Category: Books and Movies I Like

Posted on in Books and Movies I Like, Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Miscellaneous, Perseverance

Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward Book!!

Surprise!! It’s finally time for my big announcement, and I am so excited!

My book, Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward, is available for purchase! The book captures a two-year period of dealing with (my late husband) Dave’s cancer and my subsequent grief. At times, I didn’t know how I would make it.

During a time filled with chemo and chaos, I nearly walked away from my faith. But, God proved Himself over and over again. Despite my doubts, He came through for us!

Yes, it is a sad story at times, but I wanted to chronicle what happened for Lydia and inspire others. We all go through rough times on this side of Heaven, and it helps knowing someone understands. All hope is not lost!

Currently, your best way to buy Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward is to order through Barnes and Noble. I spent countless hours at our local B&N bookstore writing and editing with my laptop and a cup of coffee. So, it feels incredible to see my book online!

Announcing my book TODAY is significant for several reasons.

First, Lydia’s tenth birthday is coming up, and I wanted to beat that milestone. So much happened in the first two-and-a-half years of her life, and it just seems right to keep this project contained to her first decade. That way, we can officially close that chapter and keep moving forward.

Second, we are in the beginning stages of the holidays, and I want my book to be available before all the craziness starts. For some, it may be just what they need. That said, if a friend of yours is dealing with cancer, grief, or some other trauma, perhaps get your copy first and then consider how it may affect them. The book could certainly be helpful for your friend, but I would never want to add to their emotional turmoil. In that case, maybe filter out a few nuggets of truth for them until the timing is better.

My third reason is a little more personal. Today marks twenty-five years since my dear friend, Seth, died in an accident. (Part of me feels like it was just yesterday; it doesn’t seem I should be old enough to account for twenty-five years!) So, when I saw November 17th is today, a Wednesday, it felt like God’s timing. The book does not entail Seth’s tragedy, yet in my story, I mention how that loss helped me process Dave’s death. So, in my mind, they are somewhat connected.

The fourth reason is simply that there’s no time like the present. This project was complex and took me a while to finish. I had much to learn about writing and publishing a book. Grief and being a single mom were factors, not to mention work, household duties, and various levels of motivation. But, in the end, perfect conditions don’t exist. Something always comes up, and I am just going for it!

Finally, my fifth reason is that I need to continually challenge myself! It’s risky to put myself out there, but I don’t have to be afraid. I am covered with God’s grace. He goes ahead of me and He’s right beside me simultaneously. By faith, I need to release my book and step out of the way, so He can do what He does best.

In honor of my book launch, I created a new blog PAGE! I loaded it with some key details you might want to know before ordering.

Well, that’s it. I appreciate all your ongoing support, encouragement, and prayers!

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God, thanks for all the ways You have brought me through. You are so good and faithful. Would You please use my story to help others see You at work in theirs? May this book bring You glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Any guesses on when I started writing my book?! Will you order the black and white version or the deluxe color version?

Tasks: Grab your copy of Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward today! Read more details here. I’d love for you to tag me on Facebook @GraceandLemonade or on Instagram @natalator with a picture of you and my book. Also, please share this post on social media. Goal: Tell at least 15 of your friends! 😉

Posted on in Being Gracious, Books and Movies I Like, Gratitude, Kindness, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #292

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!

Tree, Deciduous Tree, Sunbeams, Sunrays, Linden, Autumn

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

This was a great week! Over several evenings, I raked up as much of the dead grass as I could. My neighbor boy and Lydia helped a bit, too!

It was another busy work week. But, it all went well. I picked up some extra patients, but I also had some cancellations. As usual, I always leave it all in God’s hands. That helps me feel good about what I accomplish (and not to take it too hard when I don’t get it all done).

I had some great phone conversations this week, as well as some fun texts with friends and family. I talked with a woman whose boyfriend of many years died a few months ago. I also talked with my parents in Florida, and it was great to hear their voices. I also talked with my sister and her family in Illinois. My little nephew is in a really fun stage of toddlerhood!

