Goals Are Only a Guide

Yesterday, we had our annual goals meeting at work. We do this every year, focusing on national and departmental VA goals. The funny thing is, I never really have any goals that match my manager’s expectations. It’s almost a running joke at this point!

This level of goal setting is above and beyond our normal work duties, which are already immense! So, it’s good to challenge ourselves but it’s not the end of the world. I usually offer to help others with their goals, and that is good enough.

It’s not that I don’t have goals – I have lots! I love learning, but not all of my interests are transferrable at work or a good fit for my patients. For instance, I am interested in plant-based diets and would love to promote them more often. Yet, it’s not for everyone, especially a population that is often rural, mostly male, and meat-loving. These guys tend to rely on microwave meals or let their wives do all the cooking.

Also, focusing on my own mobility exercises has been key for me lately, but that’s a bit out of my current scope of practice. Even if I decide to train in this area (a fitness or pain certification to complement my foodie side), I may not be able to apply it as well as I would like. But it’s something I am considering!

Free goal target success illustration

For me, it’s a good sign I don’t want to set excessive goals. I want to do exactly what God is calling me to do. No more and no less. I don’t have to be perfect or overachieve. My top goals are to stay close to Jesus, listen to the Holy Spirit, and bring my Heavenly Father glory through serving and loving others. Everything else is just a bonus! 

God is good at showing me when I need to make a change, personally or professionally. He leads me and is patient with me until I get where I need to be. Therefore, if God Himself is not telling me anything different, I can be at peace. I don’t need to apologize or explain anything. I trust I am on track!

Goals are good, but they are only a guide. They don’t override God’s plan for me!

I always aim to go above and beyond to meet the needs of my patients, even when it is inconvenient. I don’t see that changing any time soon! But, God has given me a lot to do outside of work, too! As a single mom, I need to use my energy wisely.

Free Road Curve photo and picture

Prayerfully, my long-term work goals are fairly simple and have worked well so far!

  1. Eat a good breakfast since I don’t know when I will get to eat my lunch. I always manage to eat, but it’s not always predictable due to patient care.

  2. Show up. There are gonna be days I just don’t “feel” like going to work. Do it anyway. (As it is, I find I am always happier when I go and see people. I hate to miss something important!)

  3. Have a good attitude. Be a team player. Smile! I can encourage those around me, and not complain or drag them down.

  4. Have patience with my patients. Every day is different, and I work with a wide variety of personalities and problems. There are similarities, but there are still so many nuances. I have to bust myths and break through barriers daily!

  5. Do my best and minimize “late notes.” This is more of a behind-the-scenes billing thing, but I can only do my best!

I am beyond grateful for where God has me right now. This time, this space, this routine. My coworkers and family and responsibilities. I know things will change someday, but I am content going at His pace and walking in His peace.

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Heavenly Father, thanks for taking such good care of me. You are so gracious and kind to provide for me and lead me. Help me stay close to You so I can move when You do! In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you like setting goals? What goals are you working toward right now?

Task: When setting goals, pray first, then make them SMART! That stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-based.

Finding Grace #451

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 Bridge Park photo and picture

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

This was a good week! It was fairly quiet but busy all the same. 

We served at church on Sunday, and it is always fun to stand on the balcony where we greet the kids coming to Sunday School. I like to watch families and friends connect with each other. Later, I went to a vision and planning meeting, and it is exciting to see all God is doing in our church and community!

The weather has been beautiful this season. I am still watching the trees turn, though more leaves are starting to fall now. I have not needed to break out my jacket yet, so I am grateful for every day that goes by without snow. When it comes, that will be fine, but I’m in no rush! In fact, I mowed one last time this week, just the parts that needed it, since much of the grass has stopped growing.

Today, Lydia and I joined several my coworkers in helping a friend on our team. After an unfortunate event last year, she needed to inventory her entire house for insurance to determine replacement costs. It would take months for her and her husband to do it independently, as they have three little kids and full-time jobs. It has turned their lives upside down, as they have been displaced this whole time. Having them jump through all these hoops is unrealistic when it was not their fault. So, today was huge. Nine of us put in about 26 hours of effort (combined) in a few short hours working together. There is still more to do, and I hope this expedites things since the legal matters are also adding up! I was missing Dave today, as he loved to serve in practical ways!

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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)!

On Going Down Rabbit Holes

If you know me well, you will know I go ALL IN when I get into a topic. I enjoy diving deep and learning everything there is to know about it. The history, the pros, the cons, the practical application, who is involved, if I can do anything with it personally, and so on. You could say I like to go down rabbit holes of knowledge!

