Tag: freedom in Christ

Posted on in Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Wisdom, Worship

Never and Always

Driving to work recently, I heard another ‘radio reminder’ of God’s grace. I was listening to the song “Never” by Tasha Layton and was moved. The chorus of her song talks about how God has never abandoned her:

Never forgotten
Never forsaken
Never abandoned
Not for a second
I am safe in Your hands
Always and forever
You’re never not working
My heart is the proof
There’s not a broken too broken for You
Will there ever come a day when You’re not holding me together?
You say “never”

Free Stones Pebbles photo and picture

Of course, the opposite of never is always. So, I started thinking of how God is always present and always there for me. He always provides for me, protects me, and showers me with His unending love. Every step I take is filled with an overwhelming level of grace.

He is always faithful and always leads me forward (occasionally pushing or pulling, as needed!). He always comes through for me!

It also hit me how the extremes of never and always impact me. It has been said, “never say never,” but I really can’t “always say always” either. Neither is physically possible or wise. Even in those moments where I can “sometimes say sometimes,” I am easily wiped out if I need to maintain the effort for too long.

While I can’t handle such extremes, I am grateful that God can. Jesus Himself was a man of extremes yet abundant grace and self-control. He was a part of creation (the Word), and then put on human flesh as a needy baby. Jesus lived without sin and then lived a nomadic life in his adult years. He was later betrayed, scourged, and nailed to the cross, asking God to forgive those who wanted Him dead. And if that wasn’t extreme enough, three days later, Jesus was raised to life again before eventually ascending into Heaven!

I am so glad that Jesus did all the difficult work… because we just can’t. Although life is tough sometimes and can feel extreme, we can rest knowing that nothing is out of bounds for God. We can sleep restfully because He never does (Psalm 121:4).

Yes, there is great peace in knowing God operates in the extremes. He is far above and far beyond anything that comes at us. His holiness is extreme, but He also removes our sins as far as the East is from the West – another extreme only He can handle because the two will never meet (Psalm 103:12). Nothing is impossible for Him!

So, today, I hope you are able to rest in God’s ‘extremeness.’ Work hard, sure, but know that He is your strength and shield. He is your protector and provider. He is carrying you!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for Your extreme love and grace. It can be difficult to accept Your love and grace sometimes, but thanks for the reminder that we don’t need to be perfect or suffer alone. Help us rely on You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: How are you handling life’s extremes right now, and what can you learn? Are you trying to handle them on your own, or are you taking them directly to Jesus?

Tasks: Think about the extremes in the post above, in addition to the many extremes we see in Nature (climate patterns, landscapes, animal species/size/colors/eating habits, etc.). Pray about how God wants to show up for you today… then rest in His mighty, capable hands!

Posted on in Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Wisdom, Worship

Fully Equipped

Do you feel fully equipped to accomplish everything today? Make sure you check in with the Lord. He has a good Word for you!

The Bible is God’s word, and it is such a blessing. After all, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

We can learn about God’s love, Jesus’s sacrifice, and Holy Spirit’s guidance. It corrects us and trains us in the way we should go. As Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

I took some notes while listening to a Bible lesson the other day. The teacher explained something to the effect that the Bible clarifies our ‘yes or no and our stop or go.’ It is comprehensive and covers all we need to live a full life on God’s terms.

I like rhyming and opposites, comparing and contrasting, so in terms of the Bible, I started thinking about all sorts of ways it is useful. Of course, some verses popped into my mind at the same time!

Up or Down: Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” The Bible helps us determine between what has eternal, heavenly value and what is only of the earth (temporary).

Good and Bad: Romans 12:1-2 says, “…do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” The Bible helps us discern between right and wrong. God’s word can convict or correct us and get us back on track!

Yes or No: Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.” We can use the Bible to help us decide if we should be involved in something and at what level. Usually, it’s not a decision between right and wrong (that should be obvious!), but rather a choice between what’s good, better, and God’s best.

Stop or Go: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 starts off with, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven…” To me, this one is all about timing. We have to wait on the Lord and understand that His plan is best.

Right or Left: Psalm 23:3 says, “He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.” We can trust God will direct our path and lead us where He wants us to be.

There are more ways to think about the Bible, but I will keep mulling on the points above. They remind me that God leaves nothing to chance. The Bible is all-encompassing. We are surrounded with opportunities to learn and grow in Christ! And He wants us fully equipped for every good work!

