Category: Perseverance

Posted on in Being Gracious, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance

Polar Vortex!!

It’s only Wednesday, but I’ve already seen God’s grace in action! For much of the Midwest, it has been super cold and snowy this week! That may be an understatement…

Thanks, Polar Vortex! 🙂

Our local schools were canceled yesterday and today, due to the extreme cold. Our wind chills are expected to be near 60 below and our actual temperatures could be around 25 below (-35 F overnight!). Many of the cities around us are shutting down temporarily. Even mail delivery for us is canceled today due to the cold.

Thankfully, my friends and family in and around Chicago (and everywhere between) are also staying in. Several places in the Midwest could break records!

(Not quite as cold as Fargo, but yes, still chilly!) 😉

My neighbors were a big help to me yesterday when I needed to work. Lydia went to their house most of the day to hang out. I was even able to work a little longer yesterday, so I could take today off! Thanks, Melissa!

Last night, Lydia and I watched a movie and enjoyed our time together. I’m sure we will do something fun today. I foresee some baking, games, puzzles, science experiments, learning about snowflakes, and more movies in our near future! It’s like a free day!

Instead of complaining about the cold, I’m being grateful for all God has done for me. To start, He has given me extra time with Lydia, a warm house and outdoor gear, my snowblower and shovels, all-wheel drive, remote start, and a day off work! Woohoo!

School rarely gets canceled in Fargo, and we have two built-in makeup days in March and April. I know God will take care of us then, too, but for now, I’m relishing the beauty of today… weather and all.

When He redirects us, it is always for our good.

Lydia and I slept in today, and I woke up to messages from friends and family around the world… well wishes and reminders to be safe. That is a wonderful feeling to know we are so loved! Thank you!!

Maybe you’d rather hibernate and/or skip out on the cold weather. Or maybe you really enjoy it. I’m rooting for “Team Polar Bear” this week, as I am in awe that God actually designed them for these conditions. Amazing!

You know, God never sleeps nor slumbers… and He never takes a ‘snow day’ either! Yet, He graciously knows we need them on occasion! He loves us so much and knows exactly what we need. He has us covered!

Unlike snow days, we don’t have to make up or pay back God’s grace (as if we could!). It is free and available to us every day. Thank You, Jesus!

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God, thanks for keeping us warm and safe. Thanks for leading us and directing our path. Help us make wise choices and be generous to others. Help us be a blessing! In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: What are your favorite ‘snow day’ activities? Have you ever tried snow ‘ice cream’ or blowing bubbles and watching them freeze midair?!

Tasks: If you do have to be out and about, dress warm and be prepared! Stay safe and don’t take big risks. And most certainly, thank God for your blessings!

Posted on in Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance, Wisdom

Well-Prepared

Good news! Over the weekend, my snow blower was returned. It has a brand new carburetor, which helps fuel and air get into the engine. It was perfect timing because yesterday morning I needed it!

On Monday evening, I shoveled my driveway because it was fairly late. I didn’t want the noise to wake up anyone. I also hoped I wouldn’t need to clear snow on Tuesday.

I was wrong. Overnight, we received about 4 inches of powder!

Of course, I didn’t realize this until right before I took Lydia to the bus stop. So, I quickly tried to shovel at least enough to get my car out (without leaving tracks). I planned to finish the rest later that morning before I left for work.

While I was shoveling, I greeted my neighbor who was doing the same. I mentioned my snowblower, but how I was short on time. A few minutes later, we agreed it was worth snow blowing. He used my machine for both of our driveways while I drove to the bus.

At the bus stop, Lydia and I discussed the weather and our plans for the day. She was excited to play on the mountain of snow at school. I reminded her to be careful because there was ice under the fresh snow.

Nonetheless, Lydia felt she was ready with all her snow gear.

Her hat, gloves, coat, snow pants, and boots were all she needed to play outside. She looked forward to the challenge ahead!

Lydia didn’t consider how much she had grown this year and that ALL of her outdoor gear needed to be upgraded this season. She just knew she was well-prepared!

As her mom, I knew what she needed and provided it beforehand. Gladly!

On the way back home, I thought about God’s timing and provision.