Today, I woke up early and well-rested because I actually went to bed early! Imagine that! 🙂 I took advantage of the opportunity to finish the last round of raking before the rain came. While raking near the bike path, I talked with a lady and petted her two dogs, an Australian shepherd named Rudy and a Yorkshire terrier named Walter. So fun!

Then, I walked a few miles on my treadmill and did some chores before spending the rest of the day resting. I did some cooking and caught up on some reading. I am reading a book called, The Other Half of Church. It was a little therapeutic to relax on a rainy 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 Books and Movies I Like, Gratitude, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Prayer, Worship

Book Review: The Hiding Place

Yesterday, I finished an audiobook reading of The Hiding Place, recounting the horrific story Corrie ten Boom and her family endured during World War II. She and her father were watchmakers and used their home and resources to hide or relocate Jews and lead the Dutch Resistance. In all, they saved around 800 people.

After a few years of success, a fellow Dutchmen turned them in. Betrayal was bad enough, but Corrie’s entire family was arrested. The hidden Jews were not found, thankfully, but Corrie and her sister, Betsie, ended up in prison, and later Ravensbruck concentration camp in Germany.

Corrie and Betsie smuggled a Bible in with them, and by God’s grace and plan, never were caught with it. They preached Jesus’ love and goodness to the masses. The message of Christ spread from one bunk bed to the next during nightly prayer meetings, and their words were soon translated from Dutch into German, English, Russian, Croatian, etc. Many times, the atmosphere changed to one of hopefulness around them. Wow!

Corrie, in particular, struggled with her emotions and purpose during captivity. She found it difficult to forgive at times, but Betsie saw Jesus all around her. She even thanked God for the fleas in their living and working quarters because it kept their cruel captors away. Basically, they lived Romans 8:31-39, with emphasis on verse 35, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” And, they persevered as more than conquerors!

Even in their suffering, the ten Boom sisters learned to give thanks in all circumstances… from moldy bread and lice covered sheets, to grueling marches and daily roll calls that lasted hours. They were on the threshold of Heaven and Hell, Life and Death, but they wisely grew past self-pity and used their time and talents to serve others. They shared what minimal resources they had with those who were in worse need.

I loved how close the sisters were, and each of them had their strengths. Betsie helped Corrie remember to let Jesus carry their pain, and Corrie lent Betsie her physical strength. While Betsie died shortly before Corrie was miraculously released, Corrie carried her vision of having a special place of respite and recovery for those who were imprisoned or otherwise affected by the war.

God provided the resources for the recovery home, and Corrie began speaking of His love and forgiveness. She said, “Joy runs deeper than depair.” Corrie eventually worked with people on both sides of the war. She forgave the man who betrayed her family, and Corrie even met one of her captors who attended one of her talks on forgiveness.

Understandably, Corrie found it hard to forgive him, until she prayed for Jesus’ forgiveness to flow through her instead. Then, relying on Jesus’ strength, she was able to converse with this man who had jeered at the women’s nakedness in Ravensbruck.

I had read parts of this story before, but listening to it on my morning and afternoon commute was quite compelling. I was reminded of Corrie’s many famous stories and quotes. She kept a short list with God and others, moment by moment coming to the Lord in prayer. I enjoyed how close she was to her parents, aunts, siblings, and nieces and nephews. Doing God’s work was a family affair.

The ten Boom family story helped me put our present times in perspective. Yes, we have our issues domestically and in the world. But, we also have the opportunity to live our lives with forgiveness and generosity. We can learn from the past and let go of grudges.

Life is so short. We can (and should) keep our government accountable, but we can also choose to see past the differing opinions of those around us. We can (and should) seek Truth and Peace and Purpose, yes, but we can also choose joy in the daily grind and respond in kindness.

