Category: Pivot

Posted on in Being Gracious, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Pivot, Wisdom, Worship

The Old Made New

Happy New Year!! As I reflect on 2025, I see many answers to prayers. God was definitely at work and did some pretty awesome things in my life!

I think of how my life was at the beginning of the year and how it is now. In some ways, things are similar, but if you look deeper, they are very different. I have grown and have been transformed by renewing my mind and letting go of the old to grasp the new.

Naturally, the biggest life change was my mom’s death in February. Yet, this was the best year of her life because she met Jesus face-to-face! We miss her, but are grateful she is with the One who died so she could live forever. I hear my mom’s voice in Colossians 2:5-7 below:

5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. 6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

Some people get stuck after someone dies. But for others, Death can be a catalyst for change. When we’re reminded how short Life is, our perspective shifts from complacency to “it’s now or never.” There is no time to waste!

Although Mom is not with us physically, we certainly will carry her memory and legacy with us. I want to make her proud and live out the calling God gave me, which she cultivated. The Colossians passage above is like a parting reminder: Continue in Jesus, stay rooted in Him, remember what I taught you, be grateful.

Lydia and I visited some new-to-us places in North Dakota, and she also went to Washington, DC. We each started new activities, too. Lydia participated in a program called Congress, and I started a leadership training program at church, something I have wanted to do for a long time. We have both learned a lot this year!

I made some changes around the house, including finally getting some landscaping done. It was several years in the making. I am so glad it is finished, and I love how it turned out!

Praise God, I am now mostly pain-free in my neck, back, and hips – it has been years since I felt this good! I am giving all credit to Jesus, my Healer. He has done all the hard work; I have just walked it out with some new tools, habits, and mobility training.

The Lord provided for me in new ways this year. I picked up extra hours here and there at work, which helped bring in a little more money. In other areas, He showed me how to adjust my spending habits to stretch my dollars when needed. He is so faithful and good!

Speaking of habits, I finally realized that going to bed and getting up early is non-negotiable! This meant I’ve had to say “no” and strengthen boundaries. But I feel better all around when I get a short walk and stretching in early. Also, my morning time with Jesus is top priority. With His help, I have been fairly consistent in both areas. It feels good to get into a rhythm… and coffee certainly helps!

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” This year was full of challenges, but Jesus made old things new again. He brought things to completion and answered prayers. I grew in my faith, and my life was transformed. And you know what? Jesus wants to change your life, too! So let Him! 

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Heavenly Father, You are so good. Increase our faith and transform us from the inside out. Your Word is Truth – help us live it out. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: How have you grown this year? How has Jesus transformed you?

Task: Keep a running list of all the ways you see Jesus moving in your life this next year. Praise Him along the way!

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

Living Within Our Limitations

As you may know, I usually write my blog posts on Tuesday nights. Sometimes I start them on Sunday or Monday, if I have a specific idea, but I always finish on Tuesdays (and make final edits on Wednesday mornings before publishing and sharing).

Some of this is just my creative process, but a lot of it is certain limitations, such as time. Often, I have an idea, but it is not fleshed out yet. Or, I have several interesting occurrences or random pieces of information I want to talk about but I have to figure out if they are connected or not.

So, yesterday was Tuesday, but I was late getting home due to the weather and traffic limitations. We received a lot of blowing snow during the day and that slowed everything down in the evening! I also had to clear snow when I got home in the evening. My hired snow removal service came eventually, but I still had to do my part!

Free Pine Cone photo and picture

Thankfully, I had anticipated all of this and wrote half my blog early – even the part about getting home late! 😉 But I wanted to sit with the idea of limitations. We all have them, but they may impact us each in different ways.

I have already mentioned the limitations of time, weather, and traffic. We also have health problems, pain and grief, financial limitations, age restrictions, family challenges, work issues, and more. The holidays also present us with opportunities to trust God.

In particular, Christmas tends to amplify whatever problems are already present. But, don’t let yourself get stuck by your limits. Lean into Jesus and call on Him for help!

Jesus didn’t just come as a cute little baby. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords! He reigns over all! Every problem has to come under his authority and jurisdiction. We have Victory in Jesus’ Name.

So, here’s a fun update! My Tuesday was busy but pretty good. At work, I had a challenging patient, but he left feeling confident, so I am calling it a win. I got just enough done to feel accomplished, and I also received some good news!

