Tag: no excuses

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

2018 Annual Review

Happy Boxing Day!! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. šŸ˜‰

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

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

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

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

Later, Lydia played with some of her new toys while I exercised. Then, we put together some bath goodies from one of the science kits. Sheā€™s never been so excited to take a bath! šŸ˜‰

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

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

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

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

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

This year, I have felt humbled in many ways. I have become more aware of my flaws and all that I still need to learn. (Yes, Iā€™m human!) šŸ˜‰

I usually set a lot of goals, but didnā€™t meet most of them this year. I met my most important goals, but still left a lot on the table. In order to prioritize a big project, I kind of slacked off elsewhere! I made progress, but I also have a lot to finish or catch up!

Still, I have learned to accept Godā€™s grace for my perceived failures and trust Him to lead me. Iā€™m grateful I donā€™t have to be perfect. Jesus is My Righteousness!

Iā€™ll probably set similar goals this year (haha, I canā€™t help it!). But I have learned to give myself grace and be more present day-to-day.

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

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

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

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

Tasks: Consider setting SMART goals for the new year. Donā€™t worry if it feels like ā€˜too muchā€™ for you to accomplish. Trust Jesus to direct your path!

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

Fresh Eyes

Itā€™s amazing at how much fear can cloud your visionā€¦

Last Friday, I opted to have Lasik eye surgery to correct my double astigmatism. Iā€™m so glad I did! Iā€™m in awe at how my eyes are already working better in such short time.

I had thought about Lasik for a long time but never looked into it due to fear. There are risks with any surgery, but I didnā€™t want to risk my vision for an elective procedure!

About a year ago, some friends encouraged me to look into it. It took me forever to make an appointment, but thankfully, I was a candidate after all. I asked many questions and received solid answers at the free consultation.

To my surprise and great relief, I learned that blindness is associated with the retina and/or optic nerve in the back of the eye. Lasik affects only the outermost layer of the cornea (in the front). So the risks of this surgery are mostly related to possible infection (rare if you follow their guidelines).

For me, the long-term benefits and no hassle outweighed the short-term costs. I see it as an investmentā€¦ My contacts were expensive, not to mention the costs of appointments and supplies. Iā€™ll still need to see my eye doctor every year, but thatā€™s normal!

An extra dose of courage combined with a little education brought me clarity. With prayer, I felt at peace and I decided to move forward.

I was both nervous and excited for the surgery. The actual procedure was a little freaky, but also really interesting! šŸ™‚ They numbed my eyes and there was no pain, but I was still awake. Iā€™m glad I challenged my fear and followed through.

Iā€™m grateful God helped keep me calm because I had to stay still! I distracted myself during the surgery by reminding myself of His goodness and faithfulness. As I decided to ā€œjust go with it,ā€ He took away all my fear.


Over the years, Iā€™ve learned to trust Jesus more and moreā€”though not because itā€™s been a smooth or clear path. Indeed, Life has not been easy, but the Lord has walked with me each step. I have seen His love and provision for me in big and small ways.

Because Jesus helped me through some of the worst years of my life (cancer and grief), I have grown past fear and have gained a new perspective. He set me free from fear, steadying me when I felt lost and couldnā€™t find my way forward.

Grief had to run its course, but in time, the Lord also gave me renewed purpose and vision.

Whatever you are facing in this season, I pray youā€™ll see your situation with fresh eyes. Jesus came to save us all, and He will make it right. Trust Him!

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Father God, thanks for keeping me safe and renewing my vision. Thanks for helping me conquer my fears. Help me continue to walk in Victory! In Jesusā€™ Name, Amen

Questions: Is there something youā€™re afraid of currently? How can you trust God to move past it?

Tasks: Pray about any steps of faith you have been putting off. Then, choose to take the first step in defeating your fear!

Posted on in Being Gracious, Miscellaneous, Wisdom, Worship

Win-Win!!

Sometimes, Life lessons are set into motion long before we need themā€¦

Last year, my mom bought Lydia a pretty new winter coat. The pattern has navy blue and peach hearts with a pair of peach-colored snow pants. Lydia liked it last year, but it was too big.

She continued to wear her old winter coat until this week when we realized she had grown out of it and made the swap. Lydiaā€™s new coat is still slightly big, but it will work well for her. Iā€™m grateful my mom found a deal!