I have a ton of tabs open on my phone, my home laptop, and my work laptop. It may sound chaotic, but they are not distractions for me. They are simply things I am not finished with yet! I hope to get back to them, but it might take some time. When I have the day off, I love to catch up and clear out my tabs to move onto other topics!

Recent topics at work and home have included many concepts, such as muscles in the hip (to understand my pain there); exercises to help said hip; cooking all sorts of foods; the electron transport chain; how to reinforce a shelf in my garage; how post-it notes are made; types of maple trees; Bible maps and archaeology; various podcasts; biographies of people involved with the Protestant Reformation; and more.

Free Books Bookshelves photo and picture

As you may guess, it’s a family thing. I am just like my dad in this, though I doubt he has as many tabs as me. I’m thankful my mom always encouraged us to cultivate curiosity. Probably explains also have an ever growing “to be read” book list…

One year, we went to several Civil War battlefields. We trekked all over the South to see them. We went to Corinth, Mississippi as well as Shiloh, Tennessee, among others. It was a lot of car time together, but we had fun!

Another time, we were in North Carolina for a family reunion. Dad and his brother, Charlie, took eight hours to tour a battleship… twice. I’m fairly certain they read every single placard on repeat! I had to be patient because they were my ride!

Last spring, I was talking with my dad at my aunt’s funeral. I asked if he and Mom planned to stop at a Civil War site on their way home. He said something that surprised me. “Well, I used to be into that, and while it is good to know history, I have decided it is less important to me now.”

The closer he gets to Jesus, things of this world fade away. Yes, it has been implied if we don’t learn from history, we are destined to repeat it. But, all the books and knowledge he had on the topic don’t matter all that much in light of who Jesus is and what He is doing. The past is the past, and we live in the present… but Eternity is our future.

Since then, I have been re-evaluating some of my rabbit holes. Even if they are benign (stuffed cabbage recipe, anyone?!). But, if they distract me from God’s purposes, I should delete them.

This idea also applies to television shows, political topics, shopping for the latest trend, following your favorite celebrity, etc. If they distract us from Jesus, they have to go!

I’m grateful God knows our tendencies, preferences, and limitations. None of that surprises Him, and He can use it all for His glory, if we are willing to let it all go for something greater! Yes, let’s dive deep into knowing Jesus and go all in for Him!

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God, You are higher and greater than anything in this world. Help us lay down any distractions so we may pivot and focus on You. We want to know You more! In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Is there something that is distracting you from Jesus today? What are you going to do about it?

Tasks: Be willing to lay aside all your passions, dreams, and stuff to follow Jesus. He may use some of those things for His purposes, but ultimately, He wants your trust and obedience. Don’t hold onto temporary things at the cost of losing the eternal.

Tuning Out and Tuning In

What do you think of when you hear or read the word “tune?” You may think of the melody in a piece of music, or an action, such as tuning a radio or tuning an instrument. This may include picking up a new frequency as you drive along or changing the channel to find something new. We can also take our vehicle in for a tune-up.

Just as we can tune in, we can tune out! For instance, we can tune out background noise when having a conversation. Or, sometimes, I am playing a game on my phone, and Lydia asks me a question. Not too often, but it does happen, and I have to ask her to repeat her request. We can also tune out of social media or television shows or sinful habits.

I read an article yesterday (not worth posting here) about how people are tuning out political advertising regarding the upcoming November elections. Each side is spending a lot of money to convince voters, and very few of us are paying attention! It seems people have already made up their minds and don’t care about the details now. Or, perhaps they are just tired of the incessant barrage of information! Maybe that’s just me?!

Politics are important, yes. It is our right, privilege, and duty to vote! But, regardless of who ends up winning, God is still in control. He will use anyone in office for His ultimate purposes. Whether they know Him or not. So, we don’t put our hope in a mere human, but in Jesus alone!

Free Violin Musical Instrument photo and picture

The closer we draw to Jesus, we start to see things as they really are. As we tune out of world’s noise, the less thrilling it becomes. At best, our bling becomes blah. At worst, well, I’m thinking total filth, dirty rags. The glamour and excitement fade away when we realize all Jesus has done for us. That’s not to say things aren’t still worthwhile; it’s just that they don’t hold power over us anymore.

Nothing and no one compares to Jesus! In Him, we can lay down our desires and expectations and look for greater things. All things become new!

