Category: Miscellaneous

Posted on in Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance, Wisdom

Never Stop Learning

Sometimes there are those moments where you realize, “God’s not done with me yet.” Perhaps you survived a life-threatening event, or perhaps it’s just that you have more to learn. I’m sure there are many instances in between these two examples!!

In my case, lately, I have been learning more about all sorts of topics. These include health, nutrition, cooking, and also God’s Word, the Bible. I have even been playing around with calligraphy, painting and photography, too… nothing to show, just learning more about them!

I have also seen little reminders that I need to be vigilant against fear. If you have read my book, you’ll know I handle this much better now. Nonetheless, fear is subtle and I have to constantly be on guard and ready to defeat lies with the Truth.

No worries! Choosing faith over fear is just part of the life to which God is calling us.

Math, Blackboard, Education, Classroom, Chalkboard

Case in point: Have you ever felt like a challenge you are facing is a “perfect storm” situation? Like the situation evolved so “only you” can make a difference, or the battle is yours to lose? Like the situation was designed according to your fears or the problems you face?

I understand, and I am thankful that God Himself helps us carry the burden. But maybe you could think about it this way: Perhaps the problem is tailored to your strengths, to show what you know, so you can become more of who God made you to be.

And, if God is for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31)? Failure isn’t really final if we acquire knowledge and skill. So hang in there!

It seems God lets us walk through trials so He can test us. He sees our gut reactions and if we are relying on Him or ourselves. He “proves” our heart to see if it is still tender and obedient, malleable to His will.

Yes, God uses these challenges to stretch us and prepare us for greater things. And, you know what? He walks through them with us.

I believe we can learn from anyone in any circumstance, what to do or not to do. I often learn from Lydia! One day, she came to me and said, “Mom, did you know the word ‘realize’ is like ‘real eyes’? I loved that she came up with that fitting way of explaining it!

My interpretation of Lydia’s insight is this: When we see our circumstances through our real eyes, that is God’s perspective and Truth, we will realize just how much He loves us and cares for us. He’s not done with us yet!

Our Heavenly Father is our Teacher, Protector, and Provider. He is infinite so there is always something to learn! Every day, we have new opportunities to go deeper with Jesus!

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God, thanks for Your patience in teaching me. Help me rely on You in every circumstance. Help me grow and learn so I am not found lacking. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: What is God teaching you right now? What are you doing about that?

Task: Listen to the song, “God’s Not Done with You,” by Tauren Wells. Everyone learns at different paces, so what seems basic to you might seem life-changing for someone else. Maybe that you are struggling with someone else sailed through. Let’s bring encouragement and support!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #306

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

Bird, Blue Tit, Winter, Tree Branches, Frost, Frosty

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

This was a fun week! On Sunday before church, I spent a little extra time snow blowing and shoveling. It felt good to get my driveway cleaned up! And, it set me up well for when it snowed again later in the week.

This was the first full week of work I have had since the beginning of December. With traveling, Lydia being sick, and the holidays, it’s been a while! Perhaps that sounds like a luxury, but it felt good and I really love my team. I’m glad I was able to help some with some extra patients. We have some new coworkers, too,  and they fit in really well. Also, this week I met a Veteran who worked with Dave at Caterpillar!

I made more progress with my Ruth journible. It is such a rewarding experience!

On Friday, we had more snow. It was less than expected, but Lydia was able to do some remote learning for school at the Y (since they closed schools the night before). We had a good day; I went to Costco and picked up Lydia early. We dropped off a little gift for a friend and then watched a movie together!

Today, we stayed home and knocked a few things off our to-do lists. It always feels good to get caught up around the house! And, I’m grateful for the moments I have with Lydia!

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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, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Wisdom

Reflecting on Ruth

Recently I started another Journible! I went through the Gospel of John in 2018 and finished the book of Jude last month (a quick win because it’s only twenty-five verses)!

Next, I am going through Ruth! I just started this week, but already it has impacted me. If you have read my book, then you’ll know I pay extra attention to widows in the Bible. Ruth is not a new story to me, but I am learning new things as I write God’s word line by line!