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God, thanks for the Bible and all we can learn from it! Help us to apply Your principles to our lives every day. May we step into all You have for us, fully equipped. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: Which of the points above do you identify with the most? Would you say you are fully equipped or at least working toward that?

Tasks: Think about all the different points above and then apply them to your own learning time in the Bible! Keep growing!

Posted on in Books and Movies I Like, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Wisdom

Hidden Blessings

BIBLE = Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth 🙂

Yesterday, I was scrolling social media and came across someone who quizzes people on the Bible. On Instagram, he is @tophertownmusic. Apparently, he is also a musician and an Army Veteran.

So, he walks up to people and starts a conversation. He gives them one hundred dollars if they answer three Bible questions correctly. It was fun to see him talk about God’s word with total strangers and then reward them!

That got me thinking… if Topher walked up to me, would I know the answers to his questions? So far, I’ve known the answers to all his questions, but I didn’t watch each post. 

I watched some of his other videos and commentaries, too. He is kind, generous, and funny, but he is also firm and able to discern the truth and apply it well. How refreshing!

This was a great example of the importance of God’s word and how it grows in our hearts. It’s not just random trivia. The Bible shows us how to live and walk in holiness. It is vital for understanding God’s character and His purpose for us. It can challenge us but also brings comfort.

There are many ways to interact with Scripture. If you are new to all of this, I recommend learning about Jesus first, starting in the Gospel of John. Beyond that, we can simply read one chapter or a few verses at a time. Some people read until the Holy Spirit illuminates an idea or speaks to them personally. There are daily/yearly reading plans, devotionals, topical books, or online studies. Find what works best for you!

Bible Studies with others can be fun ways to discuss Scripture with friends. I like to listen to the Bible on the YouVersion app while I get ready for work and often use BibleGateway to look up verses for blogging. The Bible Project videos are also great.

Going a little deeper, you can re-read the same passage of Scripture a few times to start noticing themes, repetition, similar verbs/actions, and more. You can search for clues about context to interpret the narrative, the meanings, and the message God (the Author) intended. Then, we are changed from the inside out!!

Life is short. We never know when we might need the truth of God’s word. It won’t return void, though we have to allow it to do its work in us. Yes, it acts as a ‘check’ on our hearts. It takes time and committment but always brings blessings as we draw close to God.

When life presses in, may God’s word squeeze out of us and bless others!

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God, thanks for the Bible and for Jesus who embodies Your grace and truth. May we hide Your Word in our hearts and use it correctly. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: How do you like to connect with God’s word? What are you learning from the Bible lately?

Tasks: Read your Bible today and pray for understanding! If you need help, check out this link: Scripture Engagement (biblegateway.com)

Posted on in Books and Movies I Like, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance, Prayer, Wisdom, Worship

Putting On God’s Armor

As you may recall, last week I mentioned Lydia was reading through her Bible chapter by chapter. Last week, she read the Apostle Paul’s letter to Christian believers in the city of Ephesus during the Roman Empire. And, together we discussed it to make sure she really connected with God’s truth.

Ephesians Chapter 6 is all about spiritual warfare. Paul writes about putting on God’s armor daily; for me, a Roman soldier comes to mind. I’m sure there are many books, sermons, and articles discussing them in depth!

But, for our purposes, I wanted to do something hands-on. That way, Lydia would remember the lesson, be able to apply it, and “stand firm” in her faith!

As we reviewed Ephesians 6:10-18, I told Lydia to stand up and put on God’s armor. Yes, she had fun acting it out! The belt of truth is first (v. 14), and perhaps it is first because it went over a tunic before the heavy armor was added. But, we decided to save it for last… keep reading!

Next up… the breastplate of righteousness. Lydia acted like she was putting on a shirt, and then crossed her heart with her arms. I asked her what a breastplate would be used for. “Protection” was her response, and that is true. But, I also think of Proverbs 4:23, which says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” We talked about our emotions, distractions, and holding offense. Also, I mentioned how Lysa TerKeurst says, “Emotions are indicators, not dictators.” Emotions give us clues, but don’t run the show.

Then, Lydia put on shoes representing the “readiness given by the gospel of peace” (v. 15). What does that mean, we wondered? I had some ideas, but Lydia started walking about with her imaginary shoes. She focused on bringing peace to those she sees every day; I also was thinking about the gospel which means “good news.” So, we are holy ambassadors, spreading the Good News of peace (see Isaiah 52:7 and 2 Corinthians 5:20). Ultimately, Jesus brings us peace with God, peace with others, and peace with ourselves.

