Tag: joy

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Fruit, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Personality

Finding Grace #507

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 Fall Waterfall photo and picture

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

This was a red-letter week full of many blessings!

On Sunday, Lydia and I had an awesome day at church. It was fun to see how we are connected to so many people in God’s family!

This week, I had my performance evaluation at work. It has been a wild year with a lot going on, but by God’s grace, I received my highest ranking ever! I was pleasantly surprised and want to give Jesus all the glory!

On Tuesday night, I was asked to teach a lesson on personality traits and spiritual gifts at church. There were sixteen people, and I had them complete two brief assessments. Then we discussed their answers and some details to consider. I have not done that in a few years, so it felt really good. I was right in my element! I was honored that a couple of people heard I was teaching and came to hear me speak. And, the pastor in charge of that group asked me to come back again in two weeks to share more!

Yesterday, Lydia turned fourteen! She is such a blessing. To celebrate, we had one of her friends spend the night. They watched a movie and ate snacks. 🙂 Then, today, I took them to the movies to see Wicked: For Good. It was somewhat sad, but it was well done!

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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 Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #506

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 Mountains Forest photo and picture

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

This was a pretty good week, and I felt God moving in me and through me.

On Sunday, Lydia and I brought coffee to some friends after church. They had a rough couple of days with their little girl being sick, so we wanted to encourage them. By the time we arrived, she was feeling better, so we hung out for a little bit! We had fun playing and catching up!

Tuesday was Veterans Day, and we had a relaxing day. Time off in the middle of the week was just what we needed!

Work was full but went smoothly. It was helpful to have the holiday in there to break things up! My coworker on maternity leave visited with her baby girl, and that was also a bright spot!

Yesterday, after work, I went to lunch with a dear friend and fellow single mom. We also enjoyed some carrot cake and talked for over two hours about every topic imaginable. I love how God encourages me and uses me to encourage others!

Today, I did the usual Saturday chores and tasks, but also washed my bedding and organized some bookshelves. Neither is very difficult but takes some effort, lol, so it felt good to get them done. I also studied, made some food, and caught up with some podcasts!

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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, Personality

A Rejuvenating Day

Yesterday was Veterans Day, so Lydia and I were off from school and work. I appreciate the sacrifices Veterans have made for us, and I am so grateful to serve them every week! It was a nice day off in the middle of the week!

We mostly had a quiet day at home. It was a glorious day of rest and rejuvenation. I did many different things, but felt relaxed while doing them. I was able to get several small tasks done, but in an unhurried manner, which makes all the difference!

I slept in an extra hour or so, which was glorious. Then, I enjoyed a homemade cappuccino and breakfast while reading my Bible and spending time with Jesus. I also did a little mobility work and planned my day. Lydia slept until just after 8:30 a.m., so I had a couple of hours to myself!

Free Fall Autumn photo and picture

A day off can quickly be wasted, so I jumped into my to-do list early! I started a load of laundry, organized my work backpack, washed a few small dishes, and paid a bill. I did all of this while catching up on some podcasts. Then, I supervised Lydia while she filled my car tires with air. I also showed her how to check the oil and windshield washer fluid, since she hopes to get her driver’s learning permit soon. Might as well teach her about car maintenance now! It wasn’t that chilly in the garage, but I also wanted to test out my new outdoor winter gear! Win-win!

Later, Lydia went to the gym with a friend, while I made brownies and chopped up some veggies for the week. It’s all about balance, right?! I bought some online birthday gifts for Lydia and did a little reading. When she returned, we ran some errands and got some food. Then, I worked on a project while watching a movie. 

Life is made up of many small moments together, and yesterday was one of those really enjoyable days where life just slowed down. Normally, I am on the go, and the little tasks just build up. They take a lot of mental space, but it is difficult to make headway on them. 

So, yesterday felt like an unexpected gift, even though I knew about the holiday for a while. It was just what I needed. Thank you, Veterans, and to Jesus for the freedom we now have!

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God, thanks for a relaxing day off! Thanks for the freedom we have in America and also in Christ. Help us walk worthy of the sacrifices made on our behalf. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: What do you like to do when you don’t have anything specific planned?

Task: Take a few minutes to tackle some small items on your to-do list. Don’t wait until the timing is perfect. Just get started and see how it goes. Set a thirty-minute timer, and when it goes off, you can move on. Often, the little tasks take two minutes or less, but they add up and can quickly become overwhelming!

 

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 Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance, Prayer

Finding Grace #502

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 Forest photo and picture

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

This was another week of hustling!