Without my snow blower for the last 2 weeks, I had prayed that we wouldn’t get much snow until it was fixed. Like a good Father, He listened and helped me.

While God is by no means required to give in to my requests, He loves me and gave me exactly what I needed. Before I was aware of my need!

When I returned home, my neighbor and I teamed up to help a couple other neighbors as well. It felt good to accomplish so much before 8 a.m.!

Before I go much further, I do know what it feels like when it seems God isn’t listening and/or doesn’t care. I also know that my feelings are not reliable and that God is always with me. That’s a promise!

Sure, Life is not without its challenges—in fact, Jesus himself said we would have trouble. That’s the nature of this fallen world. Yet, with Him, we are more than conquerors.

When we face challenges, we don’t have to be afraid. God can move any mountain in our way or help us climb it as we lean on Him! Either way, we have Victory!

In your difficulty, remember: Nothing is too difficult or too big for Jesus. He can handle it and empower you to bear it. He loves us more than we can understand and takes it upon Himself to care for us. Draw close to Jesus.

God has not left us on our own. He does not send bad things upon us, but uses them for our good and His glory. No matter what happens—good or bad—we are covered by His grace.

Let’s see our circumstances from Jesus’ point-of-view. There are no surprises to Him, and He sees to it that we are well-prepared for anything we face.

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Heavenly Father, thanks for taking such good care of me. When I am overwhelmed, help me turn to You. Remind me of Your love and grace. Help me see what is happening through Your eyes. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: In whatever circumstances you are facing—good or bad—can you see God’s hand at work? How has He prepared you for such a time as this? Can you trust Him more?

Task: Read this post—“Father Knows Best”—it was one of my first on Grace and Lemonade!

Posted on in Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Prayer, Wisdom

Regarding Lazarus

Last year I began scribing the Gospel of John with several friends. A handful of people have finished but I’m about halfway through. I recently completed John Chapter 11 word-for-word.

I stayed in Chapter 11 through the holidays. You could say I “sat” with Lazarus for about two weeks because I could relate…

Lazarus and his two sisters, Mary and Martha, were close friends of Jesus. They lived in Bethany, about two miles outside Jerusalem. Somehow, I had previously missed that small detail—Bethany was nearby.

Jesus received word that Lazarus was sick, but surprisingly He didn’t go there right away. In fact, He postponed his arrival for two days. By then, Lazarus was dead.

Now I don’t know about you, but a two-mile walk would take me around thirty minutes or less. It might take me longer if I stopped to chat or run another errand. But I could easily make it in an hour.

So why did Jesus delay? He could have easily just spoken from a distance and Lazarus would have been healed. Jesus did not procrastinate but stayed where He was on purpose. He knew the Father’s plan and He knew the final outcome.

To gain some insight, I re-read the story several times.

At one point it hit me: I could understand how Martha and Mary must’ve felt when they questioned Jesus. Perhaps they felt some sense of betrayal, anger, or abandonment… He was only 2 miles away. I’m sure they felt desperation and the pain of unbearable grief. IF ONLY Jesus had shown up, when they thought He should, things would’ve been different.

My paraphrase: “Lord, if you had been here, this would never have happened!!” We so easily question God with our limited understanding, but His ways are not our ways.

When Dave was sick, there were so many times when it felt like God wasn’t listening or wasn’t working on our behalf. Often, we prayed about a test or symptom only to have the opposite happen. It was very frustrating!

I know God never leaves us nor forsakes us, and He certainly did not betray me. But my feelings sometimes got the best of me…

Yet, because Jesus stayed put and didn’t rush, He was then able to explain that He is the Resurrection and the Life. He was able to do one final miracle, which pointed to His own death and resurrection. He was able to increase His followers’ faith. He was able to bring His Father glory. He was able to give us hope 2000+ years later as well.

A short while later, in John 12, Jesus once again hangs out with his friends, Mary, Martha, and the resurrected Lazarus. I bet they all rehashed what they had been through together.

I wonder what Lazarus thought about all of this. I’m sure he and his sisters were grateful to be able to understand God’s love for them in a more personal way.