With Jesus as our Hiding Place, we can stand firm with joy and not give in to the pit of despair.

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Heavenly Father, thanks for being our hiding place. Thank you for being our refuge and strength. Help us run to You regardless of whether our days are tough or easy. Help us show Your love to those around us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Have you read, The Hiding Place, or seen the movie? What have you learned from the ten Boom family or other Heroes of the Faith?

Tasks: Don’t wait for circumstances to get better. Practice forgiveness and generosity today. Don’t wait for circumstances to worsen. Ask Jesus for His grace, joy, and help today. Take this virtual tour of ‘the Beje’, the ten Boom residence and watch shop turned museum!

Posted on in Books and Movies I Like, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #263

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 full but fun week!

On Monday, Lydia and I attended her parent-teacher conference over Zoom. I was pleased to hear how well she is doing (even in a pandemic). Her teacher explained she is excelling in her school work, but she also has a great work ethic. I really was proud to hear she has a positive attitude and does not complain!

On Tuesday, we caught the replay for a 6-week online Bible study for tween girls. (It’s LIVE on Mondays, but we missed that due to her conference.) The study discusses the concept of loyalty in the book of Ruth. Lydia and a friend had fun completing the workbook later in the week! I’m glad she can study God’s Word with a dear friend.

Wednesday was St. Patrick’s Day. It was a pretty normal day, overall, but Lydia and I discussed how we don’t need luck because we have God on our side. He is a such a good provider for us, and we reviewed some of the ways God has blessed us lately.

This week, I had several great conversations with coworkers, patients, and students! I also had four great phone calls with family. I’m grateful!

Today was in the 60s, but fairly windy so it doesn’t feel that warm. Lydia and I went through some of her books… to save, sell, or donate. It was a little bittersweet to review old memories. She is growing up, and some of the books are a little young for her!

Happy First Day of Spring!

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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, Books and Movies I Like, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Little Free Library, Miscellaneous, Parenting

Finding Grace #262

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 an awesome week!! On Sunday, we Zoomed with family. It’s been so fun to check in every week! It has become one of my favorite things to do every week!

On Monday, I dropped of my tax documents to my accountant. I have various things to keep track of, and it’s good to have help! As a single mom, it’s one less thing for me to have to do. It’s always nice to get a refund, but this year, it was split. I owe some and get some back! No matter what I am so grateful for God’s provision!

I had many friendly patients this week. It’s so fun to talk with Veterans who are eager to learn about nutrition. It’s more than that though. It’s good to make the ‘human connection,’ and that was a highlight of my week!

We got a little snow this week, after it was mostly melted away. This snow won’t stick around for long, but it triggered my snow removal service to come. I was very happy about that, as I got to sleep until my normal alarm went off.

On Wednesday, I called Fitbit customer service for help. I happened to talk to someone who was working from home… in Jamaica! We had a good conversation while he answered my questions. Turns out, Lydia’s device is out of warranty, but he gave us a 35% off coupon so we could order a new one! She was so grateful and excited!

Today has been beautiful, with warmer weather and little wind. Lydia went to a friend’s house to play, while I visited with a couple friends, ran errands, and tackled some chores around the house. When Lydia returned, we took a walk to other ‘little free libraries’ and delivered some books we were done with. I also updated some of the books in ours!

Don’t forget to turn your clocks forward one hour tonight!

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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 Books and Movies I Like, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Miscellaneous, Perseverance

Finding Grace #253

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 great week, starting with our family Zoom call on Sunday! Lydia had a blast asking everyone for nouns, verbs, and adjectives for her new Peanuts Mad Libs book she received in celebration of Dave’s Heavenly birthday a few weeks ago. (I always give her a gift to make it a positive day, not a sad day of focusing on our loss.) We were all cracking up!

Work at the VA was busy, but straightforward. I got to talk with several grateful Veterans and had some good conversations with my coworkers. I really enjoy working there!

