Category: Life is Short

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

Finding Grace #541

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 week of fun mix of planned activities and a few surprises! 

On Sunday, dear Caterpillar friends visited from Illinois. We met Mike and Becca when they moved to Fargo when Lydia was around six months, about the time Dave got sick. They were a huge blessing to us, and you can read about them in my book. Now, they have four kids and live near Peoria, so it was really sweet to have them over to our house.

On Monday, Lydia went to church camp in Devils Lake. She took a friend, and they had a blast at Senior Camp. I picked them up on Friday, and Lydia spent the rest of the day resting. I am glad they had so much fun!

On Tuesday, I stayed an extra hour at work to give a presentation to a different Veterans organization in Minot. I recognized a couple of people from the VA services we provide, and they told everyone how great a speaker I am. That felt good, and I was glad to teach them about an anti-inflammatory diet to deal with chronic pain!

The weather was hot and even a little smoky due to the Canadian wildfires. On Wednesday, we had an employee picnic at work, and God blessed us with a little cooler weather and no smoke in the air! By the end of the day, the smoke was rolling in, so I was really grateful we got to enjoy the time outside. I also saw several monarch butterflies in the healing garden, so that was extra special.

Today was fairly relaxing. I went to the bank and Costco, cooked a bit, did the usual Saturday things, and took Lydia for a driving lesson to practice parallel parking. Later, we met some friends at the splash pad in our neighborhood, and then they came over for an hour or so to visit. The little kids had fun, and I hope they come back again soon!

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

Finding Grace #540

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 full of activity but also full of God’s grace! We had a variety of activities each night. Some were planned, and some were spontaneous.

Work was wildly busy, which is about what I expected. I had a full schedule of planned patients, but I also needed to work on some projects and return some phone calls. It felt good to connect well with the Veterans and know God was helping me every step of the way.

On Monday, Lydia went to the county fair with friends. That night, I also had my monthly book club meeting. We had a great time discussing our book and sharing more about our lives! I have already started our next book!

On Tuesday, after work, Lydia had her third driving lesson. I prayed quite a bit because it was on the highway during a busy time. God came through for us, like He always does!

Wednesday night, I dropped off Lydia to watch a friend’s softball game. Then, I ran some errands. She got a ride home, which is good because I was deep into organizing around the house!

I mowed the lawn on Thursday, since the rest of the week would be hot. Lydia went to a sleepover with her friends, so I had the evening to myself otherwise!

Yesterday and today were a mix of organizing and relaxing. I ran some errands, did Saturday things, and watched a movie with Lydia. A good way to end 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 Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance, Personality, Prayer, Wisdom, Worship

Parenting and Proverbs 3:5-6

The last several months have been great with Lydia. It is fun to see her spread her wings with her friends and make decisions apart from me. I have coached her through some challenges and at times bankrolled her, but it is good to see her thriving. And it has made me lean on the Lord even more!

Yesterday, Lydia had her third official driving lesson with her teacher! She has been doing well so far; however, I was a little nervous. You see, I had heard the teacher was taking Lydia on the highway for this lesson.

I have had Lydia driving on both I-29 and I-94 a handful of times, but not during Fargo’s “rush hour.” Obviously, the traffic is nothing like that in Chicago or Atlanta, but it can still be quite fast and busy. There are some crazy drivers at times!

So, over the last week, I had been praying that God would keep Lydia safe. After all, He loves Lydia even more than I do. And, when I saw it might rain, I asked my coworker, Natalie, to pray as well!

On Sunday, I took Lydia out for a quick highway lesson. We practiced merging onto the highway and exiting. I reminded her to be aware of her surroundings and to get up to speed as soon as she could. Then, yesterday, before I left for work, I coached Lydia to speak up if she was in over her head. She is typically pretty calm, but I wanted to remind her she had a voice.

I also reminded Lydia to have a snack before she walked to the school to meet the driving teacher. She admitted she was a little nervous, but I kept my own thoughts to myself! Now, I still deal with fear from time to time, but I am aware and working on giving it to God. I don’t want my fear or concerns to negatively influence Lydia.