Time for a quick disclaimer: Our Heavenly Father wants what is good for us and is eager that we should be whole and healthy. And while I do believe we should seek God’s healing, healing should not be our primary goal (in and of itself).

Healing is certainly wonderful, but it’s not the end-all be-all. (Hey, Lazarus died twice!)

To be clear, sickness is not from God, and it is important to take care of our bodies in whatever way we can. For example, healthy food, exercise, adequate sleep, stress reduction, medicine, prayer, and counseling are all good. Absolutely!

For some people, healing happens in an instant, but for others, it takes time. Unfortunately, when healing doesn’t come on our terms or in our timing, some people are lead to believe they don’t have enough faith. They can even feel ashamed of being unwell.

Proverbs 17:22 says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

Judging someone else’s faith or experience is unfair and unkind... not to mention inaccurate. Let’s be careful not add to someone’s suffering or burden them with ‘if only’ scenarios. Instead, let’s offer grace and support.

Some of the godliest and most faith-filled people I know live with chronic pain or health issues. I admire them and learn so much from them! They’re tough!

Anyway, no matter what happens, whether God heals us on our terms or not, our sole focus should be on Jesus. How can He use us for His glory?

Just remember: God can use us in whatever condition we are... dead or alive!! 🙂

Jesus wept when He saw Lazarus’ tomb. It brought Jesus great sadness, and He told His disciples He was glad for their sake that He was not there when Lazarus died. But if He had “only” healed Lazarus, we ALL would have missed so much.

Lazarus was dead four days before being resurrected, which proves nothing is impossible for Jesus! If you need healing or another form of help, Jesus is able and willing! Trust Him!

Dave and I prayed for healing, yes. And though it came differently than expected, God was (and has been) ever-faithful. Dave received FULL healing when he went to Heaven. Thankfully, God has been healing my heart as well.

I am grateful that Jesus isn’t bound by my timeline (what I think He should do and when). I don’t have all the answers, but I do know God excels at bringing dead things to life. He resurrects and restores!

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Heavenly Father, You are so faithful. Thanks taking such good care of us. Help us trust You when we do not understand. In You, We have Victory! In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: What is your ‘Lazarus?’ What do you need God to resurrect or restore?

Tasks: Listen to “Still Rolling Stones,” by Lauren Daigle. Check out the Journibles here!

Posted on in Miscellaneous, Perseverance

Forecasting Faithfulness

At first, I thought Lydia was grumpy. But, after a few instances of her being “mouthy,” I decided to address her bad attitude and sass.

The next time I told her to pick out her clothes for the next day, I made some suggestions based on the weather forecast. “But, you don’t know the future!” she yelled.

Thankfully, I remained calm and did not yell back! 🙂

With a deep breath of grace, I said, “Come here, Lydia.” As she climbed on my lap, I gave her a gentle hug and showed her the weather app on my phone.

Then, I addressed the heart of the matter.

“You’re right,” I said. “I don’t know the future. But God does. And, in Jeremiah 29:11, He tells us He has plans to give us a hope and a future.”

I let that sink in…

“And, do you know why God’s plans for us are good?”

“Because He is good?” she replied.

“Yes, Lydia! God loves us so much and only has good things in store for us. So, we can trust Him to do what is right and best for us.”

I continued the parallel that Lydia needed to be respectful because I too want what is best for her. Then, she agreed to “check” her attitude, before we hugged and returned to our activities.

It’s winter here in Fargo, and we’ve had a wide range of temperatures lately. In the last week, we’ve ranged from below zero to above 40 degrees (heatwave!). I’ve noticed my weather app will only predict the forecast about a week out. It will only get me so far!

Yes, even with today’s technology, the weather forecast can still be wrong. Also, I find that it can be a ‘crazy’ weather day, but it can still be beautiful outside.

While Life doesn’t come with a handy phone app, God has given us everything we need so we can live for Him (2 Peter 1:3). Not only did he create the weather, His love never fails!

If we ask Him, God will give us insights for our day and prepare us for all of Life’s storms.

We have forgiveness and eternal life through Jesus’ death and resurrection.

We have His presence and power through the Holy Spirit. Nothing is impossible!

We’re instructed how to successfully dress for daily battles (Ephesians 6).