This week, I diligently worked on my syllabus for the next semester at Concordia. I had fun coordinating some assignments with the other professors (collaboration between graduate and undergraduate students). I have a feeling this semester will fly by!

On Thursday,  I celebrated my 13th wedding anniversary. Even though Dave and I were only married 5+ years, it is still special to commemorate our fun cruise ship wedding. Thanks for all your continued support and encouragement!

On Friday, I met with my students over Zoom (due to current COVID protocols). We will meet in-person in a couple weeks, but we had a good discussion anyway. Thankfully, they are all on-top of things when it comes to technology. They make my job easy…well, easier! 😉

This week, my proof copy of my book came in the mail! I have a few smallish changes to make and then it will be available. It has been a labor of love and perseverance. I am excited to share it with you all!

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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 Books and Movies I Like, Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Wisdom

God’s Kindness, A Calling Card

Recently, I was talking with a lady who was widowed about a year ago. Understandably, she has been missing her late husband quite a bit, especially as we head into the holiday season. As a result, she has been reading books and articles about the afterlife.

It may be comforting to read about what our loved ones are experiencing in Heaven (if they go there), but she mentioned some ideas that made me a little wary. Humans who die do not become guardian angels, for instance!

I did my best to answer her questions about my own grief journey. Then, I guided her to the Truth…that is, I pointed her back to Jesus!!

Later, my friend said, “God’s judgment doesn’t seem as bad as one would expect,” based on her reading of other people’s near death experiences. I didn’t ask what she was referencing, but still, I felt the need to gently clarify a few things for her.

First, God’s judgment and wrath is very serious. He doesn’t play favorites, punishing some sinners but not others. We see this over and over in the Bible. 

In the Old Testament, God banished Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. Then, we read about the Flood, and later, King David losing a child as a result of adultery. We also see Judah being exiled to Assyria and Israel being exiled to Babylon after generations of debauchery. And, these were God’s chosen people!

In the New Testament, new Christians (Ananias and Sapphira) were struck dead for lying to the Holy Spirit. There are other cases of pending judgment in the book of Revelation.

Second, God’s judgment is not unjust or without warning. He sent His Word through many prophets over many years, and later, Jesus Christ Himself! He warns us about the consequences of our choices. He asks us to confess our sins and turn from evil, choosing Life over Death. Then, He repeatedly gives us opportunities to repent and make things right. 

Apparently, we are slow learners, but I’m thankful He is so patient with us!

Nonetheless, there are consequences for our actions. For better or worse, we reap what we sow. Indeed, the Bible says we will be held accountable for our words and our actions.

Third, God’s mercy, grace, and forgiveness are bountiful. If we know Jesus and have accepted His FREE GIFT of salvation, we don’t have to be afraid of death or judgment. I am guessing this is what my friend meant to say.

Romans 2 is all about God’s law and judgment, but Romans 2:4 says that God’s kindness leads us to repentance. I love that! We see His generosity all around us, and His kindness is like a calling card. Oh, how God wants us to know Him and be with Him! 

It’s like when someone goes out of their way to bless you, help you, or meet a huge need. You are so thankful, you can’t help but live differently. You may ‘pay it forward’ or return the favor, or just become really close to the person because you appreciate what they did for you.

So it is with God’s kindness. He overwhelms us with His goodness, and we can’t help but bask in His love! We can never repay Him, but we can live differently as a result.

Only God’s love (through Jesus) can bring the true change we need. When we know how much He loves us, our lives will start to change. In gratitude, we can acknowledge the good things in our lives and give Him full credit! Let’s come to Jesus and receive His peace and joy today!

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God, You are so gracious and good to me. Thanks for all You do! Help me not take Your kindness for granted. I want to make choices that honor You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Have you accepted God’s free gift of salvation? How has God been kind to you? How has His kindness changed how you think and act (i.e. repent)?