There are many ways to draw close and tune our hearts to God. We can pray and seek Him as we go about our day. We can read the Bible and learn about Him. We can listen for His voice and do what He says, right away. Trust and obey!

We can tune in for a deeper understanding of who God is and what He has done for us. We can better grasp His forgiveness, which changes everything! We can drop all pretense that it all depends on us. We can eagerly await eternity with Jesus, yet live for Him today!

We can observe His work in our lives. He has good plans for our lives, and we just have to walk them out. With gratitude, we can find His grace and provision for all our needs!

Wherever you find yourself today, I encourage you to tune in to all God has for you! Perhaps sing a little melody to Him. He is so good!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for all You do for us! Help us turn away from worthless things, and help us tune in to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Who or what are you tuning into this week? Where is your hope? Do you need a tune-up?

Task: Listen to this old hymn: “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” 

Finding Grace #449

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 a special kind of grace, a sweet mix of work and rest.

Work was busy, like usual, but somehow, it all turned out well. I was able to stay on top of my charting and help a few of my coworkers. I am grateful for God’s help!

On Wednesday, I had the opportunity to meet and listen to a well-known plant-based doctor and researcher speak at the Fargo Theater downtown. Dr. Neal Barnard lives in the Washington, DC area, but he grew up in Fargo! I have many plant-based nutrition books, but I bought one of his new ones so he could sign it. 🙂 He said he wanted to clone me as a dietitian! 🙂 He was very down-to-earth, and his sister and three brothers sat behind me. Dr. Barnard was an excellent speaker, so funny and relatable. Naturally, he talked a lot about fruits, veggies, and antioxidants! Indeed, I may use some of his examples for my own patients. It was a really cool event, and I will keep thinking about it in the coming days!

Before that, I went back to Trefoil Park and noticed even more fall colors since I was there last week. I spent quite a while walking around and taking pictures. In fact, this was a great week for nature walks! I went to Lindenwood Park (ND) and Gooseberry Park (MN) on Friday to do the same, and I also walked around my neighborhood on a hunt for pretty trees! It was a gorgeous week!

Today, Lydia and I have mostly relaxed. I worked on a few small projects and made some vegetable soup. We are rewatching The Chosen and might play a game, too!

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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)!

Autumnal Antioxidants

It’s amazing how two days can make such a difference in autumnal colors! I took a picture of one of my maple trees on Sunday and then again yesterday. It was a much brighter red! You can see what I mean on my blog Facebook page.

Right after I took the picture yesterday, Lydia told me what she is learning in science class. She is learning about photosynthesis, cell respiration, and fermentation. She described aerobic and anaerobic processes, simple sugar molecules, and leaf pigments. Soon, we tied this back to our maple tree; as the chlorophyll reduces, all the other colors show through!

Lydia was shocked that I understood and use these scientific concepts several times a week in gut health and general nutrition. I explained that leaf pigments show us the antioxidants represented by their colors and how this carries over to plant foods. I always tell my patients to eat the colors of the rainbow when eating fruits and vegetables. They are helpful for cancer prevention, managing blood sugar, protecting the heart, calming down inflammation in the body, and much more! So, if you have pain or health concerns, consider how you can increase your produce!

Free Raspberries Blueberries photo and picture

Two examples of powerful antioxidants are carotenoids and anthocyanins. Carotenoids are a large family, and beta-carotene is a precursor to vitamin A. It is found in carrots and sweet potatoes, for instance. Anthocyanins are found in red, blue, and purple fruits and vegetables. Think of eggplants, red onions, blueberries, blackberries, and dark grapes. Additionally, green foods contain chlorophyll and other antioxidants, as well as those in the red, yellow, and orange color groups. The darker the color, the more antioxidants. Thus, the blues and greens are among the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet! But, even lighter whites, like onions, potatoes, and cauliflower count!

Plants, such as fruits and vegetables, are nutritional powerhouses! In addition to antioxidants, they also have tons of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. They are low in calories, which means they can help someone lose weight while maximizing nutrients. Just about everyone should eat a wide variety of produce every day.

However, a few people do need to be wise with their choices. Whole fruits and vegetables are typically better than juices because of the fiber. Certain people have chewing difficulties, so maybe they need softer, cooked items. Or, if someone has kidney stones, they may need to reduce those high in oxalates. Some may need to choose lower potassium options, but most Americans simply don’t eat enough fruits or vegetables! Sadly, many people think fruit-flavored cereal or treats, or powdered vegetable supplements are the same.

