Tag: joy

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #111

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

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 week went fast and was filled with activities. It was a full week, but I was able to catch up and finish a couple books, podcast, and webinars. God is so good!

On Thursday, I started reorganizing the pantry and bought some little carts and extra shelves! Today (Saturday) I finished the job while Lydia went to play with the neighbors at their house. It feels good to have a home for everything instead of leaving certain items on the floor!

Thursday was also the day when the remaining snow on my property melted. It was around 56 degrees that day! After school, Lydia played for three hours outside with most of the neighborhood kids. I supervised and also was “it” during three rounds of hide-and-seek. I certainly got in my exercise that day! We had a blast and enjoyed the first round of popsicles for the season.

We had a no-school day on Friday because we had an extra snow day that we didn’t use. Lydia and I relaxed and errands. She played outside before we went to church for a special worship night. She insisted on wearing a little black dress and a pretty floral scarf for the event. I loved that she dressed up for God, but am thankful He loves and accepts us just as we are. We don’t have to impress Him!

Today Lydia and I went to an early spring farmer’s market. Then, we went to a local park and ate lunch on our deck. It was a beautiful day! Later, I finished the pantry project while Lydia played with the neighbors. We joined them for dinner too!

Where did you find God’s grace this week?

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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, Food and Nutrition, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Prayer

Smells, Spills, and Splatters

Yesterday, after school, Lydia and I went to get a few groceries. The store is a well-known company and I generally feel my money is well spent. However, I have noticed that their grocery bags have gotten super thin and flimsy.

When we got home, I unloaded the groceries while Lydia went to play with a friend. Right away, I noticed a leak with the first two bags I carried. I thought it was just condensation from the frozen vegetables. Nope. I put the bags on the kitchen rug and soon realized a glass jar of olives had broken!

So, I had to clean that up after putting the other items away. I also had to wash the rug, knowing if I didn’t it would stay smelly forever. Hmmmm….

Then, I went to the car to clean up more olive juice, before grabbing another round of grocery bags. But the second two bags also had holes in them—which I didn’t notice until a large bottle of balsamic vinegar fell out the bottom and crashed on the garage floor!

Yeah….. I stood there for a few seconds trying to figure out what to clean first. My new dress pants were splattered, my socks and shoes were drenched in vinegar and glass, and the dark puddle quickly expanded in two directions. Under the car and out the garage door.

I like the smell of balsamic vinegar, but a little goes a long way!

I quickly checked the remaining grocery bags and saw that every single bag had holes—some big and some small. Annoyed, I grabbed what I could before heading inside to change clothes.

Thankfully, the weather was the nicest it has been in months! It was in the 40s that day, so I put on a pair of shorts before rinsing my shoes, socks, and pants. (I didn’t want to ruin a pair of long pants!) I put my shoes by the bathroom sink to dry and the other items in the laundry.

Then, I spent the next 45 minutes trying to sweep up glass shards and pour buckets of water all over the garage floor. I used my broom to sweep the vinegar and water towards the drain. It was a real mess!

After I finally came inside, I put on warmer clothes and rinsed off another pair of shoes before making dinner and putting away the rest of the groceries. It was rather chaotic because Lydia also came inside ready to eat.

So, we threw together a few easy items—tacos made from leftover ingredients and veggies. I added some salsa to my tacos and later realized a little salsa had spilled on the counter before dripping onto the floor. Agggh!!

Finally, I cleaned up the dinner mess and washed a few dishes. That’s when I accidentally splashed soap suds onto the counter next to the sink. By this time, I was checking in with the Lord.

“Um, God, is there something you are trying to tell me?” 🙂

Then, I just had to smile because I realized each of these messes were mere inconveniences. They cost me a few dollars in grocery money and more than an hour out of my day. But, no real harm had been done.

Besides, my floors and garage needed some extra cleaning anyway. One area of the kitchen was still slightly sticky from when Lydia spilled her fruit cup (full of juice) the day before. And, the garage had a ton of little rocks and dirt from the crazy winter.