“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one” (v. 16). This verse was a lot of fun. Lydia held up her arm imagining a shield attached. She thought about it for a moment and then relaxed her arm. As soon as I saw my opportunity, I threw a small toy at her. She jumped and defensively raised her arm in shock. “Why did you do that?!” she asked. I explained that I was trying to prove a point and catch her off guard. We then discussed what a flaming dart (or arrow) might mean. She quickly realized that the fire comes from the pit of Hell, and we must always be prepared for Satan’s attacks.

We moved on to the helmet of salvation next (v. 17). This seems easier to understand than others, as a soldier would have a warrior mentality. Romans 12:2 came to mind, which says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” We must be alert to Satan’s lies and constantly remind ourselves of God’s love, grace, truth, peace, joy, etc. We cannot afford to forget all He has done for us!

The Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (v. 17), is the only weapon listed that is both our defense and offense. Lydia and I have previously discussed noticing lies or myths that would discredit Jesus or make us doubt Him. We then can attack the lies and replace them with Scripture verses. This book is particularly helpful because it matches God’s word with our emotions.

Now, let’s go back to the belt of truth. I asked Lydia why we saved this for last. She got it right away. “Because God’s truth holds everything else together!” John 14:6 mentions that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and Colossians 1:17 records how all things are held together in Him. We cannot be spiritually strong without Jesus!

Finally, Paul writes to keep alert and keep praying. We can’t be lazy or sleepy. We must do all we can to stand strong and stand firm in Christ. On guard!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for giving us all the tools we need for a successful life, including spiritual armor. Help us use it effectively as we live for You and obey. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Have you ever thought much about our spiritual armor? What components are familiar or easy to use, and which ones do you need to dust off?

Tasks: To read more, click here for the search results related to Ephesians 6 on my blog. 🙂

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

Finding Grace #392

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 Coneflowers Flowers photo and picture

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

This week was full but fun! We started off with a total relaxation weekend for Labor Day. I took a nap, did some reading, and made some treats for a birthday at work. Just what I needed!

 We had a four-day workweek, which included the birthday celebration, some meetings, and a training class. So, it went pretty fast! I didn’t have as much pressure toward deadlines, which was nice, too.

On Thursday, I took Lydia to the grocery store. The twist is that she made all the choices and paid! She’s learning about value and costs, and it was a good exercise to see how to plan and stick to a budget. Knowing that the money is limited makes us consider our choices. She had to compare brands and expiration dates, weigh produce, and more. It went so well that we will be doing it regularly!

The grocery trip helped us be creative with the pantry foods we sometimes forget about. We talked about our values and goals related to money (on Lydia’s level). One bonus is that she saw parallels with her clothes – what’s worth the money and when it’s better to choose the basic brands vs. name brands. 🙂

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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, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Pivot, Wisdom, Worship

By Grace, Through Faith

The ultimate privilege and responsibility I have as a parent is to influence Lydia for God, encourage her faith in Him, and show her how to walk with Jesus. I am proud of her spiritual growth as I disciple her relationship with the Almighty.

Lydia has been reading her Bible just about every day for several months. She has worked through the Gospel of John; 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John; Galatians; Revelation, and others. I loved her commentary on Revelation (talking about scary dragons and Hell): “Well, that’s a great way to start off my day!” She had insightful questions about the imagery and end-time events, too.

This week, Lydia started Ephesians. She aims to read about a chapter per day. Mostly, she reads the material, thinks about it, and then we talk about it.

I love Ephesians, and it has been fun to hear Lydia’s thoughts, too. Sometimes, she understands the material right away, and sometimes, she understandably needs a little help.

Free Ocean Sunset photo and picture

Now, parts of Ephesians 1 are a little wordy. It has lots of adjectives and run-on sentences. But it’s also jam-packed with all the spiritual blessings we have as followers of Jesus. Mind-blowing, really!

On Sunday, we discussed Ephesians 2, and I unexpectedly got a little emotional as I read some of my favorite verses with Lydia. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

I asked Lydia for her take on those verses. She gave me her best shot, that we don’t have to earn salvation, we just have it through faith. It is a gift of God’s grace. Not bad for an eleven-year-old!

Then, I asked her, “Why do you think God only requires us to have faith? Why wouldn’t He make us do something for salvation?” Of course, one answer is that we could never be perfect enough.