The old blue coat has a huge hole in one pocket and a couple holes elsewhere. The sleeves are also too short and have seen better days. Instead of giving the old coat away, I decided to toss it.

Then, to my surprise, Lydia was absurdly thrilled about getting rid of the coat! She started talking about how bad the old coat had become, how she didnā€™t even like it anymore, and how she was happy to be ā€œdoneā€ with it.

This struck me because I knew how much she loved the coat originally. It was a huge blessing when she received it. So naturally, I turned it into a teaching moment. šŸ™‚

I said, ā€œLydia, donā€™t forget that old coat served you well. I bought it for you and it kept you warm for two winters! It was a gift you really needed. Donā€™t you ever hold an old blessing in contempt because you got a new oneā€¦ā€

I didnā€™t want Lydia to take it for granted or to miss the point. So, I grabbed the coat out of the garbage and decided Lydia could use it for her outdoor play coat. Thankfully, she agreed with me because she plays outside regularly and this will also preserve the new coat. Win-win!

Winter coats are just one example, but I wonder how many times I do the same thing.

Itā€™s certainly good to look forward to upcoming opportunities. In Life, growth is vital, and we will inevitably grow out of some things and into others. At the same time, it seems careless to ditch the old so we can grab the new. We need to find balance.

The difference is gratitude.

When God blesses me with something new, wonderful! Chances are good I will be expecting it based on how He has already prepared me. What a gift!

But, if I am discontent and just searching for what is new, bright or shiny, I risk leaving behind all the lessons I learnedā€¦ On my own, I will miss the point.

Letā€™s not despise what God has already done for us. His blessingsā€”both old and newā€”are just as abundant as His grace. Letā€™s be grateful for how God has lead us thus far and trust Him as we move forward! Another win-win!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for all the blessings You give us! Thank You for Jesus, the best gift ever. Help us find balance as we grow. Keep us focused on what is most important: You. In Jesusā€™ Name, Amen

Question: When anticipating something new, do you find yourself patient or impatient?

Task: In this holiday season of giving and getting, make sure to put Jesus firstā€¦ the rest will work out as we trust in Him!

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

Finding Grace #141

I love giving God a shout out for what He has done. We donā€™t do that nearly enough!

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

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

Where did I find Godā€™s love and favorā€”His abundant graceā€”this week?

I feel like a broken record when I say this week had a lot going on. It seems the last couple of months have been busier than usual. And, in a society that uses ā€˜busyā€™ as a badge, I prefer a slower pace! Iā€™m so grateful for Godā€™s grace as we navigate life!

Once again, I worked an extra day this week, to get ahead for the holidays. One patient yelled at me in frustration about his meal plan and changes he needs to make for his health. I understood his perspective and was able to talk with him about it. Iā€™ve been yelled at a few times in 12+ years of being a dietitian, and I am grateful it doesnā€™t happen often! šŸ™‚

On, Thursday we had more snow after lunch. It was beautiful, but after I slid around a curve with AWD, I felt prompted me to cancel evening plans with friends. It was a mutual decision. Lydia and I borrowed ā€œThe Incrediblesā€ from friends and had a movie night!

Friday morning was spent with a 2-hour phone meeting, which went an hour longer than expected. That meant that I unintentionally ā€˜stood upā€™ a newer friend for coffee. I was in communication with her (texting) but there wasnā€™t much I could do about it. Thankfully, she graciously accepted my apology and we rescheduled for another time.Ā 

Today was the first JBQ ā€˜quiz meetā€™ of the year. Lydia had fun with her team!Ā 

Where did you find Godā€™s grace?

**********

These are only a few examples, but Godā€™s grace never runs out!

Thereā€™s grace in every situationā€”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, Miscellaneous, Wisdom

Always Faithful

Election dayā€¦ love it or hate it, itā€™s a right and a privilege to vote! Yesterday, after school, I took Lydia to vote with me. It was a fun and important opportunity.

Before we went to vote, I explained to Lydia that we should be quiet and not tell others how to vote. Itā€™s their choice. We also discussed the importance of being an informed voter.

To my surprise, the election official suggested that Lydia could help me fill in the circles after I told her my choices. My 1st grader thought that was really cool.