I was glad I turned to the Lord to check in with Him…even if it did take a few mini-disasters first. It was just a good moment to reconnect with Him. I was disappointed about the bags and mess, but I quickly saw my problems were of not big in light of eternity. There are much more important issues at stake, and smells, spills, and splatters were not worth losing my joy or peace.

Often, God uses minor problems to correct us or help us avoid major issues. The key is to connect with Him even before problems come!

Every day, Jesus covers us with His grace, guides us with His wisdom, and helps us navigate through life’s messes. Always ready to help, He cleans us up and sets things right.

From here on, I will be more diligent to use my reusable bags that are always in the back of my car. Lesson learned… It might take awhile for the stench of vinegar to leave my garage, but, I guess spring cleaning is off to a good start!

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God, thanks for keeping me calm today and turning my focus back to You. Thanks for covering me with Your grace. Help me turn to You quickly whether life is going smoothly or not. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: How does God get your attention? Do you turn to Him quickly or wait for disaster?

Tasks: At the first sign of trouble, check in with Jesus. Ask for His help and guidance immediately!

Posted on in Books and Movies I Like, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #110

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

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?

As I reflect on God’s grace this week, I am filled with gratitude. It was a full week, and while we accomplished a lot, it didn’t seem too daunting. It was fun and relaxing!

This week was filled with creative pursuits! I tried a few new recipes, including a spaghetti sauce with no added sugar. I met some personal writing goals as well. This boost of creativity carried over to my dreams, too! I had several interesting dreams and slept very soundly! In one dream, I was trying to sell a house, but the house kept morphing between a tree house, brick house, and condo. Another dream revolved around politics and a circus… perhaps it mirrored real life in more than one way! 🙂

Perhaps my vivid dreams were also related to two intense audiobooks I finished. The books, If I Run, and, If I’m Found, by Terri Blackstock, kept me in suspense. I had to take a break at times to let the intensity subside, but both were very well-written. I have the audio version of the third book, If I Live, too. I hope to listen to it soon!

On Wednesday, I shared my story with a group of moms at my church. I always appreciate any opportunity to speak about God’s grace in my life. It is healing for me! Each of our personal stories has value. As we share our stories with each other, we are encouraged to embrace what God is doing in our lives. He is so good!

On Thursday, we took a tour of Lydia’s new school for next year. It was fun to see so many neighbors! We enjoyed learning about the school and meeting some of the staff. Everyone was friendly and Lydia should have a smooth transition in the fall.

We still have a decent amount of snow on the ground, but much of it melted this week. We were “supposed” to get more snow this weekend, but I think we will miss it. Many friends across the Midwest got hit instead… Thankfully, I saw a few more signs of spring. I saw the return of songbirds this week, including Mr. House Finch who serenaded me on Thursday and Friday! 🙂

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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 Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #109

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

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 week I was intentional about staying in the present moment. As usual, we had a lot of potential activities to do each day. But, I postponed some on purpose to stay focused on the Lord. It was a peaceful week!

Recently, the students at Lydia’s school held a small fundraiser for a local boy battling cancer. Just with spare change, they raised around $1100! When the little boy stopped by the school this week, the students surprised him with a song. Lydia was so excited to tell me all about it…but it unexpectedly took me back a few years…  Later, I watched a video of that day and could see how encouraged the boy and his family were. I’m glad the community is rallying for this little boy. And, I’m thankful Lydia is still somewhat unaware of how much turmoil cancer can bring.

My parents celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary on Thursday and have been in Florida for a little over a week! What a way to start off a new year of marriage! I’m grateful for all they have accomplished and look forward to how God will use them next!

