Category: Kindness

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Kindness, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #382

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 interesting week! It seemed longer since I had a regular work week of five days instead of only working a couple days each of the last two weeks! 😉 I felt productive and was happy to help my coworkers. We shared some fun laughs and learned a lot while performing one of our annual competencies!

Lydia and I did some more weeding and caught up with our neighbors. One night, we helped some young kids find books at our little free library (on the edge of our property). It was fun to meet them and watch them interact with the books!

Yesterday, I went to a funeral service at the Fargo National Cemetary after work. I wanted to support my widowed friend and also saw some other people from church. I have been to several funerals with military honors, but never one at a national cemetery. It was so cool to see how this Veteran was honored. I am thankful for his service, and it fills me with gratitude ahead of the 4th of July next week.

This week, Lydia joined me during my exercise routine. I let her use some lighter weights and she followed along with my personalized program. It was fun to see her write down her accomplishments. Today, she told me she already feels stronger!

Today, I made a few food items, did laundry and some other chores, worked out, and then mostly relaxed! We did some reading and then watched a couple of shows together. It felt good to have a slower pace after a busy week!

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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, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Personality, Procrastination, Wisdom, Worship

Last-Minute Blessing

Recently, I met with a new widow for coffee at church. She is an older woman, and I just happened to reach out to see how she was coping. As expected, she confirmed the first several weeks are like a train wreck. 

I only met her husband briefly, but they were married for over twenty years. He was a Veteran and will be buried with full honors at the Fargo National Cemetary. I hope to attend with Lydia if we are available that day.

We talked for about two hours as Lydia sat nearby and read a book. I asked questions and answered them. I looked up a phone number for her and really just listened. I hope she was as encouraged as I was!

I brought my friend a little artificial orchid, knowing it would be a blessing – and perhaps a bright spot when she is feeling down. I didn’t want her to have to remember to water it – like I did with my tomato plant all those years ago!

She mentioned two things that impacted me. She said God spoke to her heart at church that day in a powerful way; she said if I hadn’t invited her, she would still be at home. Whoa. I am so glad I listened!

Indeed, it was good to see my friend’s face light up with joy at the cute plant. I noticed her touching it from time to time during our conversation. She thanked me and said she knew the perfect spot for it at home!

I’m not sharing this to show you how amazing I am. Honestly, I almost left the orchid at home and brought a different plant. That’s because I wanted to keep the orchid for myself! 

It’s a little humbling to admit my selfishness, but I needed the reminder to be generous. I am so glad I listened to the Holy Spirit’s prompting. On my way out the door, I ran back inside to grab the orchid and put it in my purse. I decided I didn’t want to look at the orchid with regret, wishing I had given it away. It was a last-minute blessing, and I didn’t want to miss the opportunity!

In some ways, I wanted to be an example for Lydia to do the right thing. On our drive to church, we discussed how a fake little plant almost prevented me from showing Jesus’ love to someone who really needed it. Yes, I could probably find it again and buy it online, but it was a good lesson for us both!

We talked about how we are God’s ambassadors and represent Him. His love for others flows through us as we serve and give. God can take my little sacrifice and do something big with it. So, we shouldn’t hold back a blessing meant for someone else.

Sometimes, people ask God, “Why aren’t you using me?” But, I wonder how often we limit His work in our lives simply because we ignore His still, small voice. How can we expect Him to do something big or exciting if we aren’t obedient in the little things?

We don’t need to wrestle with being kind. We don’t need to question if God wants us to give. It is not a question of IF, but how or how much. We can certainly pray for wisdom but don’t doubt or procrastinate. We can afford to be generous and give what we have.

Indeed, God never gives us His second best or second rate. Jesus was the only option, and He was all in. Jesus gave His life for us, so we could live for Him.

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God, thanks for being so generous! Thanks for the opportunity to join You at work. Please help me be kind, generous, and gracious toward others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: Do you trust that God can take your offering and multiply it?

Task: Don’t allow yourself to settle for second best. Always give your best to God!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Kindness, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #368

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 Winter Road photo and picture

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

This was a fairly calm week! My gut was a little upset this week, so I tried to take it easy. This usually includes eating a little lighter, resting, and stress management. I am feeling mostly better now – still trying to figure out what the issue was!

Work was pretty normal – busy but good. Any downtime was spent catching up or getting ahead. Next week looks like a busy week with patients!