Throughout the day, we received several inches of heavy, wet snow, but the drive home was fairly easy. I got home a few minutes late, but all things considered, it wasn’t too bad. I praised God the whole way home!

I cleared a little snow, but left most of it for my snow service. Because I had already started my blog, it didn’t take as long in the evening. So, I was able to spend time with Lydia, watching a Christmas movie!

When we pray, we literally bring Heaven to Earth… God’s will here as it is there. We may not see the result right away, but we can trust Jesus is on the move. He always answers when we call – yes, no, or not yet.  So, today, whether you are in the midst of calm or chaos, peace or pressure, lean into Jesus. He covers our limitations with His presence and mighty power!

Yes, when we acknowledge our limitations and humbly ask for help, Jesus comes to the rescue! His very Name implies salvation, and He loves to show Himself strong on our behalf! So, don’t give up! Keep seeking Jesus and keep moving forward!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for taking good care of me, despite my many limitations. You do all things well! Help me trust You more, and not rely on my own feeble strength. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do your limitations hold you back or lead you to Jesus? How has Jesus proved Himself strong on your behalf this week?

Tasks: Don’t let yourself get stuck by your limits. Lean into Jesus. call on Him for help, and keep moving forward!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Pivot

Finding Grace #508

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 Leaves photo and picture

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

This was a fairly restful week.

Work went well, though a few people canceled or did not show up, which is a bit of a double-edged sword. I don’t get credit for seeing them, but I also get some time to catch up on charting!

My coworker had her baby, a sweet little girl, so she is now on maternity leave (the third one this year). So, I was the backup for her weekend on-call. I went in today for one patient, and it wasn’t too difficult. The next five or six weeks will be fairly busy until the second coworker returns from her leave in January! But God is good, and we are grateful for all the cute babies!

Thanksgiving was just what I needed. Instead of a big turkey dinner, we had meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie from Costco. I didn’t want to spend all day cooking, so Lydia and I just kept it simple. We had a fun and quiet day, relaxing and watching movies.

Yesterday, after work, I braved the Black Friday crowd at the mall. I needed to return something and picked up a few small items. I enjoyed the holiday sounds, lights, and overall atmosphere. If I didn’t have an appointment to get my oil changed, I would have stayed to people watch!

We got our first snow of the season on Tuesday, and it took me an extra twenty-five minutes to get home! But it was good to go slow and stay safe. We got a little more snow today, but further south will probably get a lot more. I bet the snow we received this week will not melt, since temperatures will stay chilly and probably dip lower!

Today, Lydia and I both had online tests. Lydia passed her driver’s test for her learner’s permit! It will be a couple of weeks before I can take her to pick it up, lol. And, it will be at least a year, maybe two, before she can get her actual license, but at least she can start practicing. I passed my last test for the church leadership course I am taking this semester! Our final class is next week, and then we start up again in January. We also did some cleaning and Saturday things. Later, she will hang out with a friend, and I might watch a movie!

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

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

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

Cheerful and Connected

On Sunday, I went to church three times… and had so much fun! At one point, I told someone I might as well bring my sleeping bag and stay. She laughed and mentioned they do have a couple of showers on-site! 😀

To start, Lydia and I went to the first service at 8:30 a.m., like usual. We sat with a friend and caught up with her afterward. Typically, this may include discussing our week or the sermon. We encourage each other and may even pray for each other.

When the second service started at 10 a.m., Lydia and I left to pick up Starbucks for another friend. We chatted with her and played with her little girl for a while. Our visit was also a cover to pick up a package for Lydia’s birthday this week. I had the package delivered to our friend’s house so she wouldn’t see it in advance. My friend rewrapped it so Lydia didn’t catch on. 😉

Then, during the 11:30 a.m. service, we were back at church to help with the OASIS group. We set the tables and helped serve the food, which was ribs, scalloped potatoes, Caesar salad, and a pumpkin dessert. The older folks are friendly and appreciative. Later, Lydia mentioned how many people greeted us on Sunday, both in OASIS and at church in general.

After that, I ran Lydia home and hung out for a few minutes before heading back to church for a routine business meeting. I sat with some other friends while we heard about some financial updates and learned more about building updates as we remodel.

Free Pumpkin Pie Whipped Cream photo and picture

Finally, I came home and did a few tasks before catching up with family over Zoom. 🙂 Thankfully, I had energy throughout the day and felt like it boosted my mood. I felt encouraged, not drained!