Today, some neighbor boys came to play for a few hours. We always enjoy when they come to visit! Then, Lydia went to a birthday party at SkyZone, which is a trampoline park. She ended up riding with the family hosting the party, so I had a couple hours to myself! 🙂

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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 Food and Nutrition, Miscellaneous

Small Blessings, Big Results

Yesterday afternoon, I made some popcorn in the microwave for a quick snack. I enjoy popcorn because it is quick, easy, and fairly healthy. I don’t mind adding spices, but if it is fresh, I enjoy it plain too!

I added perhaps a quarter-cup of kernels to a little silicone container that folds down. I got this popcorn popper around Christmas, and it’s pretty awesome… (no affiliate links!).

I may have overloaded the container though… After a minute of popping, the top flew open and popcorn started pouring out and popping over the sides! 😀

By my estimate, that small amount of popcorn kernels made close to six cups of popcorn! A few pieces even fell out of the microwave when I opened the door.

I was going to make some popcorn separately for Lydia, but we ended up sharing the first batch instead. There was plenty for both of us!

It was so fun to watch, and as I did, I saw a picture of God’s abundant, over-the-top blessings in my life.

Just like popcorn, there is great potential contained in every blessing or gift. What joy it is to see the blessings unfold and grow! When I follow God’s directions and let Him lead, good things are going to happen!

God’s blessings sometimes pop up unexpectedly. Just like popcorn exploding in the microwave, God’s grace and love abound in our hearts. I love having little “God moments!”

Yesterday, I expectantly watched the popcorn, waiting for the final result. Similarly, God is also watching us to see what we will do with the blessings He’s given us.

As our God-given blessings multiply, I usually have more than enough to share. I could keep the lid on and contain my blessings—but most of them are meant to bless others. Let’s be generous!

Even something as little as popcorn can show us God’s love. It’s amazing to think that a small little kernel can represent so much blessing!

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Heavenly Father, You are so good. Thank You for all the blessings You’ve given me. Help me use them wisely to bless others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you like popcorn? What toppings do you prefer?

Task: Make a list of God’s blessings or gifts and how you can use them to bless others.

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #108

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

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?

Once again, this week was low-key but enjoyable. We had snow on Monday and Friday, so that was a factor in some of my decisions (to stay home). But, I am equally grateful for a reliable car for when we do need to run errands or get around town!

My parents made it safely to Florida! I talked to them yesterday and it was 82F. I told them about my snow and they were teasing me that it is time to move to Florida! It was so good to hear them enjoying themselves. I am excited for all God has in store for them!

Work went well this week. I had a lot of paperwork to fill out…and no patients. It was kind of funny; occasionally everyone cancels. But I was glad to have the extra time to fill out the important documents! I’m grateful for the Lord’s timing.

On Tuesday, I ran into a friend at the movie theater. It was an unexpected blessing and a great reminder of how God also directs my steps! God is good!

We celebrated Good Friday yesterday at a noon church service. Lydia was off of school and we enjoyed a day together. We also baked PINK Hello Kitty cookies and then hung out with the neighbors that evening. A good time was had by all!

We celebrated the Holy Week leading up to Easter with these Easter story eggs. Lydia has been excited to open each day’s egg and read a little bit of the passion week story. Lydia also made me a special sticky note reminder for the regular Easter eggs, too! 

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

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

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

MercyMe at the Movies

Over the years, I have grown more comfortable going to see movies on my own. The crazy thing is… it always seems God that meets me at the theater! I’m not joking! Each time I go by myself something interesting happens…

Yesterday, I went to see a matinee showing of “I Can Only Imagine.” I went to a matinee during school hours. As soon as I walked in the door to buy my ticket, my friend, Gwen, ran over to greet me.

I didn’t see Gwen standing there so it was a funny surprise. She was waiting for a friend who I found out was my former neighbor. Lori recognized me from when she and her family still lived on our block. Now, she and her family live out of town near Gwen; their kids go to school together.

We briefly caught up and decided to sit together during the movie. Seeing these ladies was a cool and unexpected blessing. I had considered going to an earlier showing yesterday but decided to run errands instead. I’m so grateful God directs our steps!