All day, while Lydia waited to drive, I prayed during my work breaks. I had read Proverbs 3:5-6 that morning, which says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (ESV)

I tried not to worry or overthink it, while praying that the teacher would have wisdom and that Lydia would have confidence. The weather forecast predicted rain, but I asked God to hold it off.

And you know what? He did! Lydia did a great job, and traffic was backed up due to road construction, which helped people drive more slowly in those sections. Even the teacher was surprised that they spent more time sitting in traffic, even though it normally flows quickly. However, he told Lydia she did well and passed the lesson.

Lydia texted me on her walk home, and I heard thunder just as she made it into our yard. Less than a minute after she walked inside the door, the rain let loose. It poured on and off for the rest of the night, and I praised God for answering my prayers!

When we trust God with all our hearts, we acknowledge He is in control as we submit our plans, thoughts, and feelings to Him. We remember His love for us and rest in Him, as we let God work on our behalf and do for us what we cannot. Thanks, Lord Jesus!

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God, thanks so much for protecting Lydia yesterday. Our Victory is in You! Thanks for covering us with Your mercy and grace. You are so good and faithful, Lord. Help us trust You more and more. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: How are you trusting God this week?

Task: As 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

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

The Ripple Effect

On Monday, I came home from work to find about three cabinets’ worth of stuff on the kitchen counters. I was a little surprised, but Lydia was so excited. She proudly showed off her ideas for rearranging the spices, coffee, pasta, and baking items that are in those cabinets. She even had made some tentative labels with sticky notes. 🙂

My first thought was, “Oh, great… here we go. All wanted was to eat supper!” I made a few executive decisions. “Let’s leave the coffee alone because I want it near the sink and coffee maker.” But I also listened to Lydia explain she wanted to move the vanilla and maple syrup closer to the baking soda and baking powder. I agreed, and we worked on a few other decisions.

Then I suggested we take a break to eat, which let me gather my thoughts before I got too hangry. Once my stomach was happy, I realized I had indeed told Lydia she could help me with this project. I didn’t want to do it at all due to timing decision paralysis. I kept putting it off, procrastinating. So I was grateful for the help.

We ended up tossing some old spices and regrouping others. It turned out to be really helpful, and it opened up some space for some random items sitting on the kitchen counters. We made plans to tackle that this week when I have some time off work.

This was a good example of ‘the ripple effect,’ or how one decision impacts other events or choices.  One kind word or one generous act can make all the difference. I heard something about this recently, which reminded me of how God can turn all things into something good – for His glory and on our behalf (see Romans 8:28). It doesn’t mean all things are good, but that God is working them out. The ripple effect seems to be God’s specialty!

In my case, it was thankfully not too complicated. Lydia cheerfully challenged the status quo, and that prompted us to make some changes. It will feel good to update our storage and for everything to have a place again!

Then, yesterday, I had an unexpected phone call from a patient. She thought she missed her appointment, but it’s not until next month. Still, we were able to talk for a while, and it turned out to be a good thing. She has cancer and some personal challenges because of it. I answered her questions and put her mind at ease. But, more importantly, I was able to help her see the bigger picture: that all hope is not lost.

From our conversation, I could glimpse the ripple effect. By God’s grace, during our phone call, I was able to support and encourage her. I pray she will make healthier choices. Perhaps her new plan and sense of peace will translate to a better outcome for her, too. I can’t wait to talk with her in a few weeks!

Some people would say that all things are connected. I choose to give God credit, but even if someone else doesn’t, He still oversees everything and reigns over it all. His decisions carry the most weight, but we get to take a part in what happens. On a personal level, our choices today set us up for the future, and they can also influence others people. It can feel like a lot of responsibility, but I am grateful for Jesus’ help! In His Name, we can “spur one another on toward love and good deeds!”

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Heavenly Father, You are sovereign and good. Thanks for Your help and favor. Help me choose well and be a blessing for others. Draw us close to You, in Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: What are your thoughts on the ripple effect in your life? Where do you see God working right now?

Task: Prayerfully consider your day and see how everything is connected. Ask the Lord to help you make choices that positively impact others.

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

Finding Grace #538

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 calm week.

On Sunday after church, Lydia and I drove an hour to Detroit Lakes to spend the afternoon. We walked through a flea market, stopped by a car dealership to dream a little, and then went to a bookstore and food co-op downtown. We were thinking of Dave on Father’s Day and thought going on a little adventure would honor him best!