Sunday was a bit of a wildcard initially, since I wasn’t sure how the timing was going to work out! I had prayed earlier and trusted God to direct our steps. In doing so, I saw just how connected we truly are in the context of community. 

Our church is fairly large, and now with three services, it is easy to forget about people or miss seeing them. I might go weeks without seeing certain friends, though I might remember to text them during the week or month. But Sunday was a fun eye-opener for Lydia and a nice reminder of all God is doing in us and through us.

Hebrews 10:23-25 says, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

It was fun to see many familiar faces on Sunday. I’m glad that Lydia recognized the connections we have with others and saw the joy that comes from serving God. Being a part of the Body of Christ is a wonderful gift!

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God, thanks for helping us be the Church, the Body of Christ. May we grow and mature in Jesus and draw all people unto You. May we bring You glory, in Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Are you connected to a local church? Do you serve there regularly, or are you waiting to get involved? What is holding you back?

Task: Pray about getting more connected at church. It is good for your faith and builds others up… you are needed! Find something to do that blends your personality, spiritual gifts, and passions. Then, you will love showing up and serving! Note: If it’s a total drain on you, it’s probably not quite the right fit. It should be a sacrifice, but also bring you joy!

Posted on in Being Gracious, Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Fruit, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Pivot, Wisdom

A Higher Calling

Today, I’m going to jump right in… Bear with me, please and thank you!

I recently read an online post that mentioned something to the effect of “judge not, lest you be judged.” You can read more in Matthew 7:1-5, but Jesus meant to take care of your own sin before pointing out the same problem in others. Ironically, the half-truth came from someone whose life is a mess, to put it nicely. They have made some really poor decisions, yet want to tell everyone else how to live. Hmmm.

Indeed, Christians are required to judge the conduct and spiritual fruit of other Christians. It is wise to examine the behavior of people who claim to love God, as well as those who don’t. We must discern who is pointing us to Jesus and who is dragging our attention away from Him. We are called to test and weigh spiritual matters. Let’s do it with humility and integrity.

At the same time, we cannot hold non-Christians accountable for Christian standards because they are spiritually dead. They may have a sense of morality and have an inkling of who God is (Romans 1), but it’s not the same. In fact, a post I saw last night said, “Satan is not opposed to good morals. He is opposed to Jesus Christ.” We can’t expect the world to understand or get on board so simply — we must demonstrate who Jesus really is.

Free Avenue Trees photo and picture

Another recent online post was from someone who is all about promoting goodwill, equality, and equity. We absolutely should offer merciful compassion and seek justice, but sadly, these often get twisted. In reviewing our current political climate, this person implied it is “un-Christian” to pause certain social programs, as if that were the end goal. They flat-out deny wanting anything to do with Jesus, but they want to hold people to that perceived standard.

Professing our faith and living for Jesus Christ is not for the faint of heart. It is easy to want to hide out and ignore all the drama this world brings. Especially when we feel pressured, censored, and mocked. We must remember our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the dark spiritual forces of this world (Ephesians 6:12). We are citizens of Heaven (Philippians 3:20), but we must make the most of our time here! Because of Jesus, we can bravely run into battle, not away from it.

Christians are called to a higher standard—to imitate Jesus Christ and draw people to Him. Salt and Light, Grace and Truth. Kindness, hospitality, generosity, and self-sacrifice. Helping the poor, sick, and marginalized. It’s not about adding more to our to-do list, but showing God’s love in practical ways. Yet, how we use our resources will look different for each of us in the context of community. The point is that we have to be consistent in how we represent Jesus. We must follow through and not drop the ball.

On Monday, in my class, we talked about building authentic connections with others and sharing Jesus’ love with them. We can open hearts with simple conversations and show excellence in all we do. As one speaker said, “If you are lazy, prideful, rude, and negative… no one wants that!” We cannot just do the minimum. We must set an example for others in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity (1 Timothy 4:12), so that they ask what makes you different. Jesus!

Of course, we cannot do this on our own. That’s why we have the Holy Spirit and the Church (each other!). Sure, we have our flaws, but praise God, we will one day be made perfect in Jesus. Let’s minister to our local communities with cheerfulness and initiative. There are always challenges, but loving one another well draws outsiders into the heart of God.