In short, Ruth was an outsider and a foreigner. She left all she knew in the country of Moab to follow her mother-in-law back to Israel. She gleaned barley in a field to make ends meet. In time, Ruth met Boaz, and he became her kinsman-redeemer, marrying her.

Then, they had a baby, and eventually, Ruth became the great-grandmother of King David. All in all, the book of Ruth is a beautiful love story showing God’s faithfulness.

But, that’s not what caught my attention.

Jesus, God, Christ, Holy, Spirit, Ruth, Bible, Gospel

Instead, I quickly noticed how Ruth went against the grain. She moved toward God when most people at that time were doing their own thing and worshiping other gods (Judges 17:6). Yes, Israel was a mess!

Ruth wasn’t the only one, of course. Boaz and Naomi, among others, also followed Godly principles. Though, because Ruth was a foreigner (not a Jew), technically, God’s promises didn’t apply to her. She would have been considered a nobody by the rest of society.

Additionally, Ruth was grieving and suffered major losses. I can understand how she must’ve felt as she lost her husband, her status as a wife, her local support system, her home, and even her culture. She didn’t have much left.

Nonetheless, she bravely sought God above all else.

I appreciate her example!

When everyone was running away from what they knew was right, Ruth ran toward God. She trusted Him to provide for her and protect her. She was willing to work hard and make a fool of herself. Because of that, God honored her decisions.

We have similar choices to consider today.

Has God asked you to do something that seems like a stretch for you? He may be calling you to move forward in a new direction when everyone else is standing still. It may be scary, but don’t be afraid to stand out and take a chance. He’s got you covered.

I love how God used Ruth’s character to change the course of history. (Ruth is in the bloodline of Jesus (Matthew 1:5!!) She could have stayed down and out, disqualifying herself or discounting her skills and purpose. Instead, she chased after the only One who could make it right. 

Let’s be like Ruth and pursue God, not for what He can do for us, but for Who He is. Soak up His grace, mercy, and love. Then, out of that abundance, let’s watch Him move on our behalf!

Today, remember God sees you and knows the challenges you face. Your situation is not a surprise to Him. He has not left you all alone or without help. Trust Him and do the difficult thing!

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God, You are so kind and generous! Thanks for Your grace, mercy, and love. Help us shake off all our doubts and come to You wholeheartedly. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Did you know Boaz’s mother was Rahab, the former prostitute from Jericho? They also were ancestors of Jesus… so don’t you think He can use you, too?

Tasks: Check out the Journible website and join me! Remember, no one is too far gone to be used by God. He can use anyone who is willing to follow after Him!

Posted on in Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perfectionism, Perseverance

Finding Grace #305

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

Landscape, Winter, Forest, Snow, Plantation, Sun, Japan

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

This was a cold, snowy week! The cold and snow are both very normal for this time of the year, so I was not too worried about them. But, a few other factors made for an interesting show of God’s grace!

On Wednesday, Lydia had an unexpected snow day off from school. It was a last-minute decision by the school district. I agreed with what happened, yet Lydia could have been left outside all alone. (The day before, I left her at the bus stop because the bus was running late and I needed to get to work.) I ended up staying home with her,  and we reviewed what to do in that type of situation. I also gave her a house key!

Usually, I work a half-day on Fridays, but this week I was able to work a full day and basically swap my hours from Wednesday when I took off. Essentially, I was able to take the equivalent of a half-day off instead of a whole day. Plus, I was able to cover for a couple of coworkers who were gone on Friday, so it worked well all around!
Friday also happened to be my 14th wedding anniversary (my 9th without Dave here). Lydia and I always miss him, but we had a nice dinner and watched a movie together! A friend sent me a picture of someone reading my book at a gymnastics class. It made my day a little sweeter knowing someone was reading about us!
Today, we went to brunch with a friend/coworker. Then, we went to “help” her pick out a dalmatian puppy! We played with thirteen puppies, and Lydia had fun cuddling one in particular. We are not getting a puppy at this time, but it was sure fun to dream! In reality, I don’t have the bandwidth right now to put in the effort a puppy would require. But, my friend does, so I’m sure we will get to play with her puppy 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 Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Wisdom

Un-Resolutions

Do you make New Year’s resolutions? Many people choose to make self-improvements at this time of year. Yet, after a few weeks, they stop following through. Perhaps they lost their motivation or maybe they tried to change too many things at once?