In other news, I unclogged my garbage disposal. It didn’t need reset, but I couldn’t recall how to fix it. So, I looked online for help and tried a few things. Finally, I used an old piece of wood to spin the disc and help it turn again. No issues since Tuesday!

Then, on Friday, I had an older patient with chronic pain following two conflicting diet plans based on nutrition misinformation he found online. He also is food insecure and spends the remainder of his money on solutions that are not helpful for him. He had grown malnourished as a result of eating one meal every other day thinking that was what he needed to do! It was very interesting helping him learn the truth about food and nutrition. I was able to give him a simple, cohesive plan that should meet his goals, save him money, and help his health. I’m grateful he came to see me!!

Last night ended up being solo for me. Lydia went to a friend’s house for a sleepover (different than last week). It was nice to have some alone time. I scouted out some new stores and then went home. I watched some movies while chopping up some veggies and roasting them. I also made a crockpot stew which turned out so well!

I had a relaxing time at home, waiting for Lydia to return. I had a good workout, cleaned, listened to a podcast, read a little, and made some calls. It was great talking with my mom and dad! When Lydia came home, I had fun hearing all about her adventures with the other family!

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

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

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

In Search of Good News

It may be March 1st, but we have another snowstorm in Fargo! It’s not the end of the world, and I know Spring is right around the corner. At least on the calendar – practically speaking, it’s still a couple of months away at this latitude. It takes a while to warm up and for all the snow to melt!

I was thinking about what to write for today’s blog post and was stuck between two half-processed ideas. I just wasn’t feeling them. They still need time to marinate, I guess!

So, I went online to catch up with some articles. I usually have a lot of tabs open but never seem to find time to finish reading! In the process, I clicked open my browser, which shows the latest news. So, I had to check that out first!

Honestly, most of the ‘news’ these days isn’t all that enticing. Some of it is just click-bait, gimmicky stuff. Soooo much unnecessary drama… I also didn’t feel like reading something heavy, such as war or politics (although they are important). And, I wasn’t really interested in shopping for deals. Been there, done that.

No, I was in search of flat-out good news. Life is pretty busy right now, and March usually picks up even more. So, my mind is on overload. I needed something lighthearted to make me smile. Not necessarily an escape, just motivation to keep moving forward.

Free Coffee Magazine photo and picture

Success! I found a video of the Princess of Wales accepting some flowers from a toddler. Her genuine response and accent brightened my mood. I also read about a family welcoming home a soldier. I read through some healthy plant-based recipes (which helped me feel creative!). And, then I took a cue from Lydia and watched… cute puppy videos. 🙂

During the short time I spent writing this, I remembered a friend’s mom needed prayer. And, I reached out to some loved ones who live near an accident to make sure they are okay (sad news I read online). My heart was filled with concern.

Then, I thought about Jesus and the Good News He brings. Indeed, God is the Source of all good things, and He is the very definition of Good. Our perspective changes when we focus on Jesus!

God covers us with His grace even when we are completely unaware. Like, we literally cannot fathom all the good things He does for us and the crazy things He shields us from.

Grace upon grace. Mercy and forgiveness. Good news upon good news. His free gift.

If you could use a little encouragement in your life today, here is the best news possible: God loves you and is with you right now. He has a special plan for your life. You matter. God has not forgotten about you. He is for you and has good things in store for You. You can trust Him completely. He’s got you covered!

There are no gimmicks with God. Life is good because God is good. There will be some challenging days, sure, but we can get through them with His help!

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God, thanks for showing us Your perfect Grace and Truth. Thanks for being the standard we live by, not the world’s drama or our emotions. Help us share Your light with those around us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Questions: What are your favorite topics to read about or watch? What brings you joy online? Does it uplift you and turn your heart toward Jesus?

Tasks: Check out this website, full of good news! Thank God for all the ways He loves you!

Posted on in Being Gracious, Kindness, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Wisdom, Words

Wise As Serpents, Harmless As Doves

Lydia and I had yet another timely conversation last night. She was talking to two friends online who have not been getting along. It sounds like one friend was ready to extend an olive branch. Yet, Lydia unknowingly was trying to play interference. 

I overheard her talking to the other friend and asked her, “What are you talking about? Don’t get in the middle of their issues, and don’t write anything you will regret.”

Did she listen?