Tasks: If you are curious to learn more, check out the book, Heaven, by Randy Alcorn. (There are still some things we just won’t know until we get there, but the author gives a comprehensive explanation and breaks down key points based on Scripture.)

**If you don’t know if you will end up in Heaven after you die, make that decision today!**

Posted on in Books and Movies I Like, Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Wisdom

The Benefits of Looking Back

I am currently reading a book series by Lynn Austin, called Chronicles of the Kings. For me, reading is a fun way to relax. I love being transported to different locations and time periods. I enjoy learning and dreaming along with the characters.

In this series, the author takes the true Biblical account of King Hezekiah and adds fictional details to flesh out the story. The Bible doesn’t tell us each and every detail, so we are left to fill in the gaps. We have to be careful, yes, not to add too much or misinterpret the words… but I think this series was well written, overall.

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, because I learn about history in an exciting way, as if I was there. I generally remember more of the details, facts, and life lessons. In terms of Biblical fiction, it helps to consider what happened beyond the text.

(The author uses other traditional Jewish resources to make some assumptions, but provides most relevant Scripture references, too.)

Right now, I am in the third book, The Strength of His Hand, and this is where King Hezekiah gets very sick. The Bible doesn’t explain what the sickness was, though other sources say it was related to a boil or inflammation of some sort.

The author writes her theory into the story, of course. I won’t ruin it for you, but I thought it was compelling.Either way, the King is close to death and indeed, Isaiah hears from Yahweh that he will die.

Isaiah goes to tell this to Hezekiah and then mournfully leaves (Isaiah 38). Then, Hezekiah prays to God and weeps. Soon, Isaiah returns with good news. Hezekiah will live.

Hezekiah asks for a sign, and per the Bible, the shadow moved back ten steps. He does recover within three days, just like Isaiah prophesied. He lives another fifteen years.

In the book, when King Hezekiah was sick, I was also thinking of what I already knew about the story. I had forgotten about Isaiah’s prophecy, but I did recall Hezekiah lived.

 I didn’t know how the author was going to reconcile the Biblical account with her fictional narrative, but I knew it would all work out somehow. You see, I had the advantage of seeing King Hezekiah’s story through the lens of Scripture, after the fact.

God’s Word, the Bible, is living and active. Its power is unchanging and its lessons are just as applicable today as they were thousands of years ago.

At the same time, each of us can trust God with today’s challenges, because we know He came through for us yesterday, last week, and last year… There are benefits when we look back and see God’s faithfulness. His love never fails!

When we trust God to write our story, we most certainly will face many unknowns and fearful moments. This is a normal part of life on Earth, but thankfully, we see all throughout the Bible that God shines most when we seek Him in our difficult circumstances!

All our present trials might become more bearable if we could envision what our future self will think, or how others will one day praise God for how He came through for us. There is purpose in our pain, and God will use that for His glory and our good. Trust Him!

Remember He is with you and for you; the best is yet to come!

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God, thanks for letting us see You at work in Scripture. Help us have faith today. Help us trust that You will come through for us. You always do! Show us the benefits of looking back, but don’t let us get stuck in the past. You are are hope for today and tomorrow, too. Thank You! In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: When you look back through Scripture, or even your own life, do you see how He came through for you in the past? What does that mean for you today?

Tasks: Make a list of all the ‘evidence’ of God’s faithfulness. List your most trying times and write down how God helped you through them. Then, fan the flames of faith and trust God today.

Posted on in Books and Movies I Like, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance

Finding Grace #209

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 long but good week! I saw God move in some big ways.

Lydia got her retainer (that she can leave in at meals, thankfully). Before her appointment, we squeezed in a Sandy’s donut stop, too! She was in pain for a couple of days but is doing well now. Lydia’s extra happy her new retainer glows in the dark!

On Wednesday, I put on a presentation at work for National Nutrition Month. I discussed recent changes to the Nutrition Facts labels. I had fun and even earned a “Golden Ticket” award! I also picked up some extra hours this week, and I am glad I could help out!