It was pretty routine as far as work. Lots of patients, some cancellations, and no-shows. I always think it will be a challenge to get everything done, but somehow Jesus always helps me finish all my charting! Thanks, Lord!

On Friday afternoon, I took Lydia to the mall to hang out with friends. I went back to work for a bit, then picked Lydia up. She and one friend wanted to walk around a little longer, and so we did a little shopping. It was fun to hang out with them and listen to them interact. Later, I dropped the friend off at her house, and Lydia and I watched a movie.

I loved the weather this week! The temperatures were mild, not too hot nor too cold. It rained on and off, but it was the perfect mix of sun and clouds. This is a really beautiful season!

Today, I worked on little projects around the house. It was nice not to rush. I do my best work when I can take my sweet time, so I relish the opportunity. Lydia helped me in the kitchen, and we enjoyed the time together!

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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, Food and Nutrition, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Worship

Summer Lovin’

The best thing about Summer is that everything feels so relaxed. At least in my world. Sure, there are plenty of things going on, but it all feels easier. We don’t have to clear snow or drive cautiously due to ice. We don’t have to wear heavy layers, and if I want to let my hair air dry, I can. It stays light until around 10 p.m. at the height of the season, so I feel like I have so much more time. In fact, because of this, I try harder to stick to a bedtime, but either way, it all seems to run more smoothly in the morning.

With nothing urgent or pressing to share today, I thought it would be fun to make a list of some things I am loving right now. Here goes, in no particular order!

Reading! For my book club, I read Murder, Motherhood, and Miraculous Grace by Debra Moerke. It came out in 2019, but covers a few decades of her life as a foster parent. It was sad but also quite compelling. I was amazed at all God brought her through! Highly recommend!

Skinny Dipped dark peanut butter cups. FYI, I have several foods on the list. I’m a dietitian, so why not? I got these from Costco. Dark chocolate, less sugar. So tasty! I still enjoy Reese’s, but these are a little healthier. 😉

Games with Lydia. We’ve played classics like Clue, Uno, Leaps and Ledges, and a few others. It is great because we laugh and don’t feel the need to rush.

Lemon almond “parmesan.” Not real cheese, but really good. I have been sprinkling it on everything, and it only takes a few minutes to make! Seriously, check it out!

Campbell’s UNSALTED soups. This is long overdue in my opinion. I am thrilled to recommend these soups. There are three that I know of so far. The tomato soup is delicious on its own or in a casserole. I have the others in my pantry to try soon!

AI meal plans to make my job easier. Ironically, I have yet to give any of these meal plans out, but I am practicing in anticipation of using the concepts very soon. Dietitians teach people how to follow healthy guidelines, but people still want to know “exactly” what to eat. This drives me nuts because I see it as a waste of time. Most people have some sort of routine, healthy or not, so they end up not liking it when I tell them what to eat or do.

The Healing Garden at work. This has a variety of colors and flowers from Spring to Fall. I love the peaceful walk through it as I go back and forth to work and home. I sometimes take pictures of the pretty blooms and always look forward to seeing what is new.

Driving with Lydia. We have been all over lately to get her experience and stack her hours. She is actually a good, calm driver (another way she’s like Dave, thank God!), and we have enjoyed exploring new parts of town! It has been fun to see her rise to the occasion!

The animals in my yard. The cotton-tailed rabbits are so funny, and we laugh each time we see them chasing each other. We also see them lounging in the yard, like they have no cares in the world. The only thing that makes us laugh just as much is the family of quail or partridges that runs around the neighborhood. Oh, I also enjoy all the songbirds, but I haven’t seen as many of them since I am gone during the day!

Excellent sermons at church. God has been doing a good work in us! You can check out the sermons for yourself here! The Hebrews series was especially good!

Thanks for reading and following along each week! I really appreciate your ongoing support and encouragement. Today, I pray you’ll see God’s goodness all around you!

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Father God, thanks for all You do for me. Thanks for the evidence of Your love in my life. You surround me with abundant grace! Open my eyes so I can see more of You! In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: What are your top ten favorite things about summer right now?