We served in the kids’ ministry at church on Sunday, and I squeezed in a quick walk with a friend. Then, we ran home to get Lydia packed for Congress before her team left on the bus.

Lydia was gone all day Monday, but did really well at Congress. She gave four of her speeches and scored high enough to place! It was a cool end to her first season!

My Monday was very full but good. I stayed close to Jesus and enjoyed several church-related events. I’m grateful.

On Tuesday evening, we attended a golden birthday party for one of Lydia’s school friends. If you recall, we met a family from Africa a few years ago at the bus stop. Over time, we have seen less of them since they have gotten more settled. We enjoyed catching up, eating really good food, and enjoying their culture and traditions. And, they sent us home with leftovers!

Wednesday was my mom’s birthday. We all miss her so much, but we are doing well. And, she is with the very One who loves her the most. So, while we are sad, we are also happy for her and proud of her!

At work, I felt like I was chasing my tail all week, and I was only there four days! 🙂 I barely stayed on top of my charting, but somehow did. I know God was helping me all along the way. I had nice patients and accomplished a lot. Thanks, Lord!

On Thursday night, I dropped off Lydia and a friend at church for a youth convention that went through today. It was a funny week because I was pretty much on my own for much of it (Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday).

Yesterday after work, I met up with my coworker, Natalie, to hang out again. (She is off on maternity leave.) She had her new baby girl and her older son, who did not have preschool that day. It was fun to spend time together, and we visited a church ministry on the NDSU campus before getting coffee!

After that, I went to Menards and then finished up some outdoor projects at home… while catching up with my sister on the phone. Next, I did some studying and watched a movie. It was a fulfilling day!

This week, the weather definitely felt more like Fall! It was a little chilly, overcast, windy, and rainy. I didn’t mind too much and am thankful it wasn’t snow!

Today was a fairly restful Saturday. I did some studying before running errands and picking up Lydia from the youth convention. She had a big week and ended up resting for quite a while after that! After a three-hour nap, I had to wake her up!

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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, Miscellaneous, Prayer, Wisdom, Worship

A Day Off with Jesus

On Monday, I was off from work due to Columbus Day. Normally, I would set up a massage or do something relaxing. But, this year, I had a relatively full agenda!

I did sleep in an hour or so; I did not have to get up super early because Lydia was a few hours away at her Congress event. I woke up and did a little stretching, made some coffee and breakfast, spent time with God, noticed the beautiful fall colors outside, did some laundry, and started my blog post early. I had fun with Jesus and invited Him to come with me!

Free reading cozy coffee illustration

Later in the morning, I went to church for a ‘staff chapel.’ I am not on staff, but was invited as part of the leadership class I am taking. It was cool to have a peek behind the scenes and also to see the heart of our pastors. I talked with some new-to-me people and enjoyed some delicious food before we worshiped, took communion, and prayed.

Actually, we prayed a lot, lol! We prayed for a few key needs and for individual dreams, too. We wrote some God-sized dreams and prayer requests and then swapped them so others could pray. We did this a few times, and I enjoyed lifting up those I knew and some I hadn’t officially met yet. Some were housing or vehicle needs, while others were simply dreams for travel or fun adventures.

I left feeling even more connected to God and my church. I praised him as I left to fill my car with gas and accomplish more tasks. Back home, I checked my laundry, made lunches for the work-week, exercised, and continued writing this blog post.

Then, I spent a few hours studying for the leadership class and reviewing the material for a five-week series I will be teaching at work. It was a good, quiet afternoon, and I was glad to catch up on one class and get ahead on the other!

Free Forest Sun photo and picture

In the evening, I went to a new friend’s house to discuss the church’s leadership class. We met as a large group last week, so this week, just the ladies met to review the material we are going through and get to know each other. I appreciated the fellowship and hospitality!

Then, Lydia returned home from her Congress outing. She did well, and it was fun to hear all about her experience. We quickly got ready for bed, and that was it!

Even though I had a full day, I was glad to spend it with Jesus. Sometimes, life gets so busy we run, run, run… and forget to check in with Him along the way. Whatever is on your to-do list today, remember to bring Jesus with you!

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God, thanks for guiding my steps, coming with me each day, and helping me complete everything. Help me feel Your presence and trust You even when I don’t. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: Do you actively ask Jesus to join you as you go about your day?

Task: Spend at least the first fifteen minutes sitting in the presence of God each morning. Talk to Him about your day, any concerns you have, or any changes He wants you to make.