For me, I simply want to do my best and continue working toward good habits all year long. I want to set myself up for success and sustainability. Small changes add up over time, and slow progress is still moving forward.

We are not guaranteed a certain number of days, but we can make the best of each moment God gives us. We can honor Him and redeem the time.

Beach, Rocks In The Sea, Sea, Sun, Light, Vacations

Instead of resolutions, I simply set an intention this year. Instead of resolving to change a bunch of things, I’m focusing on good boundaries, resting in God’s grace, and taking good care of myself. That may look different from day to day. It’s less about willpower or wishful thinking and more about a mindset.

I do have to occasionally remind myself that close enough is good enough… no need for perfectionism here! I am giving myself credit as long as I show up and keep practicing healthy habits!

If I keep putting one step in front of the other and don’t give up, eventually, I will get where I need to be. Or, in the meantime, God will redirect me and it will turn out better than I had planned. I don’t have to worry; I just have to listen to Him and be flexible.

Yes, challenges and distractions will inevitably come, but we were made to do difficult things. We are more than conquerors, and if God is for us, who can be against us?

I’m not saying to slack off or don’t try to make positive changes in areas like sleep, nutrition, fitness, finances, or even Bible study. Give ’em all you’ve got!! Just don’t attach your value to whether or not you succeed.

Ultimately, our worth comes from who God is and how He sees us. We are loved and accepted as-is. We don’t have to DO, we already ARE. His grace is more than enough.

So whatever we do, we can find joy every day!

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God, thanks for loving us as-is. We don’t have to earn Your grace, we already have it! Help us honor you in our habits, words, and actions today. May You be first in our hearts. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Did you set any resolutions or intentions this year? Or do you just make changes as the year goes on, whenever they are needed?

Tasks: Consider making an UN-resolution. Don’t settle for a quick fix, but be consistent when the going gets tough. Be willing to change habits and put in the effort, but also know you are loved and accepted whether or not you reach your goal!

 

Posted on in Being Gracious, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Kindness, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Wisdom

Finding Grace #304

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 another interesting but good week. We stayed home on Monday due to Lydia not feeling well and the blizzardy weather. It turned out to be a good thing since her daycare opened late and closed early anyway.

I discovered my car battery was close to dead on Tuesday, but thankfully, I found a charger hidden in plain sight on the workbench. (Thanks, Dave, for always being so prepared!) I bought a new battery and had it installed on my way to work because at 8+ years old, the original one was on borrowed time.
As we arrived home that night, the thought occurred to me… perhaps God kept us home on Monday so I wouldn’t get stuck in a blizzard with a dead battery and sick child. Our doctor was closed, and daycare closed early, so we had just chalked it up to another day of rest. But, of course, God always sees what we cannot.

We made it to work and daycare for three days, and now have a three-day weekend! It might be rough going to work and school for five days next week!

Last night, we had a great time hanging out with some new friends for NYE. It was so nice to be invited! Lydia even lasted past midnight and was in bed by 12:45 a.m. She slept until 11:50 this morning!

Today, we are mostly relaxing and preparing for this new year. We watched a couple of movies, started our new yearlong Bible reading plans, and did a few chores. We also decorated some Christmas cookies since Lydia wasn’t up to it last week. Overall, I love January since it is usually a little slower-paced. It’s below zero today, so it’s been good to stay in! Happy New Year!!

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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, Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Wisdom

Grace Upon Grace

A couple of weeks ago, someone sent me a link to a short message about Mary, the mother of Jesus. It was by an evangelist named Brent Carr.

Interestingly, the little blurb mentioned Mary was “highly favored” and then described all the difficulties she faced. She was nearly divorced, rejected by her community, gave birth in a stable, and so on. The author’s point was that favor may imply blessing, but it doesn’t imply an easy road.

Mr. Carr wrote, “Favor never looks like favor at first. Favor sometimes takes you through frustration, failure, and fear.” I can certainly relate to all three of those!

In the Bible, the word for favor is linked with grace (see the word: chairs). I prefer using the word grace, but favor reminds me of the word ‘favorite.’ I imagine God smiling down at me, not necessarily to give me everything I want, but to make sure I have everything I need.