Free Fruits Fresh photo and picture

I am so blessed that God makes nutrition so practical (and tasty!). Nutrition is not rocket science; much of it is common sense. God made it fun and pleasant to eat His provision. We can eat according to what is in season and save a little money (fresh, frozen, or canned). What grace! But, it can still be challenging since people get confused by what they see or read online. I often have to bust through nutrition myths. 

Anyway, I enjoyed connecting with Lydia on a topic we can both use and understand. I might have “nerded out” a little on her when explaining the glucose and fructose metabolism, but I know she still loves me. 😉

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God, thanks for helping us understand how You made the world, especially in ways that help our bodies. Thanks for providing us with good, healthy food. May we delight in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: What are your favorite fruits and veggies? How are you incorporating them into your meals this season?

Task: Aim to eat the best quality food you can afford across all food groups. Check out this helpful website for ways to eat more fruits and veggies!

 

 

Finding Grace #448

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 fun-filled week! I worked hard but also intentionally rested.

Work went well, and we started a new fiscal year. I had several good patients and had a mix of meetings, webinars, and problem-solving.

Yesterday, after work, I went to a park nearby to read and walk around. It was beautiful! I stayed about two hours and then went to some gardens by NDSU, where I spent another hour or so. The flowers were so pretty. While I was there, I called my mom, and I loved catching up!

After that, I met six coworkers for dinner at a local speakeasy-type restaurant. It was dark and hidden, though not really a secret! We split some yummy appetizers and laughed a lot. We can’t wait to go out again soon!

This morning, Lydia and I met some friends for coffee. We stayed nearly three hours chatting with the mom and daughter! It was fun, and I am sure we could have stayed a lot longer! 😀

Later, we did a few chores but mostly relaxed. I did a little exercise and also took a nap!

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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)!

No One Beside Jesus

A few Sunday evenings ago, my family was on Zoom when my four-year-old nephew, Alex, brought out his Beginner’s Bible. He started going through it page by page, and my sister answered his questions. Alex would point to a Bible character on the cover and then go find them in the book. “That’s David. He was a king. That’s Samson. He was strong.”

Alex has been learning about Moses at preschool, so we heard how he was in a basket in the river because he was in danger. Alex doesn’t understand the rest of the story yet, but it was cute!

Soon, he got to Jesus! He spent several minutes going through Jesus’ life. “That’s him as a baby. There he is with some kids. Why is he on the cross? Who were the robbers?” My sister explained that Jesus didn’t do anything wrong, so he didn’t deserve to die, but the robbers did. The next page showed the tomb guarded by the Roman soldier, and next was the empty grave! 

I could have watched Alex talk about Jesus and his Bible all day. It was precious to see his little heart open up, a great reminder that Jesus is for everyone. The gospel is so simple that even a four-year-old can understand it! Awhile back, I bought him a Jesus Storybook Bible, and I am sure he will be into that one of these days.

Free Bible Book photo and picture

The gospel is GOOD NEWS, but it is not necessarily easy. It can be tough to come to terms with our sin and change our trajectory. Thankfully, with the loving help and conviction of the Holy Spirit, we don’t have to do it alone. Jesus did all the heavy work!

It is vital to know what you believe and why. This includes connecting with God through daily prayer and Bible reading. It means reading Scripture for yourself and wrestling with its meaning. It’s learning about the heart of God.

I love resources that can help! A good concordance or commentary can be really helpful. Learning the cultural and historical context can help you glean more insights you might have missed! I also thought this article was on identifying true and false ‘gospels.’

For the month of October, Desiring God has a special project, Here We Stand, to highlight short biographies of people whose choices and convictions led to the Protestant Reformation. Regardless of your denomination, it is helpful to learn the history of our faith! Who knows—perhaps there is some value if you are Catholic as well!

We have been singing a song lately at church, called “No One Beside,” by Elevation Worship. I have had it in my head for the last three days! The chorus is as follows:

Oh magnify the Lord
Let us exalt His name together

No one beside You, Lord
Honor and praise are Yours forever

Offhand, I don’t know the rest of the lyrics, but you can listen to them here. 🙂

Today, I am meditating on what it means to have ‘no one beside’ Jesus. The entire Bible is about Him! Jesus is the King of the Universe, and all things were made through Him and for Him. Nobody but Jesus died and rose again to save me and give me eternal life and the riches of HIs grace. He alone is worthy of all my praise!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for the gift of Jesus! Help me keep Jesus as the most important thing, first and foremost. In His Name, Amen

Question:  What does it mean to you to have ‘no one beside’ Jesus? How does that impact your life and personal choices?