But then, I heard myself explaining, “You know how sometimes an online company might hold a contest? Often, if you want to enter, you have to like and share their post on social media. So, I could enter if I wanted. But, what if you didn’t have a phone then, and Tappa didn’t have social media. And Lily (my toddler niece) wouldn’t even know a contest was happening. Thus, if I was one of the only ones to enter, I could brag about my good fortune. Everyone else would be disqualified; they would have no chance.“

I have read those verses so many times, but they took on a different meaning on Sunday. I thought of any family, friends, coworkers, etc. whom that fake contest would have disqualified (no social media). And, in the context of salvation, it made me want to share the gospel even more!

Immediately, I understood a whole new level of God’s perfect grace. Teary-eyed, I thought of how kind and wise He is to make coming to Him a level playing field. It doesn’t matter where you live, what you’ve done, or your background. No favoritism exists for a certain race, skin color, or language. ALL are welcome and invited.

 We can never be good enough to earn salvation; because of Jesus, we don’t need to. He did His part; now believing and accepting His sacrifice is our part.

Yes, God took all of the requirements of salvation and put them on Jesus. The weight of the world’s sin was a heavy burden! And, all we have to do is believe and receive the free gift.

Now, as I reminded Lydia, FREE simply means ‘no cost to you.’ Indeed, salvation was very costly to Jesus, who paid with His life and blood. May we never take it for granted!

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God, thanks for the gift of salvation through Jesus. Thanks that we don’t have to earn it but can accept it by grace through faith. Help us live out Your gift of grace every day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Have you accepted this most generous gift of salvation? Are you living according to God’s grace, or are you still trying to do it all on your own?

Tasks: Read through Ephesians 2 and meditate on it. Note any verses that jump out at you and pray about the application in your life.

Posted on in Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Perseverance

Collision Course

Yesterday, I had a few minutes before work, so I went to get the mail that I missed the day before. On my way back inside, I looked up at the sky and noticed two airplanes. From my perspective, they were only an inch or so apart. 🙂

In fact, based on their trails, they looked like they could collide. Though I knew they wouldn’t. The air traffic controllers would have them on separate paths at different elevations. Safety first!

I tried to take a picture, but they were gone by the time I came back outside. I could only see part of the trail from one airplane. It’s crazy how fast they moved apart!

Free Plane Aircraft photo and picture

But, then that got me thinking… we are all on our own course, but God makes sure we get where we are going. Your destination might be work or school today, or maybe the grocery store. But, for those of us who know Jesus, our final stop is Heaven.

I also thought about how there are people on the journey with us, such as family, friends, and coworkers. At times, our paths collide and we go together, and occasionally our paths diverge. But, in both cases, we can trust God to lead us.

Finally, I was thankful for all the ways God keeps us safe, even when we can’t see the danger around us. We face many possible “collisions” (or challenges) in a day, but God watches out for us. We typically have all potential problems on our radar, but He does.

Occasionally, we see life from a different angle and get a glimpse of who God is or what He is doing. It’s like we are on a collision course with God’s grace! He won’t let us get too far from His love!

In those moments, let’s praise Him for carrying us, protecting us, and providing for us. Let’s encourage those who are on the same path (or plane) as us, too!

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God, thanks for taking good care of us and navigating our path. Help us trust You along the way. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: When you see airplanes, do you ever imagine where they are going or think about the lives on board?

Task: Next time you see an airplane, briefly watch its trail… from where it has come and consider the trajectory. Remember, each person and plane is important to God!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Food and Nutrition, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Parenting

Finding Grace #390

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 Dahlia Flower photo and picture

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

This week was a little hectic but good! Lydia and I had several events that took planning ahead and felt ‘big.’ I had to keep praying, working hard, and trusting God. I also took several deeeeep breaths. But, it all turned out really well.

 On Sunday, we volunteered at church in the morning (greeting at the kids ministry) and in the evening (an outdoor women’s event). We had good food and saw some friends. I thought I would be really tired after a full day of serving, but I was actually energized!

On Monday, Lydia babysat for a little baby all on her own. She is very responsible and good with little ones, but I was a little nervous anyway since we had not previously met him. Lydia had a blast and entertained him for two hours. She even earned a few bucks!

Lydia started middle school this week! She had fun and already has three favorite teachers, so I think that’s a good sign! We are excited for this next season.

Work was good but fairly busy and full of problem-solving. Nearly all of my patients came this week, but it made me happy to be using so many of my skills. I also had fun attending a yoga session with my coworkers on our lunch break! Then, I worked a couple extra hours on Friday and also went in today for two hours (my on-call weekend). Whew!