Ā Iā€™m amazed at how much kids pick up and hear on the news or in discussions. At one point, I told her to mark the paper for a candidate, and she said, ā€œBut Mom, that video (campaign ad) said that XX is not a good choice for us.ā€

Ā I try to screen the news and social media, but canā€™t filter everything! I wasnā€™t thrilled about the other candidate either and used it as a teachable moment. Whispering, I explained about marketing and campaigning, and that there are two sides to every story.

Sadly, it does feel like we often have to choose between two or more mediocre optionsā€¦ yet regardless of who won this election, we will adjust. We always do! There is a lot of back-and-forth in politics. Thatā€™s part of the checks-and-balance system. It is to be expected that one sideā€™s ā€˜victoryā€™ rallies the other sideā€¦and then it starts over.

So, I did what I felt was best. I prayed. I voted. And, I will continue trusting God.

(Later, I watched the Election coverage on the news and the candidate ā€œweā€ voted for won. I heard some of the acceptance speech and was grateful to hear what was said!)

One really exciting part of yesterday was hearing several reports of people voting for the first time. Some people had recently turned 18-years-old, and some had become naturalized citizens since the last election! Many of my friends took their kids, too.

Ā Voting is just one way to make our choices known. In fact, we make thousands of choices every day. We decide what to eat; what to wear; who we hang out with; when to sleep; whether or not to attend a meeting; what to watch on TV; and when to pay our bills.

Ā Some of our decisions have a big impact. For example, our words carry the power of life or death. Sometimes we pick the safe choice, and other times we risk it all. Sometimes, like on Election Day, we can second-guess ourselves!

No matter who we vote for or follow, people always have the potential to let us down.Ā  If we put our hope in men and women, we will be disappointed. But, Jesus is always faithful. He always does what is best for us! He will never let us down!

Choosing to follow Jesus Christ is by far the best decision we will ever make. We never have to guess if He loves us! He gave everything for usā€¦The Cross has the final word.

We also have the daily choice to spend time with God. This decision is a no-brainer! It is a right and a privilege to meet with the Maker of Heaven and Earth! He strengthens us, encourages us, and heals our hearts. He stands with us and gives us peace.

On the contrary, NOT choosing Jesus sets us up for disaster. Choose wisely!

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God, You reign! Thanks for giving us Your Son, Jesus. You make all things possible. Help me use my voice wisely and speak life to those around me. In Jesusā€™ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you like to follow the news on Election night to see who won? Or do you prefer to check the results the following morning?

Tasks: Pray each morning that God would give you the wisdom to make good choices. Then, trust Him to help you!

Posted on in Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Worship

Wake Up and Worship!

I donā€™t know about you, but my morning mood can impact my entire day. There are days when I wake up peaceful and rested. But sometimes, I wake up groggy and distracted.

Either way, within minutes Iā€™m usually thinking of all I have to do that day. Sometimes my schedule is relaxed and at other times, I have less flexibility.

Often, changes in my schedule can throw me off my routine and influence my moodā€”if I let them. It is my choice to adjust my attitude or not!

A few years ago, in the midst of deep grief, it was difficult to find much motivation to rise early, let alone actually accomplish anything. That was perhaps par-for-the-courseā€¦understandable.

But praise God, these days I feel like I am mostly back to myself! Now, Iā€™m trying to be more proactive. Life is short and I donā€™t want to waste my time!

As such, Iā€™ve been slowly chipping away at my morning routine. I want to develop good, sustainable habits that donā€™t get altered too much with visitors, traveling, holidays, meetings, etc. You know how it goes!

Itā€™s something Iā€™ve been working on for years, but have not always been consistent. Then I have to start overā€¦ Iā€™m a work in progress!

Itā€™s generally good to have something to look forward to each morningā€”especially when you rise before the sun. Why not wake up and worship Jesus?!

Recently, I discovered how to make a playlist on YouTube. I didnā€™t realize how easy it was!

So, I have collected several morning-themed songs to encourage myself and help me put on my ā€˜game face.ā€™ I also have a playlist for songs dealing with fear, and one for calming me down (as needed, ha!).

Currently, I have added ā€œGood Morningā€ by Mandisa; ā€œHappyā€ by Pharell Williams; ā€œYour Love Awakens Meā€ by Phil Wickham; this song, and a few TobyMac songs.