Bottom line: All of us deserve eternal damnation in Hell because we fall short of the glory of God, and the wages of sin is death (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23). We cannot earn our salvation, but there is hope! “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8) It is by grace we have been saved through faith (Ephesians 2), so let us run this race with endurance (Hebrews 12).

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Heavenly Father, forgive us when we fall short or give people reason to doubt You. Help us spread Your grace, love, peace, and joy to others. May we be quick to help in times of need. May we consistently show up and follow through. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Where are you at in all of this? Are you with Jesus or the world? Are you living out your higher calling, found only in Him? Or are you playing with fire and trying to do it all on your own?

Task: Check your heart and see where you really stand with Jesus Christ. Read Romans 10:9 and the other verses linked above. If you aren’t sure, message me at nat.grace.lemonade@gmail.com. I’d love to connect.

Posted on in Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Fruit, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Pivot, Prayer, Wisdom

Command, Promise, Risk

Today, at work, I get to do my quarterly BLS practice! BLS stands for Basic Life Support, and it is helpful (mandatory) to keep my CPR credentials up to date. We have an adult mannikin and a little baby one at work. It is fairly simple, though not necessarily easy. In my experience, the mannikins can be a little finicky!

I thought the timing was ironic because on Sunday, our pastor mentioned another acronym for CPR. Instead of CardioPulmonary Resuscitation, he reframed it as Command, Promise, Risk.

We were talking about the prophet, Elijah, in 1 Kings 17. He stood up in his generation, and God used him greatly. Elijah spoke against evil and demonstrated God’s power in legendary ways. By faith, Elijah prophesied that no rain would fall on Israel because they had abandoned the one true God. This eventually led to a showdown between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. As if that wasn’t enough, hundreds of years later, he was with Jesus and Moses on the mountain of Transfiguration!

Free Heart Sunrise photo and picture

Regarding CPR, our pastor explained that God gives us a Command and a Promise. But, we need to take the Risk and obey. So many times, we want the promise of reward, but fail to follow through by taking the first step. There is no reward without risk!

Risks are one sure way to ‘get your heart pumping!’ But we don’t have to give in to fear. God will provide for anything He sets in motion. Follow His command, and He will bring His promise to pass.

Taking the leap of faith is risky, and maybe you don’t feel like you have that much faith. Yet, you only need a little—think mustard seed—and you don’t have to have all the answers first. Trust God’s heart.

Each of us may struggle on our own, but when we come together, we are stronger. Showing up and taking a risk, even when you don’t feel like it, can actually be a boost to someone else. We can “borrow” the faith we ourselves need from others, and we can give that support, too. Soon, our hearts are pumping in unison and God is glorified in us!

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God, thanks for being with us in life’s challenges. Help us take the risks and obey Your commands. We don’t do it to obtain a reward, but to glorify You. Help us be faithful. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: What is a risk God is asking you to take right now? What is His command, and what is His promise to you once you take the risk? Is there someone who can cheer you on?

Task: Don’t rely on your own strength today. Lean on God and take the risky first step of faith… then watch how He moves on your behalf!

Posted on in Being Gracious, Food and Nutrition, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance, Personality, Pivot

Pasta and Feeling Perturbed

Yesterday, I woke up with a sore neck and spent most of the day trying to stretch or rub the affected area. Periodically, at work, I noticed I was slouching a bit and clenching my jaw, which didn’t help the pain. I tried to correct my posture, of course.

Also, I had a few stressful moments at work and knew I needed to refocus. By the time I got home, I was trying to relax; however, I was still a bit agitated. Lydia then asked me to pick her up from the high school a block away because she was hot, and it was hot outside.

I agreed to pick up Lydia, although she is fully capable of walking to and from school. Still, when I saw her, I was a little annoyed to see that she was wearing sweatpants and Uggs — definitely not a good choice when it is 80+ degrees! Teenagers…  🙂

Free Noodles Pasta photo and picture

I decided to make pasta for dinner, specifically, a box of cavatappi noodles. These are like corkscrews, and I was eager to enjoy them since the shape was kinda fun.

Well, I left the kitchen and asked Lydia to finish the noodles. I expected her to wait until they were fully cooked and then drain them. For whatever reason, she only watched them for a couple of minutes before draining the noodles. Apparently, Lydia likes them still crunchy, but I prefer them softer.