Like buying a new snowblower… but still having to use it! 😉

God’s grace, or favor, isn’t always obvious. It’s sometimes intangible, like knowing God is with us or trusting Him to protect us or provide for us. Usually, it involves a situation that makes us test, or prove, those truths. Yes, our struggles can show us God’s love and grace.

Lately, resting in God’s grace has meant taking off work a few days to let Lydia recover from an illness. Favor means not worrying about my workload when I get back… I am glad for a good team to cover for me, though I usually like to be the one offering to help!

Grace has meant keeping the house calm and peaceful for Lydia, but also knowing there are benefits for me, too. My to-do list is neverending, so it has been good for me not to push too hard in the last week. Instead, I was able to rest, too. We watched some television, but we also read and napped.

On Monday, Lydia still wasn’t 100%, so I took another day off from work (in addition to Wednesday/Thursday last week). Her doctor was closed because of blizzardy weather, so I took it as a sign to stay home, safe and warm. Indeed, her daycare (the Y) opened late and closed early, so I would’ve missed most of work anyway!

It’s good to know when to rest, but it’s also good to know when to push ourselves forward. If God makes the opportunity clear, we can trust He will provide. Even if we don’t have all the answers or know all the details.

So, yesterday, Lydia felt marginally better, still coughing and a little lethargic but fever-free! I knew that we needed to try and make it to work and daycare. We got all ready and were in the car, only to find out my car battery had died!

I sent Lydia inside to rest and stay warm, while I texted a couple of friends for input. One of them asked if I had a charger. I hadn’t thought about it, but God brought to mind something I had walked by dozens of times. Sure enough, I DID have a car battery charger! By God’s grace, Dave had bought one years ago, and I was able to figure out how to use it.

Of course, I rolled into work late, but even then, there was grace and favor. After dropping off Lydia, I stopped to buy a new car battery since mine was 8+ years old. (The average lifespan of a car battery is two to five years, so that’s another level of grace!) The third store had what I needed, and a sales associate kindly agreed to help me install it. Never mind the temperature was several degrees below zero!

Reflecting on all of this, I am grateful we didn’t have to cancel many plans while Lydia was sick. It was a holiday break but we celebrated in Illinois earlier in the month. I am also thankful I didn’t go out on Monday and have my car die then. God knew it would not be good for us to be stuck on the road with a dead battery, all while Lydia wasn’t feeling well! Plus, I was able to use some Christmas money I received to pay for the battery! Bonus!

John 1:16 says God gives us grace upon grace. Instead of focusing on our problems, let’s focus on Jesus and trust Him to be all we need. Come to Him with a heart full of gratitude!

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Father God, thank You for your grace. You take such good care of us.

Questions: Where do you see God’s grace and favor in your life this week? Have you stopped to thank Him or tell someone how gracious He is?

Tasks: Whatever you are doing, pause and praise God! In good times and bad, thank Him for the goodness and grace He brings to your life!

 

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

Finding Grace #303

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 good week, though a bit unexpected at times! We had a fun time Zooming with family and work went well, too.

The unusual part was that Lydia started feeling sick! On Tuesday, she displayed typical allergy symptoms. By Wednesday morning, she was on her way to school after a negative COVID test. Then, a few hours later, I receive a call at work to pick her up. She had a fever.

She woke up with a fever on Thursday, too, so it was good we had already decided to stay home. Thankfully, I have plenty of sick leave available. Also, I am glad to have a good team at work to cover my duties, though I was bummed to miss the white elephant holiday gift exchange. I let someone else use my gift, so it will be fun to hear how it went when I return next week!

Because of the holiday weekend, I took Lydia for another COVID test, just to be sure. We both tested negative again. (I’m grateful we received the vaccine.) Anyway, it probably is some other virus, so a good reason to just lay low and rest!

Yesterday, because Lydia still wasn’t 100%, we stayed home and watched the Christmas Eve service online. We canceled plans with friends, but they were so kind to bring us a gift and some yummy food anyway! Thank you!

