causing my bottom teeth to crowd into place. Imagine how you might squeeze the lid over the fourth corner of a Tupperware container.

I see patients every week with chewing problems. They might be missing some teeth, have a full set of dentures, or have a combination of both. Most of the time, the patients lament their situation to the point that I often pray about my own teeth. “God, please help me to have good, strong teeth that don’t fall out or have issues.”

So, when the orthodontist presented my options, I quickly realized that ignoring the problem would not make it go away. I’ve waited long enough. If nothing else, aging is a factor, and teeth just naturally move around over time. My bottom teeth have tilted inward around 40 degrees, which could expose the roots and invite damage or loss. My goal is not really aesthetic but prevention!

I prayed, discussed with family and friends, weighed the pros and cons, watched lots of videos, and read comments online. As it all sank in, I realized this option could be an answer to prayer. It doesn’t take any faith to do nothing! As the orthodontist said, I should not let fear dictate my decision. He said whatever I decide should come from the fact that I deserve to have a healthy, functioning mouth.

So, as you might guess, I decided to do the palate expansion called a MARPE, which stands for Mini Screw Assisted Rapid Palate Expansion. On Monday, I had an orthodontic appointment and learned more about what to expect. I already had peace, but this was confirmation.

Then, yesterday, I had oral surgery to cut part of my palate down the middle because it fuses closed in our youth. The MARPE device was attached with six screws! It was minor surgery, but they put me out for it. Thanks to my friend, Sara, for being my ride and staying with me until evening!

After a week or so of initial healing, I will start cranking the expander to split my palate. Over time, my body will fill the cut with new bone, making the result several millimeters wider. I’ll have a gap in the middle of my front teeth again, just like third grade!

I am still in some pain, which is to be expected. I took the rest of the week off to recover and focus. I am learning to eat and talk in new ways, which is a bit awkward! Right now, doing hard things includes a little pain, swelling, a bloody nose, a sore throat, multiple medications, and eating soft foods for a couple of weeks.

I am mostly looking forward to the process, seeing it as a step of faith and obedience. I appreciate your ongoing prayers for minimal pain and no infection. It won’t be easy, and there are no guarantees, but I’d also love to avoid the major surgery down the road!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for Your healing and protection. Thanks for leading me on this path and using it to make me more like Jesus. Help me be patient as I take each step of obedience. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: What hard things are you dealing with today? What is one step of faith and obedience you can take, however small?

Task: Consider the pros and cons of following through, taking one step, toward that hard thing. Compare a faith response with a fear response. Reminder: Doing nothing is often a fear response!

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

Finding Grace #516

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

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

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

This week was busy, but felt relaxed at the same time! The cold weather made everything more exciting – okay, at least it gave us something to talk about!

I hosted our Sunday Zoom call with family, like usual. Some of us also met on Wednesday night, too, because my niece wanted to say hi to us. 🙂 It is always a highlight of my week, so this was a double blessing!

Work was busy “on paper” with many patients, but it turned out to be fairly smooth. I had several cancellations and no-shows, perhaps due to the frigid weather (well below zero most days!). I was grateful because I was able to stay caught up on my notes!

We also celebrated a coworker’s retirement. We are going to miss her, but are really happy for her. We had a little party at work on Thursday, and then surprised her by going out to eat afterward. We have a great team, and it was fun to hang out after work!

The news has been pretty heavy the last couple of weeks. I am keeping our nation in prayer. I know God is still on His throne, and we are called to overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21). Lord, may we have the wisdom to know what to do and the courage to do it!

Lydia continues enjoying Speech and had her first meet today. She was gone most of the day but had fun and won a beginner’s award!

I did some cooking, a little organization, and the usual Saturday things at home. I also read a book and took a nap. 🙂 It was a great day, made better when Lydia arrived home to tell me about her day!

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

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

Posted on in Being Gracious, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Personality, Pivot

Making Disciples

Recently, I read a social media post that reminded me that most of Jesus’ twelve disciples were likely teenagers. With the exception of Peter, who would have been at least twenty years old as he was required to pay the Temple tax, along with Jesus. The boys Jesus chose would have been those who were not the best students. They would have entered the workforce around thirteen or fourteen after completing their basic education.

I knew the disciples were young, but I never connected that on a deeper level. Now that Lydia is a teenager, I can see how things went over their heads! I am reading the Bible a little more clearly! Jesus told them about His death multiple times, and they missed it. Instead, they were competing with each other and asking Jesus for special favors. It was tough sometimes, but Jesus knew what He was doing!

The disciples were awkward, impulsive, eager, and brave boys (until they turned panicky during storms or fled when Jesus was arrested). Being teenagers also probably partially explains how they were so passionate and energetic after the resurrection. They were all in, ready to give their lives for the cause. If they had been older, they might have relied on “human wisdom” (reasonable caution!), rather than on God’s strength and power.

Matthew 28:18-20 says, “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'” You can compare how each of the four gospels records it here.