Not quite…

While Lydia didn’t write anything mean or spiteful, the tone of her words didn’t sound quite right and could have been misinterpreted since we can’t always deduce tone of voice online. Not thinking it through, she just wrote what came to her mind. The other friend grew suspicious that Lydia was playing both sides, though she was trying to help.

Lydia’s little folly lost her tech privileges the rest of the night. Mostly, I needed her to take a pause. Thankfully, both friends easily let it go, but it could have blown up quickly.

Really, I don’t think Lydia understood what I meant, so I used her confusion as a teaching moment. I searched for the verse below and then found this video. We watched it together and discussed it.

I explained that we are to be wise yet peaceable with people. We are to influence the world but not get caught up in the drama. We can help people, but we have to let them learn and navigate their own path sometimes. 

We are called to love, but that doesn’t mean we are to be pushovers. We are called to stand up for others, but not pull them out of every pickle.

I gave Lydia a few personal examples of two sides telling me ‘all their problems.’ I never share personal details or provide a ‘he said, she said’ to the other party. Instead, I encourage them to talk it out. I pay attention to subtleties and nuances of body language. I read between the lines, so to speak! 

I can provide a look into the other person’s perspective, but filter it through a lens of grace. I coach them to offer the benefit of the doubt and help them understand the other side. But, it is always up to them whether they work it out or not.

As such, people recognize that I am a good listener, observant and trustworthy. I try not to be judgemental but provide a rounded view of both sides.

In the verse above, Jesus used a simile. He didn’t mean we should be dishonest or try to deceive people. He meant we should be aware and be prepared… lead with love, but don’t be stupid or naive. 

Ultimately, we need to understand the impact of our actions, and how they can pull people closer to Jesus or repel them. In some ways, it’s a matter of great responsibility!

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God, thanks for the lessons You teach us! Help us walk wisely and peacefully as we share Your love and grace with others. Help us do what is right. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you listen with wise and peaceable intent, or do you try to stir the pot?

Task: Pray about this topic and THINK: Is it True? Is it Helpful? Is it Inspiring? Is it Necessary? Is it Kind? If not, keep it to yourself!

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

A Little Bit of Love

Happy Valentine’s week! Is that a thing? Let’s make it a thing. It doesn’t have to be all lovey-dovey. Maybe we can reframe it as an opportunity to show people we care. Plain and simple.

Romance is great, but even married couples have to work at it! Yet, everyone can benefit from a little bit of love. If it helps you get through the week, don’t write a love note, write a thank you note! Take chocolates to work, and share them with your coworkers. Buy yourself flowers just because they make you happy… Spring is around the corner!

Little acts of kindness and love are in style any day of the year!

On Monday, Lydia received a gift in the mail from someone out of state, who is going through a lot of personal challenges and unknowns. But, it was so kind of them to think of Lydia and brighten her day. A little bit of love and generosity go a long way.

The gift was a self-adhesive nail polish kit, which included stickers to put on over the nail polish. Lydia was so excited when they turned out fairly well, for our first time, at least! She sent her friends some pictures and kept talking about how pretty they looked.

Her prayer at bedtime that night included these words: “God, thanks for my nails and for people who love me and think about me all the time. Including You.”

Isn’t that cool how someone in another state loved on Lydia in a small way? Yet, it was perceived as a really big gesture to my girl and turned her heart toward God. In reality, it blessed us both because I could enjoy Lydia’s excitement, and we bonded in the process. You could say, a little bit of love went a very long way!

Then, in the same spirit, Lydia went on to bless me yesterday with a little Valentine gift. I bought her a few little gifts, but I never expect her to do anything for me. She doesn’t have much money or a way to go buy gifts. That didn’t stop her!

Lydia surprised me with a few pieces of the candy she got from school and wrote me a sweet note of appreciation. As any parent will tell you, those are the best gifts.

So, there you have it. Love doesn’t have to be big or flashy. There are lots of way to show people kindness and love. We don’t have to overthink it.

God’s love is so much bigger than we can comprehend… let alone, His grace, mercy, peace, joy, etc. We don’t have to do the great thing… He already has through Jesus. So, relax. Take the pressure off. Just start small, share God’s love, and see what He does!

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God, thanks for showing me all the ways You love me, big and small. Help me love like You do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: How can you celebrate God’s love this week?