Jesus gives us peace in the midst of chaos. He is our strength when we are weak. He directs our path, even in the dark (Psalm 119:105).

As this new year begins, we each can have a fresh start. Some people just finished an amazing year and are looking forward to bigger and better things. And, some are still trying to make sense of unexpected ‘storms’ last year—picking up the pieces to rebuild whatever they can.

Or, perhaps you’re somewhere in between. Either way, we can trust our faithful God. Only He knows what is coming—and only He can prepare us for it.

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Heavenly Father, thanks for leading me and guiding me. Lord, I don’t know the future, but I trust that what You have for me is good. Help me follow after You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: What are you looking forward to this year? Are you trusting Jesus to lead you?

Tasks: Don’t be a fairweather Christian. In every season, draw near and trust Jesus.

Posted on in Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Journey of Grace, Miscellaneous, Perfectionism, Perseverance, Procrastination, Travel, Wisdom

2018 Annual Review

Happy Boxing Day!! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. 😉

Lydia and I had our best Christmas yet! We really appreciated receiving some invitations to join others, but we ended up doing our own thing instead.

On Christmas Eve, we hosted another family from church. We enjoyed celebrating Jesus with them! We ate yummy food and had great conversation.

On Christmas Day, we enjoyed a relaxing breakfast and then opened presents. Lydia received several fun gifts, including some clothes, books, games, and science kits.

After that, we talked with some friends and family. We thought about going to the movies, but decided to go sledding instead. We had so much fun and even saw another family enjoying the chilly day. It was perfect.

Later, Lydia played with some of her new toys while I exercised. Then, we put together some bath goodies from one of the science kits. She’s never been so excited to take a bath! 😉

Finally, after a relaxing day, we watched a Christmas movie together. We have the rest of the week off as well, so I’m sure we will do some more fun activities!

This year flew by. Thankfully, it had more ups than downs. We saw God’s grace all around us in more ways than we can count. He is so faithful.

Lydia and I took some fun trips and spent time with loved ones. We stepped foot in at least 6 states. I’m grateful for my car and God’s protection and provision!

This year, we both pushed our limits and tried new things. Everything from recipes to outdoor Christmas lights. One highlight is that we went kayaking and Lydia loved it!

Lydia has done well in school and enjoys learning. My job is stable and I feel like I am making a difference. I’m so grateful for God’s blessings!

This year, I have felt humbled in many ways. I have become more aware of my flaws and all that I still need to learn. (Yes, I’m human!) 😉

I usually set a lot of goals, but didn’t meet most of them this year. I met my most important goals, but still left a lot on the table. In order to prioritize a big project, I kind of slacked off elsewhere! I made progress, but I also have a lot to finish or catch up!

Still, I have learned to accept God’s grace for my perceived failures and trust Him to lead me. I’m grateful I don’t have to be perfect. Jesus is My Righteousness!

I’ll probably set similar goals this year (haha, I can’t help it!). But I have learned to give myself grace and be more present day-to-day.

This year, I have challenged several fears head-on and moved forward anyway. Despite not meeting all of my goals, I have still grown as a person, and am happy with who I am becoming! 🙂

Thankfully, God’s mercies are new every day. I just have to stay focused on Jesus and walk with Him. Everything else will work out in due time!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for walking with us each and every day. Thanks for all the grace You’ve shown us this year. Redirect my path and help me stay focused as You make me more like Jesus. In His Name, Amen

Questions: What were the highlights of your year? What did you learn and how did you grow? What will you change going forward?

Tasks: Consider setting SMART goals for the new year. Don’t worry if it feels like ‘too much’ for you to accomplish. Trust Jesus to direct your path!

Posted on in Being Gracious, Journey of Grace, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Wisdom

A Caution on Countdowns

This has been an interesting autumn so far! First, we had snow on October 10th which melted away. Then, we had flurries a few days last week, followed by drifting from the wind. I’ve had to shovel snow several times already. It could be a long season…

In Fargo, the potential for snow lasts from October until early May some years. Even if the calendar says spring, it can feel like winter! It’s important to manage expectations, ha!