Well, the only way to fix the noodles would have been to reboil them. I didn’t want to do that… I was too hungry and too irked to wait! Lydia could tell I was a little grouchy and apologized several times. I told her it was fine, but that her saying sorry was also “too much,” especially just for pasta.

After dinner, we each went our own ways. I started my blog post (this one!) and she worked on some homework downstairs. About when I got to this point, I went downstairs to check on Lydia. I apologized for my bad attitude, and she again apologized for the undercooked pasta. 🙂

My neck still hurt, but I needed to keep moving forward. I happened to read a little table calendar with a short prayer: “Lord, help me to rest in You, keep a quiet heart, and look forward with hopeful expectation to the things You are working together for good.”

Free Poppy Flower photo and picture

I started to thank God for all the ways He has been moving lately. We’ve had amazing weather, uncharacteristically warm (but not too hot). I’m on top of my winter house preparations list. Lydia has been doing well at school, and work can get crazy, but I appreciate having a good job. We have plenty of food and clothes. I have amazing friends and an awesome family. So, I just need to chill.

I have no reason to stay perturbed for long. If things don’t go my way, it’s not the end of the world. Life is too short not to enjoy it. Thankfully, I was able to get over myself, lol!

On some level, these minor annoyances can also be viewed as a spiritual attack. The enemy only pushes us when we are making progress. When he feels threatened, he tries to trip us up. If I weren’t doing something important, he wouldn’t bother. So, consider this a reminder to check your pride and ego, as well as anything that might hinder your progress. Use God’s armor to remind our enemy of the Victory we already have in Jesus!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for being in my corner. Forgive me for my bad attitude. Help me walk in Your Truth with eyes wide open. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: How have you turned a bad attitude around to praise God?

Task: Don’t live by your feelings, but pay attention when you are in a funky mood. Catch it, check it, and change it!

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

Finding Grace #498

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 Flower Herbstaster photo and picture

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

This was a full week, but good overall.

Monday was the busiest day I’ve had in quite a while. I had a big presentation at work, which went really well. I prayed for God to help me and had total peace. Then, I had about five patients in five hours, so I didn’t really get a lunch. That night, I had a church training, which went well, but I didn’t get home until 9 p.m. or so, just in time to say goodnight to Lydia. Whew!

The rest of the week was a little less “busy” but still had a lot going on. One highlight was helping Lydia with her Congress preparations. She wrote some awesome responses for real pieces of legislation. I listened to her, timed her, and provided some feedback. I’m really proud of her!

I mowed the lawn on Wednesday, which was perfectly timed before a few rainy days! We had just the right amount of rain, in that I could use my umbrella but didn’t desperately need it. It was a bit cooler, just perfect for autumn. I even noticed a few of the trees are turning colors now.

I talked with my sister and dear friend back-to-back on Thursday. It was fun catching up with their lives and asking for some advice on mine. I’m grateful for their godly wisdom and support.

On Friday after work, I went to see the Downton Abbey Grand Finale. I liked it overall, and it was a little bittersweet that it is “over.” I enjoyed the costumes and seeing all my favorite characters, though! I also had a coupon for a cheaper ticket and free popcorn, so that was good! 🙂

After the movie, I ran across the street to introduce myself to our new neighbors. They have been there for a couple of weeks, but I was waiting for them to get settled. The family has two elementary-age kids. I hope they stay there for a long time, so we can get to know them better!

Today, I was on-call and went in for two patients. I did some grocery shopping and bought myself some flowers on the way home. Then, I came home to do ‘Saturday things’ and do some studying. For dinner, Lydia and I had lasagna, grapes, and salad. It was delicious!

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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, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Personality, Pivot, Prayer, Wisdom, Words, Worship

Getting Through It with Jesus

The last two weeks have been rather tough. I’ve been very “busy” with a lot going on, not to mention the news has been particularly sad and heavy. It’s exhausting!

I’ve had a lot of individual activities and events to remember. I have been spent time preparing for this very week. Maybe you can relate!

Additionally, I tend to hold stress in my upper back and shoulders, and then it travels upward. So, I’ve had sore muscles and a headache on and off this whole time.

Monday was especially full, with a big presentation at work followed by a full day of seeing patients. After that, I had a training at church and did not get home until 9 p.m. Lydia had an extracurricular activity and walked home afterward, but I didn’t see her until it was bedtime.