Task: Make a list of all the things you are thankful for this week! Be sure to praise God!

Posted on in Being Gracious, Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Personality, Prayer, Wisdom

Priceless

I was reading in Acts 19 recently, which talks about the Apostle Paul in Ephesus. He spent a lot of time there and grew to know those believers well. Through an interesting series of events, the believers began to radically change how they lived. They threw away resources related to idol worship and sorcery, a value of “50,000 drachmas,” when one drachma was worth a day laborer’s wage.

At one point, the local silversmiths and tradesmen resented Paul’s influence on their businesses. So, they gathered a bunch of ruffians and sparked a riot. The local amphitheater, seating around 25,000 people, was full of arguing and confusion. Eventually, after two hours, they were dismissed by the city clerk. If they didn’t disperse, the Roman officials would come to enforce their rule.

The crowd never did lay their hands on Paul, but they did rough up some of his companions. After that, in Acts 20, Paul left Ephesus (modern Turkiye) for other towns to encourage more believers. What stuck with me, though, was the 50,000 drachmas…

I had Lydia help me try to wrap our minds around this. It could be 10 days’ worth of money for 5,000 people, or any other combination. The amount is worth around $6 million dollars in today’s value!

I imagine it would take several of my neighbors and me selling our modest homes together to raise that much cash. The Ephesian believers, at least at that point in time, had their priorities straight. You can read more about them in Ephesians and Revelation 2.

Jesus is greater and more worthy. Following Him is costly, but the rewards are priceless. He is our Lord and King, but He takes good care of us, too. Similarly, we buy good things for our children and sometimes bless them as God has blessed us.

On Saturday, I bought Lydia a brand-new viola. I rented for the last three years and had a store credit to put towards buying one for her. She had some concerns with her rental viola, showing she knows the difference between what is working and what is broken.

I knew it was a matter of time before I had to make a decision, since many high schoolers transition to their own instruments. With it being summer, our schedule is a little more open, and it’s a good time to get comfortable with a new instrument before school starts up again.

We spent two hours at the store, and Lydia tried out five violas! We took notes on each one, and she played each one a couple of times. The last one literally came alive when she played, and she was all smiles. Of course, it happened to be the most expensive!

Still, I learned so much and considered the cost as an investment in her. She has a good ear for music, and she understands things more intuitively than some of her peers. It seems that some students cannot discern the subtleties among notes, problems, instrument quality, and the like, but Lydia can.

Oddly, choosing the right viola felt like a personal test for me. I have faced times where spending a little more money was the wise thing to do, but I went back and forth over whether it was worth it (and if I was worth it). Can you relate?

For example, thirteen years ago, when I was buying my new Subaru, I was unsure whether paying extra for a better backup camera was worth it. In my grief, I wondered if I could get by on the lesser one. But, through prayer, reflection, and some wise advice, I made the better choice. Now, I use my car’s backup camera daily!

When I realized what God wanted me to do on Saturday, I welled up with gratitude. I have learned a lot about how much God values me. I wanted to emphasize that to Lydia, too. She is a priceless treasure and worth way more than the cost of the new viola!

The amount was close to what I expected and planned for, just a little stretch. And I know there will be days when Lydia does not want to practice. I told her that if she decides to quit later in high school, then I get to keep the viola for myself. I don’t have much musical talent, so the thought of me screeching on it is enough for Lydia to take me seriously!

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God, thanks for showing us how precious we are to You. You are worthy of all our praise and adoration. Help us reflect all Your goodness and give You all the glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: How has God been stretching you lately? What stood out to you in the post above?

Task: Next time you are faced with a costly decision, think through what is really at stake and how you can trust God to make the best choice. Also, watch this insightful archaeology documentary on the seven churches of Revelation, including Ephesus (17 minutes in)!

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

Finding Grace #535

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 turned out better than expected! It was rather low-key after all.

This week, I covered inpatient for a few days at work. Thankfully, it was less busy than usual. I don’t know if it was because of staff vacations or just God’s grace. But He helped two coworkers and me hold down the fort.

We are enjoying the slower Summer pace. It is easier to run errands since the weather is so nice. Also, Lydia slept in and did some chores, and I took walks at work on my breaks!