Honestly, shoveling snow makes my shoulders ache. I do use my snowblower when necessary, but sometimes shoveling is the best option. Let’s just say that for me, snow removal is still a good opportunity for “character refinement.”

As such, I choose to reframe the situation from time-to-time… On those early, blustery mornings, I remind myself to be grateful. For instance, I am thankful for the tools and warm clothes I have acquired over the years to make the process easier. I’m also grateful for my physical health and the ability to take care of all God has given me.

I am thankful for yoga and shoulder stretches which help to somewhat ease the pain. And, I am really grateful for a reliable vehicle with all-wheel-drive to help me get around.

To my surprise, on social media, I’ve already seen a few people counting down the days until spring! But it’s not even Thanksgiving yet!

Apparently, there are around 126 days until March 20th of 2019 (the first day of spring). Perhaps I am the only person to feel this way, but I don’t appreciate these types of countdowns… they tend to mess with my attitude, if I let them.

Don’t get me wrong—I respect that some people love the heat and hate the cold. I get it… To each their own! Even in our differences, I hope we can still be friends! 🙂

In my case, I like spring and summer, but I also enjoy autumn and winter. For me, it is important to celebrate—instead of complain about—each season as God brings it.

(PLEASE remind me of this in late February when my shoulders have had it! Deal?!)

My feeling is that if we were to skip ahead to our ‘favorite seasons,’ we would miss so much. Sure, the grass is always greener in someone else’s yard, but for me the solution is not to countdown to spring. Wishful thinking won’t make winter pass any faster. And, I don’t want discontent to sidetrack me from what God is doing in my own yard or life.

Before we go much further, let me fully disclose that I have already been watching Christmas movies on Netflix! LOL, to each their own, right?

Getting into the ‘holiday spirit’ is full of meaning for me this year, because while this is our 6th holiday season without Dave, it is the first one where I don’t have mixed emotions.

Truthfully, for several years after Dave died, I dreaded the holidays. I really did want to skip the entire season. The holidays were just too painful.

But, I am so glad I didn’t rush through the pain. From a grief perspective, I needed to go through each stage of processing my emotions. I couldn’t ‘skip it’ and still be healthy…

Through each difficult and unpleasant season of life and grief, I have understood a new level of God’s grace and faithfulness. He has brought me through it all with His love and strength! I’m eternally grateful for His kindness to me!

There is a big difference between anticipation and apprehension. One fills me with eagerness and the other expects the worst. One fills me with hope and joy and the other fills me with a sense of dread. It has to do with attitude…

To clarify, not all countdowns are bad. Planning is important, and if a countdown truly brings you joy, great! Technically, a timer on an oven is a type of countdown that may bring you joy… yum!

Rocket ships need a countdown before launching into space. Also, parents of young children may benefit from counting down the minutes before bed time.

In my house… Lydia has been counting down her birthday for several weeks. She hasn’t counted the days, but she does cross the days off her calendar each night. She is SO excited!

My point is to consider the reason for the countdown and your attitude. The takeaway is this: Does it fill you with a sense of God’s grace or a sense of grrr?? 😉

Don’t take for granted what God has given you: time with loved ones, peace in the moment, His presence. His grace is sufficient for this day, so let’s be grateful!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for being so generous and gracious. Don’t let me get ahead of you or be ungrateful. Help me rely on You each day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: If you are always racing to the next moment or event, what might you be missing? What other countdowns do you find helpful?

Tasks: Looking ahead can be either helpful or harmful. Consider whether it brings you anticipation or apprehension. Then, readjust. Go with God!

Posted on in Being Gracious, Miscellaneous, Perfectionism, Perseverance, Prayer, Wisdom, Worship

Lighten Up!

Yesterday morning, like many mornings, I woke up groggy. It’s dark when I get up, and I am still ‘baby-stepping’ my morning routine! Also, I am slowly realizing I just need to go to sleep earlier… hence the baby steps.

Usually, within a few minutes, I can shake it off and go about my day. But yesterday, I didn’t feel the best and didn’t get up as early as I had planned. Soon, groggy turned into cranky.