The movie told the story behind the hit song of the same name. The movie, in my opinion, was not overly religious…but it was very real. It did not hide the character’s pain or gloss over ugly details. I loved seeing how a relationship with Jesus changes everything.

The main character, Bart Millard, grew up in an abusive household. But when he was in high school, his father started seeking the Lord. It was challenging for Bart to forgive his father, but he did. Praise God, his dad was transformed into a new man! He and Bart improved their relationship before it was too late.

For me, the story, told in the song and movie, highlights what Easter is all about—REDEMPTION. Jesus Christ loved us so much that came to earth and He gave His life on the cross for us. His blood paid the price of our sin and took away the punishment we ourselves deserve: Death. We could never accomplish that on our own.

The movie was a great reminder that Jesus never gives up on us! No one is beyond His salvation. He wants everyone to come to Him… What grace!

But, God didn’t stop there. On Resurrection Sunday, Jesus rose to life again through the power of the Holy Spirit. The best part is that when we accept what Jesus did for us, we are forgiven AND we also receive a new life. We are transformed from the inside out.

Knowing Jesus gives us hope for our future in Heaven—but He also gives us new purpose today. Not only do we have redemption but Jesus also brings RESTORATION.

Jesus renews us and makes us whole. We have new opportunities and can make good choices that honor Him. Because of Jesus, we also can live with joy and fulfillment even in the midst of painful circumstances. Trust me… I know!

We don’t need all the answers to walk by faith. Some situations may years to resolve, but we know that someday, Jesus will make everything right. He is faithful and just!

How awesome that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is alive in us, too!  Not only are we forgiven and have peace with God, but the Holy Spirit’s power is our strength when we ourselves are weak. He enables us to do far more than we can think or imagine according to His power working in us (see Ephesians 3:20)!

Though we should all encourage each other and work together to glorify Jesus, God has made each of us for a unique role. Therefore, how He works in each of our lives may also look different. We don’t need to compare ourselves! 

For me, having God’s power alive and active inside of me means I can choose to walk by faith instead of fear. I have Victory over fear. I am FREE and don’t have to be afraid!

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Thank You, Jesus, for dying on the cross for me! Thanks for giving me new life and freedom. Help me live boldly and walk by faith. Renew me and transform me from the inside out. In Your Name, Amen.

Questions: Have you received God’s free gift of salvation? From what has Jesus redeemed you?

Tasks: Listen to the song, “I Can Only Imagine,” by MercyMe. Read this article about the song and movie! And, go see the movie! 🙂

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #107

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

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 week was rather low-key but good. We have been on-the-go for much of the last three months, so a quiet week was much appreciated!  It consisted of writing, cooking, catching up with friends/family, and even some online shopping. 🙂 

We had a light dusting of snow early in the week, and a little more snow today. Thankfully, it has been fairly nice and “warm” in the upper 30s most of the week, so the snow shouldn’t stick around for long. It always seems like spring takes awhile to come… But I saw tell-tale signs of spring on Friday morning: Robins and buds on the trees!

Work went well this week. This month marks one year since our merger happened. I can’t believe how fast the year went… and how much God has blessed me. I am thankful for a stable job that still provides a good amount of flexibility.

This week, I finished up a class I lead at church. I met with some new friends afterward and also ran into about twenty other people I know. Sometimes, our feelings get the best of us and we forget how connected we are. But Wednesday was a great reminder of belonging. I am grateful for all the wonderful people God has placed in my life!

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

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

Posted on in Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Travel, Wisdom, Worship

Trusting God in Transition

Happy Spring!! I hope you are enjoying sunshine and warmth!!

Here in Fargo…it still looks like winter. In fact, we just got another dusting of snow again this week. However, the snow won’t last long. Change is on its way!

I’m thankful that I chose last week to travel to my hometown in Illinois rather than this week. Because the Lord directed our path and timing, we didn’t have to travel on wet or icy roads. Thank You, Jesus!