The verses above are known as The Great Commission, some of Jesus’ last words to His disciples. Discipleship starts with connecting through relationships. Then, we can learn and grow in our faith. Most of us have opportunities every day to share the love and good news of Jesus. That may be out in the world or in your own home.

I am so proud of who Lydia is becoming. But sometimes I have to remind her of simple tasks and chores on repeat. She is fairly reliable otherwise, so maybe that’s why I expect her to “get it.” Sometimes I have to laugh and stop myself from getting too upset. Lydia is totally normal, and I’m reminded that she’s my little disciple. How I say things is just as important as what I say. Indeed, I can offer her grace, especially since Jesus has been so gracious with me, and my resistance and dumb mistakes!

Last weekend, I gave Lydia the opportunity to drive in a blizzard. She did really well despite the lack of visibility! The next day, however, she decided against the “opportunity” to help me clear snow in our driveway. 🙂

Yes, teenagers are awesome in many ways. They can be funny and lighthearted. They hone in on what is important (to them) and go after it. They can be persistent and think outside the box. I have seen them do amazing things, going above and beyond.

Teens are not to be discounted! I appreciate the church youth group leaders who build into Lydia and her friends each week, and all those who built into my life years ago…

Now, let’s go and make disciples!

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God, thanks for Your patience and grace when we drag our feet or make mistakes. Help us to grow in wisdom, understanding, and endurance. May we be quick to help others and run to You for all we need. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: What can you learn from the teenagers in your world?

Task: Invest time in the teens around you today. Take them out to lunch and listen to everything on their mind. Pray for them and encourage them to follow after Jesus!

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

Finding Grace #515

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

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

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

This was a fairly quiet week!

Lydia had Speech practice most nights, and she is really enjoying it so far!

Work was busy as usual, but good! There are a lot of exciting things going on right now. We had our coworker return from maternity (still one lady down), and we got some updates about the open position after another coworker soon retires. We can backfill it, so we’ve been talking among ourselves about who may be interested (not me!). It will be fun to see how it pans out since we have such a talented team!

I had some good conversations with my sister and others this week. It is great to encourage one another, pray for each other, and hear all God is doing!

Today, I met a friend for coffee, and Lydia attended another friend’s birthday party! The weather has been cold and snowy, but that’s no surprise, LOL. I’m glad to have a three-day weekend!

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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, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Pivot, Worship

My Personal Hall of Faith

Last week, I mentioned the so-called “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11. Without faith, it is impossible to please God, as we read in verse six. I talked about how it would read if written from a fear-based perspective. In short, Noah would never have built the ark, and we would not be here!

That got me thinking about my own personal hall of faith. Here are a few things that came to mind on what that might look like… Keep in mind, all of these are only possible by God’s grace – He has done all the heavy work, I am just walking them out. (Ephesians 2:8-10).

By faith, Natalie accepted Jesus into her heart at age three. And though she struggled at times to live it out, she kept close to the One who loves her most. Praise God, I’m in my fortieth year of following Jesus!

By faith, Natalie trusted that God somehow still had a good plan when her teenage best friend died in an accident. It took four years to be able to even talk about it without crying, but God never left her side.

By faith, Natalie went two-and-a-half hours away to college. It would have been easier to stay close to home, but she knew God had good things in store for her.

By faith, Natalie focused on her studies and asked the Lord to help her succeed. She did what she could do and trusted Him with the rest. She knew her life was in His capable hands, so she didn’t have to overachieve – she just focused on finishing the work in front of her.

By faith, Natalie walked up to a friend at a wedding to say hello after not seeing him for a few years. She and Dave grew closer over time and were soon happily married.

By faith, Natalie and Dave moved to North Dakota, trusting God for a big adventure. They did not know what that meant, but wanted to be in the center of His will. That included crazy winters, being apart from family, becoming parents, and colon cancer. But, God was so good to them and helped Natalie address her deepest fears.

By faith, Natalie kept moving forward when Dave died. As a widowed single mom, she knew she needed to work through her grief and rely on God so she could be an example for Lydia someday. It is an ongoing process, but God has been so gracious to walk with them.

By faith, Natalie wrote a memoir and finally published it. It was a sacrifice of love, but it has touched many lives. It has given Natalie opportunities to bless others going through difficult times and point them back to Jesus.

By faith, Natalie trusted God to help her steward her household and finances. It was touch-and-go at times, but He is a good provider. Natalie has worked various jobs and has had the best coworkers. In His wisdom and grace, Natalie’s passion for nutrition was reignited, and she found new ways to serve her patients.

As I review the list above, it is fun to look back on how God has blessed me and come through for me. I can see Jesus’ faithfulness over time, and this helps me trust Him more now and in the future. He is so, so good. On the contrary, what if I hadn’t trusted God for all the above? I don’t even want to think what my life would look like in reverse!

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Father God, thanks for staying close to me and bringing me through all my challenges. You are trustworthy and true. Thank You that You will never leave me nor forsake me. My life is Yours. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: What life stories would be in your own hall of faith? How would that affect your faith going forward?