On Thursday night, several ladies came over for small group/Bible study. We had fun catching up and sharing what God is doing in our lives. We had an infant present and had fun passing him around. We also discussed the YouVersion devotional on Dangerous Prayers by Craig Groeschel!

Today, I started a John Maxwell class at church, where we read and discuss one of his books. We are going through The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth. Ironically, I have had this book since Dave was sick, but have never finished it. Dave gave me his own birthday gift card to buy it, but then his condition further declined, so my priorities changed. Now, I appreciate the opportunity to pick up where I left off, but thankfully, I have NOT stopped growing in the meantime!

This afternoon, Lydia had fun playing outside with her friends. The weather was beautiful and sunny! We still have a lot of snow, but spring is just around the corner! Don’t forget to move your clocks forward tonight! 

Finally, I also taught Lydia how to do her own laundry today. She was pretty excited about using the washer and dryer, but still not excited to put all the clothes away!

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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 Books and Movies I Like, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance, Prayer, Wisdom, Worship

On Religion vs. Relationship

Recently, Lydia and I have been reading a book series I loved when I was growing up. We just finished reading the fourth book (out of eight) in the Addie McCormick series.

Lydia enjoys the fun adventures, and I enjoy seeing her engage with book characters. She has really gotten into the books! She can relate to some of the same concerns the characters are having, and then we discuss them together.

As a parent, I appreciate how the characters reflect godly principles. In addition to solving mysteries and making friends, they also go to church, pray, and talk about God.

On Monday night, we were reading at bedtime. The main character, Addie, was thinking about the difference between someone who is religious and someone who is a Christian.

Of course, Lydia also wondered about this, so we were able to discuss it in simple terms. I told Lydia, “Yes, we can go to church, pray, give and serve… and still miss Jesus.”

“What?! How is that possible?” Lydia was surprised.

“Well,” I replied, “If we only focus on doing all those things, even though they are good, it’s like me saying, ‘Here’s your dinner, here’s your laundry, here’s your shoes.’ I would be doing all the right mom things, but I wouldn’t necessarily connect with you.”

“Oh, I see,” Lydia said.

I continued, “The difference is when I say, ‘Hey, for dinner, do you want pasta or potatoes? Did you have fun at school today? Do you need help folding your clothes?’ Instead of just serving you, I actually want to talk with you and enjoy being with you.”

Lydia easily understood my point, but it was a timely reminder for me, too.

Whether in life or in faith, it is easy to get caught up in the to-do lists full of never-ending tasks. With our misguided expectations, sometimes, we make life unnecessarily difficult.

Being overwhelmed by all I have to do is my first clue that I should take a step back and reevaluate what I am doing, my priorities.

Has my to-do list become my idol? Has my ‘religion’ become just that? What is really important, and am I doing it? Why or why not?

As we gain perspective, the gift is that we have the ability to make adjustments. However, switching gears requires courage and discernment. It doesn’t just happen!

Thankfully, as soon as we realize we are off track, we can ask God for help and forgiveness. He can redirect our paths and maximize our efforts.

The great part is if we seek His input first, that is relationship instead of religion, we can get where we need to more quickly. And when I bring it all to Jesus, He gives me grace and freedom. His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11:30).

Interestingly, no other major religion besides Christianity offers a personal relationship with God. Instead, people are left always trying to earn their salvation. I’m so grateful Jesus, God’s own Son, did all the work for us by dying on the Cross. Thank You, Lord!

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God, thanks for setting us in right relationship with You. Help us focus on loving You and being with You, instead of just doing more things for You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Is it easier for you to DO or just BE? Have you accepted God’s free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ?

Task: Haha, just kidding… there is no task for you to DO today. 😉 Lay aside your list, even if only for a few minutes. Then, just spend time with Jesus and soak up His great love for you!