Today, we did our Saturday things and then went to a music store. I ended up buying Lydia a new viola! She was ready for the upgrade, and the rental was limiting her growth. Lydia is so grateful. It is fun to see her excitement and hear her play! I am looking forward to seeing what she can do now!

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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, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Worship

Celebrating One Hundred Years

As I mentioned previously, my church celebrated its 100th anniversary on Saturday! It was a fun event, and Lydia and I enjoyed seeing old news articles, church bulletins, and pictures from the ’80s (big hair!).

There was food, and some of it was typical party food from a few decades ago. We had small sandwiches, a veggie tray, homemade butter mints, and something my local friends grew up eating: cinnamon bread with cheese whiz and sliced green olives. I haven’t tried it, but apparently many people love it!

I enjoyed seeing so many people I knew. In some cases, it has been years! I saw some of our former pastors and friends who have moved away. It was fun to ask people how many years they had spent at this particular church. A few moved to Fargo around the time I did, but I was surprised that many have been there all their lives!

In 1924, there was a revival in Fargo, and by 1926, 82 people had joined together to hold prayer meetings. An oil salesman ended up becoming the first pastor. Our current building was made in the early 1980s, and the rest is history!

We looked back on some good times and some tough times. We reviewed how those events set us up for today, some of the most exciting days of seeing God move. We also prayed about our future trajectory over the next 100 years, if Jesus doesn’t come back first!

As followers of Jesus, we are called to not stop meeting together as a Church (Hebrews 10:25). That’s where He does His best work!

God is in the business of setting people free. We celebrated 100 years of answered prayers and people being healed. That includes jail ministry and addiction recovery. We’ve had a hundred years of communion, baptisms, giving, mission trips, and community service. God has always been faithful, and He will continue doing so!

We had two guest speakers: one from the North Dakota Assemblies of God church network and the other the leader of our national denomination. They spoke about leaning on Jesus and passing the baton to the upcoming generations. It was a blessing and an honor to have them with us.

One thing that stood out to me is what God can do with the little we have. A hundred years ago, the people gave sacrificially to plant ministry seeds in faith. They showed up each week to serve and were willing to come early and stay late. As we carry on and do likewise, we are helping create opportunities to know Jesus and become like Him.

Finally, I was struck by the laughter and rejoicing around me. It reminded me of a family reunion, and I reflected on how this was just one part of God’s family. We have many more churches locally, regionally, and in our hemisphere. It was exciting and humbling to think about how Heaven will be when we run into people we recognize from all walks of life. Wow!!

Praise God that He is over all our failures and divisions, and also our successes. Jesus is way more important than our choices, feelings, or even where we go to church. He is the Great Shepherd, and He is calling you into personal fellowship with Him today. Connect with Him, and He will lead you where He wants you!

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Lord, thanks for being so faithful. You are building Your Church, and You never fail. Thanks for leading us and guiding us. May we bring You glory in all we do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Did you grow up with church dinners or potlucks? What was one food you hated, and one you couldn’t get enough of?

Task: If you don’t know Jesus personally, as Lord and Savior, I urge you to think about this today. What is stopping you from accepting God’s free gift? This life is so short, and I want to see you in eternity! Feel free to reach out to me with any questions.

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

Finding Grace #534

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 good all around!

On Sunday, we went to church, and then Lydia stayed to serve in the kids’ ministry (they didn’t need me that day). So, I walked down the street to Starbucks, got a cup of coffee, and then walked through the neighborhood. It was a beautiful and very quiet day. I loved looking at all the pretty flowering crab trees and lilacs!

On Monday, Lydia went to a lake with some friends for Memorial Day. I stayed home and finally finished some continuing education that has been hanging over my head. It was good to have the day off work, and I am grateful for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, so we can have freedom.

Work went well this week. I had my own patients and then also covered on the inpatient/hospital side for a couple of days. It was busy, but not too bad! I even took a few a walk outside in the 85-95 degree heat!

Today, Lydia and I went to another high school graduation party, this time a coworker’s son. It is always fun to see her family and cheer on her kids. After that, we went to church for a special open house. We celebrated one hundred years of being a church in our area! It was awesome to see so many people from my ~16 years in Fargo! God is so faithful!

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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)!