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

Finding Grace #501

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 Pumpkins Vegetables photo and picture

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

This was a very full and fulfilling week with lots of personal connections! On Sunday, after the service, we served during lunchtime in the Oasis, which is the older adults ministry. Then, in the evening, we had family Zoom!

On Monday morning, I heard the landscaping company would be coming over. I was very pleased with their work, though I had them make a slight change. I’m proud of myself for speaking up and for finally getting this project done!

That night, I had my leadership training class. We talked about discipleship, which goes hand-in-hand with evangelism. It was cool to learn about the differences and how to do a better job of both. I also saw some friends and caught up with them while we ate dinner… Panda Express!

Work was pretty full this week, and I definitely relied on God to help me complete my tasks and direct my path. I saw lots of patients and taught three classes. I prepared for another round of classes and got my charting done in a timely manner! 🙂

On Wednesday evening, I went to visit my coworker/friend, Natalie, and her family. I got to hold her one-month-old baby girl for over an hour! She is so little and cute! We always have fun talking about life and spiritual matters. I am grateful for the opportunity!

Thursday after work was Lydia’s school conferences. I met with her four core teachers, and they all told me she is doing well academically. A few mentioned she is quiet but eager to learn and help others. I also heard she is a great writer, and I am not surprised. 😉 She has spent several evenings diligently preparing for her next “Congress” meet, too.

Yesterday, after work, I went to visit another mom, my coworker, Maddie, who had identical twin girls in June. She will be coming back to work soon, but I wanted to encourage her and get some more baby snuggles!

Today was more of a typical Saturday, one day to rest before another full and busy week! We did a few chores, studied, made some calls, practiced for Congress, etc.

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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, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Personality

Landscaping and God’s Love

For the last twelve-plus years since Dave died, I have been thinking about my landscaping. Yes, that’s practically forever! I’ve known I needed to do something, but I wasn’t entirely sure what to do. So, I did nothing.

I wasn’t being lazy; I was at an impasse. Part of me realized that once I make a decision, there’s no real going back if I don’t like it. However, on some level, it was overwhelming to make decisions on my own. Dave was so good at the outdoor projects!

Then, two years ago, my parents visited, and I took notes when Dad provided me with ideas and exact details. Nothing fancy, just adding soil around the foundation, as well as river rock and a border. That was awesome, but I just didn’t know where to start or who to call. So, I forgot about it.

Finally, this summer, I requested a quote from a local company, but the timing was delayed since summer is their busiest time of the year.

On Monday, I heard they would be coming that day. I was eager to get it done, but I had to be at work before they came. Initially, I thought the foreman would come and outline where everything would go. But I decided not to worry about it.

I got home that night and was impressed by how much had already been done. The three men said they would return the next day to complete the task. I noticed one area of concern, but did not mention it. Instead, I thanked them before heading out to an evening activity. It’s been a packed week!

Then, yesterday morning, upon review, I still felt the border layout was too close to the deck. It could become a tripping hazard around the stairs, but it also didn’t look quite right to me. Yet, the work was done well, and exactly according to the quote. I wasn’t sure if I should say anything or just live with it.

I briefly texted with my family, and they encouraged me to speak up, so I had no regrets. I worked with the foreman to resolve the issue. We decided to extend the border by another foot or so on two sides to match it all the way around.

I apologized that it would take more effort to undo and redo the line, but the foreman was gracious. They even offered to add two flat stones to make a landing spot off the stairs, and I agreed. I was at work this whole time, so I had to trust them!

After work, I went to check it out. I LOVED the final result! I could not be happier with how it turned out! It’s exactly what I wanted and how I imagined it. I texted the foreman to express my gratitude and sent pictures to my family.

I am in awe of how the project turned out, and even more so, of how good God is. He stretched me and gave me the courage to say what I needed. He provided the overall plan through my dad and the foreman, and the money for the work to be done. I am both relieved and joyful about the final result!

It took me a long time to reach this point, but I am also praising God for bringing me this far. He is so faithful, and this is one more way He pressed me to keep moving forward. When I look at my landscaping now, I will think of His gracious love for me and His good plan for my life!

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Lord, thanks for giving me the courage to follow through and speak up when needed. Thanks for all the ways You challenge me and provide for me. Help me honor You in all I do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: How has God been stretching you lately? Is there something you have been putting off that you know you should do?

Task: Go ahead and take a prayerful first step. If you are trusting God, He will make sure it goes well. There may be some bumps along the way, but He will work it out for you.

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!