First, I got shampoo in my eyes while showering. After that, I spent a while thinking about the long day ahead and things I can’t control. One negative thought led to another and then I started thinking about other random issues, like shoveling snow this coming winter! I even argued with Lydia about tying her shoes. It started off as one of those days…

I stayed in my funk for almost 2 hours…even with coffee. Then, I berated myself for feeling that way! Which was not helpful, of course. Thankfully, I realized that and was able to do something about it.

As I finished getting ready for my day, I listened to some of the affirmations I mentioned previously. Many of them are actually Bible verses I recorded in my own voice. I usually choose to listen in random order, and yesterday, those verses were exactly what I needed to ‘lighten up.’

As I refocused my mind on who God says I am, I felt my burdens lift. I began smiling and was able to go about my day more cheerfully. Whew!

A few takeaways:

Each day, there are many things we can’t control. Circumstances can change rapidly. Sometimes, we find ourselves on a downward spiral. That may not be our fault—bad things happen. Still, it is my choice to remain there.

Circumstances may not improve immediately, but life has a way of working out. It’s usually better than we think. So, I can halt any negativity knowing eventually I will find an upward trend. I can go searching for something good!

I can’t predict what will happen, but I can choose my attitude. I can expect the best.

Finally, applying God’s word to my situation is like turning on the lights in the early morning darkness. It helps me see more clearly.

 “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” –Genesis 1:3.

Jesus is both the Living Word and the Light of the World. He makes the darkness flee!

There are several references to light in the Bible. Check out a few of them here:

Isaiah 9:2; Psalm 27:1; 2 Corinthians 4:6; and 1 John 1:5

We can bring the Light of Jesus to everyone we meet. If we let Him, Jesus can shine brightly through our brokenness. He will draw people to Himself, as we lighten up and enjoy life. And when we serve others by being thoughtful, kind and generous, we don’t have time to think of all our problems!

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Heavenly Father, in You there is no darkness at all! Thanks for bringing Truth and clarity to our lives. Thanks for forgiving us and carrying our burdens. May we walk in the light as You are in the light. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: When you need to ‘lighten up,’ what do you do? Do you notice it right away or does it take a while to discern your mood?

Tasks: Listen to the song, “Tremble” by Mosaic. Jesus makes the darkness tremble!

 

Posted on in Fruit, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance, Prayer, Wisdom, Worship

All In

 Lately, I have been seeing two words or concepts which keep popping up in daily life: sacrifice and investment. So, I started thinking about the relationship between the two.

Sacrifice implies a loss or even a disadvantage. Investments require a temporary cost now to gain something better later. With investments, there may even be interest!

Now, I usually don’t prefer to do things half-way. I’m either all in or all out. In certain situations, I realize compromise is important. But to me, if anything is worth doing, it’s worth doing well.

Interestingly, it seems most worthwhile goals take a fair amount of time, effort, and/or money. So perhaps you can’t really have a quality investment without some level of sacrifice. Hmmm…

At times, even small things can feel like big sacrifices. Eating well, exercising, and getting adequate rest are examples. But, these are also investments in our health. When that mental switch occurs between sacrifice and investment, my attitude instantly improves! The challenges don’t seem so difficult. The momentary struggle is worth it!

Similarly, in late September, my local school district voted on a referendum for new schools, upgrades to security, and more. For me, it was a no-brainer. Our school district is growing rapidly and needs to make some adjustments.

I’m thankful the referendum passed, but I understand that some people feel differently. It may be a large sacrifice for them. Or, perhaps they have different priorities than me. That’s okay!

My additional annual cost will be somewhere around the cost of a nice pair of shoes. Now, for me, that’s not a big deal. Ultimately, it is an investment in my community and my child.

In a few short years, Lydia will be in a school that is currently overcrowded. The referendum money will help alleviate that issue. It’s worth it…so I’m all in.

A strong marriage also requires a lot of hard work. My neighbors recently celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary. Ten years ago, they planted an apple tree, and this year, they were finally able to harvest enough fruit to make it worthwhile!

They spent a lot of time this past weekend making pies, applesauce, dehydrated apples, etc. Lydia and I even received some delicious homemade “anniversary apple crisp” from their bounty. Their original investment has overflowed to bless us too!