Task: Take a little time to consider how you can put Jesus first. Also, maybe check out the Here We Stand biographies (at the bottom of the web page)! There will be a new one posted every day in October!

Finding Grace #447

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 Autumn Color Swedish Mountain Ash photo and picture

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

This week was good but required a little more patience than usual. All week, I was behind slow-moving traffic and experienced various roadblocks and ongoing construction. This has been going all summer, of course, but this week felt excessive. LOL I had a few tech issues with the internet and password issues. I had to wait for people to answer texts, emails, and phone calls, etc. I’m still working on my long to-do list, but I’m grateful for the Lord refining me and reminding me to slow down and go at His pace.

In August, I reached five years at the Fargo VA, and on Friday, I was given a VA mug and five-year pin! It was a cool surprise after a very full, but good, week serving my patients. It’s an honor to serve these Veterans in practical ways! I also love my coworkers. We have a wonderful team!

Yesterday, a friend and I met for lunch after work. We always have fun catching up! Then, Lydia and I went to Menards for some home items. I needed some new light switches to replace the ones in Lydia’s room. I did that when we came home and did a few other house chores, as well.

Today, we babysat for a coworker while she and her husband finished an outdoor project. I offered to help so they could complete it before the weather changes. We had fun with her three-year-old and one-year-old boys!

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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)!

Healing Connections

Pain comes in many forms and is an excellent signal that we must pay attention and address an issue. It can be physical, mental, emotional, relational, or spiritual (sometimes all of the above). Each of us should determine the cause and solution and seek professional input if needed. Often, we can start with the basics on our own!

On Sunday after church, I went to the front of the sanctuary for prayer for my hip and back. Both muscles and nerves connect the two areas I am dealing with. I have been praying and practicing mobility exercises to improve my flexibility and relieve pressure.

The lady who prayed reminded me it’s all God’s power combined with my faith, not her words, that brings healing. Even today, I still feel a little pain, but it is improving!

Praying in faith is key, but we can also take practical action. On Monday, I decided to try a new three-week program for a healthy back. I appreciated the hip challenge I did recently, and the back version is equally intriguing and educational!

As we know, God can heal instantaneously, but often, it takes time. In my case, nerve impingement likely happened over many years of repetitive motion. So, it seems, I need to learn how to take better care of myself and let God heal me that way. Then, I can sustain the results!

Free Woman Exercise photo and picture

Instead of trying to diagnose myself, I am simply working on a total body approach. It’s all connected and if one area is feeling “off” chances are at least one other area is, too!

I have been learning a lot lately. Muscles, bones, and nerves are all related but show up in separate issues. Sure, I learned some of this in my college courses, but it has been a while, and it is good to have a refresher!

On Monday night, I started week five of my mobility routine. I have been doing the exercises four times a week, so this was round seventeen. I was praying, and suddenly, something just clicked!

After that, I was able to do all fifteen exercises fairly easily! I have been able to do most of them but struggled to do three or four because my hip wouldn’t go past a certain point without pain or catching.

I was in awe and yelled for Lydia to come and watch. Praise God! Even if it gets a little tight again, I know healing is close at hand! I woke up the next day still able to do the exercises, though I still need to practice.

Then, yesterday, I had a follow-up appointment with a certain Veteran. We previously connected over being authors. God used the act of writing to help me lead this patient to make changes.

We talked on the phone this time, and immediately, he wanted to discuss my book. He had read the entire thing and marked a few pages that he had questions about. He really wanted to talk about healing.

He asked about page 107 and asked me to verify what I wrote: that spiritual health is more important than physical healing. He was fascinated by this and mentioned that we often pray for temporary physical results but run the risk of overlooking eternal spiritual matters.

We briefly discussed how Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, but eventually, even he had to die again. I also quoted 3 John 1:2, which hit home for him.

God is always faithful and willing to heal, one way or another. At the same time, He is gracious in teaching us about His power, love, and provision along the way. He can use pain or wellness to our benefit, though our wounds may accomplish more as we draw close to Him.

We did manage to discuss nutrition, of course, but it was so cool to see how my story was helping this man think about God’s healing in new ways!

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Father God, thanks for all the ways you heal us and make us whole. Help us seek You more than what You can do for us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: What is God teaching you this week? How is He healing you or changing your perspective?

Task: Bring all your aches, wounds, grief, and expectations to Jesus. Praise Him through the pain. He will never let you down. Nothing is impossible for God!!