Soon, my mom and dad won’t have to deal with snow in Florida!

As my parents finish packing and head south, I have been thinking about life in our small community. Local friends are rallying around my mom and dad to show support, share a meal, and send them off.

Clearly, I’m not the only one grateful for their influence and impact. They have quite a legacy of servant leadership, faithfulness, kindness, and generosity!

I’ve also been recalling all of our memories in the home they built. Since I have been in Fargo for several years, distance has created ’emotional space’ regarding the actual house.

But still, it does seem odd not to be able to call it HOME for much longer… 

Nonetheless, I’m proud of my parents for making the transition. They have been talking about it for a long time. And, I’ve also happily acquired some treasured items from their 43 years of marriage (so far). Bonus!

Moving can be difficult as familiarity is left behind….but I know from personal experience how rewarding it can be to jump into the unknown.

Besides, it’s normal to have new challenges now and then. They remind us this world is not our home… Let’s keep moving forward. God has so much more in store!

God promises to be faithful to those who love and follow Him… Jesus is not bound by zipcodes, timezones, weather, the postal service, or any airline. I know He will take care of my parents just as well in Florida! It is a new adventure!

Transitions can be both scary and exciting. The best part is that times of transition can draw us closer to Jesus. But it’s our choice whether to draw near…

We all have times in our lives where our faith is challenged and doubts creep in. But, if we keep our eyes focused on Jesus, we will remain steady. He is our Rock and our sure foundation. Our hope is in Him.

With Jesus, nothing of value is really lost. Most of us prefer safety and comfort over uncertainty, but everything that truly matters is secure in Christ. We find true peace and rest in Jesus. He will never let us down!

So… I take comfort in those wonderful memories of growing up in the country. I appreciate all the time we spent outdoors and as a family. But, I also look forward to creating new memories… at the beach!

God is good and His plans for us are also good!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for Your love and grace. Thanks for protecting and providing so well for us. In times of transition, help us to rest and trust in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Are you in a time of transition? How can you trust Jesus to help you thrive?

Tasks: Ultimately, this world is not our home… Listen to the song, ‘Home‘ by Chris Tomlin.

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous, Travel

Finding Grace #106

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We don’t do that nearly enough!

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 beautiful, restful, grace-filled week! On Sunday after church, Lydia and I drove 6 hours to Eau Claire, Wisconsin. We finished our trip the next day, as we went to my parents’ house in Illinois (see pic). They are moving at the end of the month, and we needed to get a few keepsake items. It is exciting and bittersweet. But, I won’t complain… Florida is a great place to visit, too! 

We returned to Fargo late on Wednesday after driving 1550 miles roundtrip! Both ways, the roads were clear and we saw signs of spring. We enjoyed blue skies in four states. At one point in Wisconsin, I asked Lydia, “Isn’t this so pretty?” She agreed, but said, “It is pretty, but it is also long.” After spending 12 hours in the car one way, we decided that it was indeed “pretty long.” Nonetheless, I am grateful for a reliable car, a safe trip, and a cheerful travel buddy. God is so good!

On Thursday, I caught up with work. Also, a friend helped me move some items I acquired in Illinois. It went much faster with help! Then, in the evening, friends generously invited Lydia to Disney on Ice! Someone canceled last-minute so they had one extra ticket. Lydia was so excited…and I enjoyed a kid-free evening on my own! Win-win!

On Friday, I finished up with my work hours, got my taxes done, and had a phone meeting. I was in awe of how well God takes care of us. I don’t always understand how it all turns out financially, but I am grateful for His provision. God’s economy is the best!

Today, a friend from Ghana invited us over for lunch. She made fried plantains and a dish with blackeyed peas. Together, she called the dish ‘red-red’ and it tasted as good as it was pretty! Then, she came with us to the final celebration of Upward Sports. Lydia’s cheer team did a short performance, and then we watched the Hanson family from Iowa do a juggling/unicycling act. It was a great end to an awesome weekend!

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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)!