Tasks: Write the note. Buy the chocolate. Enjoy the flowers. Thank God for His love!

Posted on in Books and Movies I Like, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Food and Nutrition, Gratitude, Kindness, Miscellaneous, Parenting

Finding Grace #362

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 Hoarfrost Moss photo and picture

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

This week was fairly calm, and I am grateful for that!

The weather showed more signs of spring, with warmer temperatures and wet roads from melting snow. We still have mostly freezing temperatures, but they feel relatively warm to us! Fifteen degrees is “starting to heat up,” and anything above twenty-five is “quite balmy!”

This was a good week to catch up with friends. We served in the children’s ministry at church on Wednesday and had fun playing with the preschool crowd and talking with other volunteers. Then, my African neighbors called to check-in. I also caught up with a former coworker who moved to Colorado last year. Finally, my sister and I started a new book for our little book club. It was fun to talk with so many people, many of who challenge me to be my best!

All week, Lydia’s school bus route was not running due to a lack of drivers. Each week, a different route is “skipped,” and parents must take their kids to school. So, this week was our turn. It gave Lydia more time, and me slightly less time, to get ready. Still, there was some benefit in that I woke up earlier, left home earlier, and also arrived at work earlier. It made me think I should do this more often!

Because I felt less rushed, I was able to enjoy listening to an audiobook on my drive to work. I started Fiber Fueled by Dr. Will Bulsiewicz, MD, a gastroenterologist. “Fascinated” is too small of a word to relay the awe I had listening to all the benefits of fiber. As a Registered Dietitian, I am constantly promoting plant foods, which are the only sources of fiber. I am only a couple of chapters in, but I am challenged to learn new ways of explaining fiber to my patients while discussing gut health, weight, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, kidney disease, and other conditions, most of which are related to inflammation.

Otherwise, work was good and busy! I had the opportunity to work with our very sweet dietetic intern and help her learn the ropes of nutrition assessment and counseling. This includes interpreting labs; asking pertinent questions; accurately explaining nutrition science; and understanding the nuances of personal motivation. She did a great job connecting with our patients and eagerly accepted feedback, knowing it will help her improve. I also had various problems to solve, including tube feeding orders and certain nutrition supplements as a national backorder continues.

Today, I was on-call for a few hours but did not have to go in to work. Instead, I worked on this blog post, caught up on some bills, and read a book… all while keeping my phone at-hand, just in case. Once again, it was rewarding to get up early and have some “extra” time to get things done.

The rest of the day was spent doing Saturday things. Errands, cleaning, cooking, etc. I threw together some easy recipes, though nothing specific. Sometimes, it is just fun to see how things turn out!

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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, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Kindness, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #352

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 a little bit of a wild card! I didn’t feel great for most of it – just various things, including a cold, gut issues, stubbing my toe (it’s fuschia currently), and of course, my elbow is still bruised (but doing better) from a few weeks ago. I’ll be okay. 🙂

I went to work late on Tuesday due to not feeling well, but also on Thursday due to yet another glitch! On Monday, it was my internet, and on Thursday, it was my furnace! I went downstairs before work and noticed a burnt rubber smell. Thankfully, my neighbor had a reliable contact, and I was able to get a motor replaced right away! They came within the hour, but even then, the inside temperature had dropped five degrees. I’m extra grateful it wasn’t thirty below with a long winter waiting list!

The weather is turning colder, and we got another inch of snow this week. It’s not too bad, and staying inside gave us plenty of time to reorganize the office and a closet downstairs. We also put up our Christmas tree last night! Lydia chose a red theme, and I added a couple strands of lights since there were a few ‘dark’ spots on the prelit tree. We might add a few more ornaments later. It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Today, we met a friend at a local coffee shop for a book sale. We each brought our self-published books to lay out. It was fun to meet new people and catch up over coffee! Can you believe my book has been out for over a year?!

Tonight, we were invited by some friends for a Christmas dinner at their house. Lydia enjoys playing with their kids, and it will be fun to get to know them better, along with the other guests. It’s always nice to be included!

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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, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting

Finding Grace #351

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 fun and relaxing! My family celebrated Lydia’s birthday over Zoom, and it was great to see her excitement with opening a few gifts and receiving a list of “everything we love about Lydia.” She is so special to us!