Similarly, parenting is one investment that requires many sacrifices. I’m already starting to see some great things in Lydia. But overall, it will take another 10-20 (30?!) years to see the full impact of all I invest in her. Lord, help me do my best!

I want to be wise with my resources and be a good steward. Still, Lydia is worth every bit of my time, effort/energy, and money. That’s the nature of parenting.

In the same way, spiritual disciplines are also important. Spending time with Jesus is an investment with eternal rewards! That said, we are as close to Him as we want to be.

The more we pray and get to know Jesus, the greater confidence we have that He loves us and is for us. And, the more time we spend reading and memorizing Scripture, the more it flourishes in our hearts.

When we go through tough seasons, we can sacrifice our self-pity and lay down our fear, choosing to praise the Lord despite our troubles. Through worship, we can experience more joy, peace, grace, and blessing.

Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice with His life on the Cross. Then, He gave us the Holy Spirit as a guarantee for what is to come—and to help us live a life full of Victory!

Jesus’ commitment to us shows us just how valuable we are to Him. He gave up everything to rescue us and to prove His love for us. He’s all in!

We can never out-give God—our sacrifices will never measure up—but we can be grateful for all He has done for us! His investment in us continues to grow! Praise God!

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Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus! You are so faithful, going above and beyond to rescue us and bless us. May we show our gratitude and bless others, too…seeing relationships as investments, not just sacrifices. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: What kinds of sacrifices and investments are you making in your day-to-day life? Is Jesus part of that process?

Task: Listen to “All In” by Matthew West.

Posted on in Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Prayer, Wisdom

Ask. Listen. Repeat.

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

I was reading about prayer this week, and this verse came to mind. I had never thought of it in terms of prayer before. I had just always focused on the feelings of anxiety and casting them to the Lord. I am grateful that He takes all of our burdens!

Prayer is a back-and-forth conversation with God. It’s not really about the “list” we present to Him, but about the relationship between us. As long as we are close in fellowship, the words should flow naturally.

Our job (goal?) in prayer is not to ‘get an answer’ but to keep the conversation going… to pray without ceasing. It helps if we have a humble, thankful heart!

In turn, God listens to us, encourages us, comforts us, and answers us in His time.

Sometimes, we wonder if God is listening to us. (He is.)

Then again, maybe He wonders if we are listening to Him?? (Just a thought…)

Some answers come immediately, while some seem to take forever. But when we keep our hearts open through prayer, we are able to listen and more easily discern God’s will. When a prayer is answered differently than we hoped, we can trust that Jesus has something better in store for us. The best is yet to come!

Prayer gives God direct access to our heart. We too have access to His heart! When we don’t come to Him in prayer, we also close ourselves off to His help and His presence.

God said King David was a man after His own heart. David cultivated his heart to follow after the Lord. As a result, God was able to lead David and direct his path because they had a solid relationship built over time together.

As we see in many of the Psalms, David consistently poured out his heart before the Lord…

The good, the bad, and the ugly.

When things were going well, and when they weren’t.

When David felt close to God, and when he didn’t.

When David was in the right, and when he was in the wrong.

There are so many ways to pray. Some people use the Lord’s Prayer as the basis of prayer. Some people use a rosary to guide them as they talk with God. Some people stop everything and pray each time they see an emergency vehicle.

I, too, have tried many prayer methods over the years. At times, I’ve kneeled or sat still. I enjoy praying with a friend and/or walking on a quiet nature path when I pray.

There is a simple acronym I like: ACTS Adoration—Confession—Thanksgiving—Supplication

I also enjoy praying Scripture, which is using God’s own Word and agreeing with Him.

Sometimes I write my prayers in a journal. Sometimes I sing my prayers. When Dave was sick, I even cried and yelled during prayer (not my most ‘spiritual’ moments, perhaps, but it was all I could do to deal with the anguish!).

Recently, an idea came to me that I’d like to share with you: Prayer jars.

As you can see in the picture above, I took two large glass jars and put my current prayers on small index cards. It helps to write them down and get them out of my head! 😉

I start with the jar on the left and then transfer the card to the other jar after I have prayed for that request. Then, I do it in reverse….back and forth.