I don’t know about you, but sometimes when things get hectic, it’s easy just to want it to be over already. Now, all my activities on Monday were good and I looked forward to them.

But I was also praying I could get through the day and be able to relax. On my walk into work, I said, “Lord, just help me get through everything today.” And as soon as I said that, the thought occurred to me, “I don’t need to get through it, I just need to stay close to Jesus.”

Free Coneflowers Flowers photo and picture

All throughout the day, I had peace. The presentation went really well, and I was very glad that God helped me. I had practiced, of course, but I had revised my slides on Thursday and then we also had company last weekend. So, I was familiar, but maybe not fully comfortable with the content.

I had several patients back-to-back after my presentation and barely ate my lunch. I did not get a full thirty-minute break anywhere, but I had God’s peace and joy as I went about my day. It was a little hectic, but He was with me.

I ran home after work to add air to my tires. The pressure sensor went off while I was driving, but I only had time to check the tires and fix the one that was slightly low. I’ll have to do a more thorough inspection later. Then, I was off to church.

We had a small meal catered in, and I was a little early. But that gave me time to focus and decompress a little. Then, we had a great time of fellowship and learning about spiritual formation and spiritual disciplines. It was dark when I left for home, but I was happy.

On my way there, my check oil light came on. No big deal, lol, I will check that and my tires! I briefly checked in with Lydia before she went to bed, but I still had several things to do to prepare for Tuesday. I prayerfully only did what was most necessary before heading to bed myself.

Free Flower Desert photo and picture

I’m sure you have had days or weeks like mine. You may just be pushing through to get through the day, week, month, or season. It is easy to try to handle everything all on your own. But what if you invite Jesus into the mess? What would that look like and feel like?

Your day may still be a little crazy, but God already knows what you need. He can change your schedule and/or empower you to handle it with grace. Ultimately, God directs your steps anyway. You don’t have to do it all or “get through it” on your own!

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Father God, thanks for taking my burdens and replacing them with grace. Thanks for peace, joy, and rest during life’s challenges. Help me trust You more. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: Have you been resting in Jesus or STRESS-ing out?

Task: Check in with Jesus regularly, and even more when your day is chaotic!

Posted on in Being Gracious, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perfectionism, Perseverance, Personality, Pivot, Wisdom

A Few Good Quotes

I usually finish writing my Wednesday post on Tuesday evening, and I usually make it my main priority. But, occasionally, I need to focus on other things. Sometimes, it is just good to take a break and rest. This week has been busy, so it’s a bit of both!

So, for this week’s post, I am keeping it simple. I decided to share a few quotes I have been collecting and just give a few insights and let you mull on them as well! I do not remember all the sources, sorry, but if I find them, I will link them.

The first three are from some excellent sermons on the Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). This is the first in the series, but they have all been good!

Our shield of faith is not just for protection; it is also for advancement. We don’t just hold it up when attacks come, but we can “hide” behind it while taking ground in Jesus’ Name. For me, this is a mental game-changer. It reminds me I have the responsibility to take action.

Faith is acting like God is telling the truth.  Essentially, our enemy’s strategy is to use anything – good or bad – to make us distrust God. (God can use those to bring Him glory and us good.)  So, when we believe God and do what He says, we fight against the lies.

Free Fat Chicken Stonecrop photo and picture

Hope is when your present borrows strength and hope from you future. No matter how grand, the things of this world will always disappoint us. But, Jesus is our Living Hope and our future is secure!

God did not redeem us only to abandon us. I don’t recall the source, but it does remind me of the line, “God did not bring you this far, only to bring you this far.” Lies can creep in and make us doubt God’s love and presence. But, He is with us and for us!

Preach the gospel to yourself daily. Remind yourself that apart from King Jesus, you are dust. Not to be outdone, check out this line, attributed to Jonathan Edwards: “You contribute nothing to your salvation except the sin that made it necessary.” Well, that’s enough to keep me humble!

Slow days still count. I have been staying up late to get things done, and as you know, you can’t do that for long without feeling it. For the last week or so, I have felt a little run-down and have been intentionally trying to rest. I took a nap on Sunday and am being kind to myself by ending my post… here. 😉 Thanks for reading!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for giving us wisdom and guidance. May we live out our faith with boldness. Help us to know when to move forward and when to rest. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: Have you heard any other good quotes lately?

Task: Think about the quotes above and how you might apply them to your life. I’d love to know your thoughts!