On Monday, we celebrated Lydia’s actual birthday. I left work a little early and took her to the mall after school to walk around. We bought a few little items and visited the puppy store, fountain, and a few other favorites. Then, we ordered pizza and picked up some cake and ice cream on the way home! We finished off the night with a movie. Lydia sometimes gets a little emotional missing her dad, Dave, but we ended on a happy note!

Work went well, on the three days I was there! I finally got caught up on my charting now that we are fully staffed again! It felt really good going into the long weekend!

For Thanksgiving, Lydia and I made a delicious meal together. Then, we invited our new African friends over for pumpkin pie. It was their first time experiencing this holiday, and they enjoyed it overall! I just wanted to make sure they felt loved; I have always appreciated people inviting us and looking out for us.

On Friday, I took the day off to hang out with Lydia and just relax! It was wonderful not to have to be anywhere or do anything. I slept in, exercised without feeling rushed, enjoyed leftovers, and set up Lydia’s new tablet (her birthday present from me and some other family – we all pitched in). Perfect!

Today, we did our Saturday things and mostly relaxed, similar to yesterday! I did run a quick errand, cleared out some old emails, and also cleared off the rest of the ice from the driveway and sidewalk, since it was close to 40-degrees!

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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, Kindness, Miscellaneous, Worship

The Chosen: A Few Takeaways

Lydia and I really enjoyed watching the new season of ‘The Chosen’ in the theater last weekend! It is unusual for a television show to be shown in the movie theater, but this was indeed a memorable event!

Now, if you are not familiar with the tv show, it is about Jesus Christ, but from the point of view of those who knew him best: The Disciples. We don’t know all the details, of course, but using the Bible as the main text, the writers of the show come up with plausible storylines for the characters. Then, we see how Jesus loves them, helps them, teaches them, and challenges them. He is full of grace and Truth!

‘The Chosen’ flows really well, but it is not meant to replace Scripture. In fact, many people are prompted to get into their Bibles more! Some artistic licensing occurs, yet the characters come alive when you can envision how they might have felt in each situation. Often, as we read the Bible, we miss a lot of the original context; we assume The Disciples just don’t get what Jesus is saying. As if we would have made better decisions.

But, in this artful media presentation, His followers are much more relatable. It’s easier to identify with their struggles because we face them, too! To start, this includes the usual fear, anxiety, failure, greed, jealousy, and anger.

Free photos of Sea

Season 3, Episodes 1 and 2, in the theater were so good! The show will be on the free app in December, but I won’t share many spoilers here. However, here are a couple of parts that stood out to me.

First, I loved Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. I am already familiar with it, but I could envision how the original listeners might have perceived it and how Jesus might have emphasized the words. The best part was seeing how The Disciples were affected; some were nearly in tears as they realized they needed to make some changes.

Second, I really liked how The Disciples put those changes into practice. For instance, a couple of characters had to apologize and ask for forgiveness. As a society, we just don’t hear that very often… let alone see it in a tv show!

Naturally, I considered if there were any people I needed to forgive in my life. 🙂 

I also appreciated hearing the characters quote the Psalms of their ancestor, King David, and then apply it to their ever-present troubles. (They didn’t have the New Testament but were living it!) The context was spot on, and it was a good reminder of just how applicable Scripture really is.

Similarly, I have learned more about the Pharisees and Roman officials because I am looking up information about them after each episode. In the Bible, they are presented harshly, but in context, they look a little different. Still misguided and deeply flawed, but not pure evil across the board.

Free photos of Israel

Another thing that caught my attention was the number of times Jesus (the character) was interrupted! He would be getting ready to go out and pray or rest, yet, someone had a question or need or just wanted to be with Him. Yet, He handled each moment with grace and attentiveness. No problem was too little; no question was stupid. He answered with compassion and composure. We don’t know exactly how Jesus might have reacted, but seeing how He is portrayed makes me really thankful He is so approachable!

Well, there are some more really profound moments in the first two episodes of this new season, but I will let you find those for yourself. Perhaps you can watch the first two seasons while you are enjoying your Thanksgiving pumpkin pie! 😉

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God, You are so good! As we watch ‘The Chosen,’ may we learn more of Who You Are. May we seek You more and more, and may our lives be changed as grow closer to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Are there any people in your life you need to forgive? What would that look like?

Task: If you haven’t already checked out The Chosen tv show, download the free app today! (Android or iPhone) Read this short article, too, for a thorough perspective.