The reason I started this was that I had many prayer requests that seem to go out of sight, out of mind. So I like the visual cue the jars provide…I can clearly see the needs before me.

I grab one or two cards each time I pass by and then return it to the other jar later. It is certainly a flexible system… I might be on my way to the kitchen or headed downstairs to fold laundry. Nonetheless, I can pray and lift up each request during my day!

In some ways, the prayer jars also represent the fact that I have given my requests to God, so He can handle them. Plus, I can use this as a fun tool to teach Lydia about prayer.

I bought large jars because I have a lot of prayer requests! I also bought an even bigger jar for the cards once the prayers are answered, so Lydia and I can periodically review those cards and praise God for all He has done.

I am expecting many answers to my prayers so wanted to plan ahead!

Obviously, the ‘prayer jar method’ may not work for everyone. I, too, may change it up again in the future! That’s the beauty and freedom of it!

And while there is no perfect way to pray, the important thing is that you keep communicating with Jesus! Be persistent in prayer, even when you don’t perceive an immediate answer. Cultivate that relationship.

If you have time to worry, you have time to pray. Besides, God loves us dearly and is always eager to hear from us!

And with Him, nothing is impossible. 

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Heavenly Father, You are so good! Thanks that we can come boldly before the throne of grace, knowing You hear us each time we pray. Thanks in advance for Your many answers to prayer. Give us ears to listen and a heart to love You more. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: What are your favorite ways to pray? Do you have a favorite place or time of day to talk with God?

Tasks: When it comes to prayer: Ask. Listen. Repeat.

Posted on in Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Wisdom

Choose Joy

I have previously written about a choice we have to make between fear and faith. Choosing faith is about consistently trusting Jesus and not giving in to fear. If it were easy, everyone would do it! 🙂

Another choice we can make is between joy and misery. I don’t always remember that I have a choice in how I feel…but I do have a choice. I can’t control the outcome or situation, but I can control how I react…

So lately, I have been being more proactive—planning ahead of time what my ‘reaction’ will be in a given situation. I think about my day in terms of all the choices and activities I face.

I choose between getting up early or sleeping in. I also choose my attitude each morning when getting myself and Lydia ready for the day. I consider all the people I will see and influence through conversations. I even think about what I’m going to have for lunch or dinner, and the fact that I need to go to the store at some point.

Not all of these will go as I imagine, and that’s to be expected. Quite often, life seems upside down. There will be some surprises!

But instead of making my emotions the center, I focus my heart on Jesus. This helps me not attach my faith to the outcome…but to Jesus alone.

He is the one who determines my steps.

Ultimately, my ‘success’ is not measured by the world’s standards. It comes down to if I am obedient to God, to follow His instructions. And that takes work…effort.

As such, I aim to go to sleep at a certain time. I tell Lydia how much I love her. I choose to pray for my patients before I get to work. I do my best with what I have.

Yet, there is one more way I can prepare myself for success: I can choose joy ahead of time. Or, at the very least I can choose not to be miserable, by having a good attitude and not complaining!! There is joy in serving the Lord!

Happiness is linked to whether our environment is pleasing to us. Happiness, while certainly good, is based on emotions. It is subject to change based on what happens.

Cue the emotional roller coaster…when times get tough!

Joy is more internal, not dependent on outward circumstances, which can change quite rapidly. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit and is from God. It’s not optimism or positivity, as nice as those are. Joy comes when God fortifies us with His strength.

Joy shines most brightly in the midst of trials. Choosing joy comes with trusting God and stepping forward in faith. Joy is invaluable. It’s not always easy, but choosing faith, joy, and Jesus is always worth it!

Neither faith nor joy is easy all the time. If they were, we wouldn’t struggle—and we wouldn’t need Jesus. There will be tough days ahead…guaranteed.

But by God’s grace, we have made it through every other tough day so far. And praise God, we can keep moving forward in joy and faith…even if we don’t feel like it!

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God, thank You for being with us in each trial. Thanks for leading us and preparing the way. Help us not get stuck in our emotions, but move forward with wisdom, courage, faith, joy, and grace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you consider yourself ‘joyful’? Why or why not?

Tasks: Listen to “Joy” by For King and Country. Make sure you turn it up and dance!