Task: Review Hebrews 11 and then write your own version! I’d love to see it in the comments!

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

Finding Grace #514

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

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

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

It was good to return to a relatively normal week after Lydia was sick for so long! Monday came and we were off to work and school, praise God! I also enjoyed my church training night, where we talked about the Holy Spirit!

Work was quiet for a few days and picked up later in the week. There’s never a dull moment, as they say! One highlight on Wednesday was that a coworker asked about Dave on what was our 18th wedding anniversary. It was so kind of her to let me talk about him; her family has been going through a medical journey, so I hope I encouraged her in her faith!

Lydia joined the Speech team this week. She is going to do a comedic duo with a friend. She’s excited to get started, and I am proud of her for pushing herself!

Today, I was on-call for work but did not have to go in! Instead, I caught up on some reading while I kept watch over my phone. Later, Lydia went to a birthday party, so I did some Saturday things and made some cookies.

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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 Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Personality, Wisdom, Worship

A Fear vs. Faith Comparison

Romans 12:2 NLT says, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

God’s will includes holiness and living honorably, abstaining from sinful behaviors, being thankful in all circumstances, praying in the Spirit, rejoicing, and growing in patient endurance and humility, while continuing to meet together with other believers. Read through Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, Hebrews 10, and more!

I haven’t written about fear and faith in a while, but in many ways, the Bible verse above is key. We cannot let ourselves be ambivalent, thinking two ways about something and letting fear win. We need to let God change our minds and how we think. Only then will we be able to walk in Victory.

So, how can you know if you are responding in fear or in faith? To start, love and faith go hand in hand. When reading 1 Corinthians 13 (“the love chapter”), I found it interesting to put fear in the place of love and reverse it with a slight rewrite (verses 4-7): Fear is impatient, fear is unkind. It is full of envy, boasting, and pride. It dishonors others, is self-centered and easily angered, and tracks tit for tat. Fear delights in evil and hates the truth. Fear never protects, never trusts, never offers hope or encouragement, and always gives up. In short, fear is a dead end.

Hebrews 11 is sometimes called the Hall of Faith. It reviews the faith of several people in the Old Testament and how they pleased God by trusting Him. (Now reread this chapter as if it were written from a fear point of view! “It was by fear Abraham did not believe God…”) Hebrews 6 says, “Without faith, it is impossible to please God…” Conversely, we understand that fear never pleases Him! Faith is essential, and fear cannot be our default.

When we operate in fear, we have to work quickly and jump right in. That’s because fear gives in to pressure and tries to solve its own problems. At the same time, fear can mean shutting down and stalling. Yes, a fear response can feel chaotic and out of control… all over the place as we try to find what will work “best.”

On the other hand, living by faith means we pause to check in with the Master, Jesus Christ. A faith response is in no hurry because the solution doesn’t depend on us. Faith means going at the Lord’s pace, which often feels slow, yet is always right on time.

Fear involves sticking with what you know because it feels familiar, if not safe. Often, fear refuses to look at the data as a whole, yet obsesses over every detail. Fear involves confusion!

Faith involves asking Jesus for wisdom to know what to do and the courage to follow through, knowing He will fill in the gaps as you move forward. Clarity comes along the way, as you don’t have to have all the answers to walk by faith. Often, faith pushes our limits and requires us to trust God to take risks and try something new. But it is always worth it.

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Heavenly Father, thanks for empowering us to live in faith, not fear. Lord, we want to please You! May honor You with our decisions and in all we do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Questions: What pattern of fear are you struggling with today? What does walking in faith look like for you in that situation? Can you flip the scenario around to see the difference?

Task: Take the next step of faith on your journey today. When you are vacillating between fear and faith, consider which choices will please God. Dare to do the difficult thing!

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

Finding Grace #513

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

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

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

This week was quieter than expected, but still good! I worked one full day (Monday) and then only two-and-a-half hours on Tuesday. Lydia has been sick on and off since the Friday before Christmas, so we’ve mostly been staying home. 

We were invited to see the Trans Siberian Orchestra concert with friends, but we had to skip it because Lydia was sick. It would have been really cool, but it was for the best! We also canceled an appointment and two get-togethers with friends. Thankfully, we can reschedule those!

With Lydia down, I had some “extra” time to do quiet activities around the house. (I had already taken off Wednesday and Friday, plus had off Thursday anyway.) I caught up on some paperwork, read some books, started my next online course for church, cooked some meals, deep-cleaned a few areas, and exercised. It was really nice to have unhurried time.

My neighbors on either side of us were really kind to help clear my sidewalks this week. I cleared some snow before dawn, knowing the snow company would clear the main driveway. Later, I left work an hour early on Monday to do the sidewalks before my chiropractor appointment (instead of after), but the two men had already done them! I was so grateful and took some cookies to each of them. Plus, it was good to check in with each family and thank them for being good neighbors!

Well, Lydia was in bed most of the week and is starting to feel better now. I think we will watch church online tomorrow, just in case she is still contagious. Hopefully, next week everything will be back to normal!

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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)!