This morning, before Lydia woke up, I made a fresh pot of coffee and spent some quiet time with the Lord. I enjoyed the peace and quiet, especially as light snow started falling. We should be getting snow over the course of a few days, so I may get to use my new snowblower!

Today, Lydia felt pretty good. She’s still coughing and is mostly resting, but we watched “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” opened presents, watched some movies, played some games, and just relaxed. It was good to celebrate Jesus, I hope you have had a Merry Christmas!

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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, Wisdom, Worship

The Wonders of His Love

Recently at church, we were singing “Joy to the World,” the classic Christmas carol. As we sang, these lyrics stood out to me:

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

With the pandemic these last two years, it’s easy to focus on all that is wrong in the world. But what if we focused on the wonders of God’s love? What does that even mean?

For me, “the wonders of His love” are all about grace and favor. God doing for us what we could never do. Quite basically, whether you know God or not, He gave us Nature and He gave us each other. God is also our Provider, Jehovah Jireh, and so much more.

He gave us Jesus, who brought us His Truth and reconciliation. God makes Himself available to us and adopts us into His family! He gives us grace, love, peace, and hope. (The list never ends!)

Christmas, Gingerbread, Holiday, Sweet, Cookies

And then, this week Lydia and I were listening to a newer version of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.” She misheard the lyrics, and said, “Mom, they’re not singing that right.”

I asked her to explain, and Lydia sang, “O tidings of confident joy, confident joy. O tidings confident joy…” Not quite “comfort and joy,” but now I can’t un-hear it!

That made me think. We can indeed have confident joy (every day) because of Jesus!

Thank God, He is who He says He is and can do what He says He can do. In some ways, Christmas was a new thing God was doing, but really, God doesn’t leave anything to chance. Jesus’ birth was long-awaited and planned for. Same goes for His death and resurrection. 

The message of Christ eventually upended the whole Roman empire, and it still has the power to rock us, today. Will we let the Holy Spirit change us? Jesus didn’t just come to save us or bring eternal life. He wants us to live in the here and now… make it count!

Gingerbread, Pastries, Cookies, Frosting, Sweets, Treat

Yes, when our confidence is placed in Christ, we can take heart and have the courage to do whatever He has called us to do (Ephesians 2:10). He is the Master Planner and has good things in store for us; we just need to walk them out.

We have reason to celebrate every day because “It is finished!” We can have comfort, and yes, confident joy, knowing that God with us (Emmanuel) is for us and will help us.

Because of Jesus, we have peace with God, and through Him, we have peace with each other (might take some work, grace, and forgiveness though!). 😉

I’m so thankful we are free to follow Jesus, hold onto God’s promises, and let our faith rise up. We don’t have to worry or be anxious. We do not have to be afraid.

Place your confidence in Jesus today… and be joyful!

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God, thanks for the peace, comfort, confidence, and joy You bring! Thank You for Jesus!! Help us trust You, Lord. Give us the strength we need today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: What are your favorite Christmas carols? Do you get the lyrics right, or do you make up your own version?

Task: Even before the Bible was produced en masse for the public, there were Christmas carols full of Gospel Truth. Listen for God’s heart the next time you sing along.

Posted on in Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Gratitude, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #302

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!

Christmas, Christmas Decorations, Christmas Baubles

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

This week was quite memorable! On Sunday and Monday, we were still with family celebrating my dad’s birthday. We flew home Monday afternoon, but we are so grateful for the fun and memories we made together!

Tuesday through Friday went fast. Work went well, though several cancellations meant I could get caught up on some tasks and help others!

Wednesday night was the children’s ministry Christmas party. Lydia really had a lot of fun! But even more important, she has learned more about God’s word!

Friday was Dave’s birthday in Heaven. Congratulations to Jordyn B. who was the winner of the book giveaway in his honor. It was a fun thing to send off the book today!

Today, I finally bought a new snowblower. Every year, I have tried to coax my old one along. It was so finicky and often wasn’t up to the task. I spent a couple of hours yesterday at the store, and even more online comparing prices and features. I reached out to some friends who were able to help me make the final decision. It helped that they have a truck and that I found an online coupon which was honored in-store!

Tonight, Lydia and I are going to finish decorating the Christmas tree. We started it before our trip, but haven’t gotten back to it until 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)!