My mother-in-law came to visit this week, as she sometimes does when I am on-call. She took Lydia shopping, and then I joined them for a few other activities. We always have fun together and have some more things planned for tomorrow!

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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, Pivot, Wisdom, Worship

Rush Hour

Rush hour in Fargo is, well, nothing compared to say Chicago or Minneapolis! In the big cities, you could be in traffic for over an hour and barely move. I don’t think I could handle that on a regular basis!

In contrast, you may drive for fifteen to twenty minutes in Fargom yet typically keep moving along. But you still need patience, especially when people try to rush ahead or cut in traffic on the highway.

Yesterday, I spent some time running errands after work. I decided to skip the busier route and went through town. I still hit some traffic, though not as many vehicles switching from one lane to the other. Funny how the other lane always seems to move faster!

I am just as guilty as others trying to get home after a long day or move on to the next activity. But yesterday, I just took it easy and enjoyed the ride. Even so, I was home within eleven minutes after finishing my errands.

Free Traffic Cars photo and picture

I thought about how a spiritual “rush hour” might go. Now, often, God’s timing is much slower than ours. He is never early, never late, and always right on time!

Second Peter 3:8 says, “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” God’s timing is unique, but so are His purposes for us.

So as I sat in traffic and watched other people, I wondered how often I rush to move closer to God or hurry up my routine to spend time with Him. I don’t usually have a lot of wiggle room, so I have to set aside time diligently and even invite Jesus to come with me.

Do I speed up and ‘switch lanes’ to get to Him?

Do I readjust my schedule and rush to Him, or do I rush through my time with Him to move on to the rest of my day?

Every day is a little different, with a morning and evening rush (traffic, and often at home). But ideally, we should be excited to spend as much time with the Lord as possible. I am challenged to rethink my daily routine, and I hope you are, too!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for these little insights into the spiritual world. Help us throw off everything that entangles us so we can run toward You.  Help us keep You as our main priority. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: How can you focus on God in your travel time? Do you like to sing and worship God; pray for your day or others; or listen to a podcast or audiobook about spiritual matters?

Tasks: Listen to God’s word through the YouVersion Bible app. Or, tune your car radio to KLOVE or your local Christian radio station (in Fargo, that’s Life 97.9 FM). If you have SiriusXM, check out The Message. Several of these have phone apps, as well!

 

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Life is Short, Little Free Library, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #388

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

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

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

This was a fun week, partly because it was all leading up to my birthday TODAY!!

Work went well, and I enjoyed a lighter patient load. There were a few little surprises, but one good thing is that my patient with a complicated case has been improving quite a bit. He called me with good news, and I was so happy his condition is stable, and he is eating more.

Lydia and I went to check out some more sunflower fields. They are so pretty en masse! We got some fun pictures and enjoyed seeing more of the North Dakota countryside!

On Friday, I met a friend for lunch after work. We had a good two-hour conversation about all God has been doing in our lives. This friend has been through a lot but continues to challenge herself and grow in faith. It’s encouraging to me, and I always enjoy hanging out with her!

After that, Lydia and I got a head start on celebrating my birthday! We went to see those sunflowers, then followed it up with dinner at a Lebanese restaurant. The food was so delicious and such a treat. We shared several dishes and had baklava for dessert. Then, we took a walk around our neighborhood and the middle school!

Today, I woke up early and enjoyed some espresso and quiet time. I made a full breakfast with eggs, toast, fruit, and veggies. Then, when Lydia woke up, we went on a bike ride. The weather was perfect with bright blue skies and just a slight breeze!

After that, I did a little weeding – because I wanted to!! I also updated some hardware on my little free libraries. I did NOT feel like mowing on my birthday, though! So, that will have to wait. 😉

Later, I caught up with several birthday shout-outs online and a number of texts and phone calls. I really appreciate everyone cheering me on and reaching out. Also, thanks to all of you who faithfully read my blog each week!

Tonight, we are enjoying some homemade cherry dump cake, watching a movie, and playing Qwirkle. If we can stay up late enough, we hope to go see the Perseid meteor shower. It comes every year around my birthday, but I always seem to miss it. Occasionally, it’s due to the weather, but most of the time, I have to work or be somewhere the next day. So, hopefully, it works out tonight since it’s supposed to clear. It would be the best ending to a wonderful birthday!

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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)!