I just add them as I hear them or think of them.

Yesterday, I had a little extra time before leaving for work, and I just enjoyed worshiping God and finding songs to add to my playlists. I left feeling so uplifted and grateful for the day ahead!

Godā€™s mercies are new every morning. He is so generous and fills our ā€˜cupā€™ to abundance. He loves us so much!

Starting off with Jesus sets my whole day in order. I donā€™t want to miss an opportunity to praise Him and receive His goodness. Worship Him early and often!

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God, thank You for the gift of music! May the morning bring us word of Your unfailing love. Please direct our path as we put our trust and hope in You. In Jesusā€™ Name, Amen

Question: Do you have any early morning songs that get you out of bed? Iā€™d love to build my list!

Tasks: Consider making a morning worship playlist. Listen while you exercise or get ready for your day! (You might need headphones if the rest of your household is still sleeping!) šŸ™‚

Ā 

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

Lighten Up!

Yesterday morning, like many mornings, I woke up groggy. Itā€™s dark when I get up, and I am still ā€˜baby-steppingā€™ my morning routine! Also, I am slowly realizing I just need to go to sleep earlierā€¦ hence the baby steps.

Usually, within a few minutes, I can shake it off and go about my day. But yesterday, I didnā€™t feel the best and didnā€™t get up as early as I had planned. Soon, groggy turned into cranky.

First, I got shampoo in my eyes while showering. After that, I spent a while thinking about the long day ahead and things I canā€™t control. One negative thought led to another and then I started thinking about other random issues, like shoveling snow this coming winter! I even argued with Lydia about tying her shoes. It started off as one of those daysā€¦

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

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

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

A few takeaways:

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

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

I canā€™t predict what will happen, but I can choose my attitude. I can expect the best.

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

Ā ā€œAnd God said, ā€˜Let there be light,ā€™ and there was light.ā€ ā€“Genesis 1:3.

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

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

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

We can bring the Light of Jesus to everyone we meet. If we let Him, Jesus can shine brightly through our brokenness. He will draw people to Himself, as we lighten up and enjoy life. And when we serve others by being thoughtful, kind and generous, we donā€™t have time to think of all our problems!

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

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

Tasks: Listen to the song, ā€œTrembleā€ by Mosaic. Jesus makes the darkness tremble!

Ā 

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

All In

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

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

Now, I usually donā€™t prefer to do things half-way. Iā€™m either all in or all out. In certain situations, I realize compromise is important. But to me, if anything is worth doing, itā€™s worth doing well.

Interestingly, it seems most worthwhile goals take a fair amount of time, effort, and/or money. So perhaps you canā€™t really have a quality investment without some level of sacrifice. Hmmmā€¦

At times, even small things can feel like big sacrifices. Eating well, exercising, and getting adequate rest are examples. But, these are also investments in our health. When that mental switch occurs between sacrifice and investment, my attitude instantly improves! The challenges donā€™t seem so difficult. The momentary struggle is worth it!

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

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

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

In a few short years, Lydia will be in a school that is currently overcrowded. The referendum money will help alleviate that issue. Itā€™s worth itā€¦so Iā€™m all in.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Task: Listen to ā€œAll Inā€ by Matthew West.

Posted on in Books and Movies I Like, Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Miscellaneous, Perfectionism, Perseverance, Personality, Wisdom, Words

Say So!

Lately, I have been implementing a new morning routine, using ā€œThe Miracle Morningā€ by Hal Elrod (no affiliate links). I have gotten up early on-and-off over the years, but havenā€™t always maintained those stintsā€¦

Nonetheless, I find it helpful to wake up before Lydia so I can have some time to gather my thoughts and accomplish a few personal tasks. It helps me feel like I am starting the morning with my best foot forward.

(It helps that my cousin also gets up early and can keep me accountable!)

One part of the ā€œMiracle Morningā€ that I have come to enjoy is saying affirmations. I used to think this was a cheesy way to toot my own horn. Not so appealing!

But now, I realize affirmations are really about calling out the good I see in myself.

Itā€™s a way to give myself grace.

I used to focus more on my weaknesses and failuresā€”but letā€™s face itā€”that never helped!

Instead, focusing on the positive through saying affirmations out loud has kept me from going back to bed. Another benefit is that I am retraining my brain every morning.

Now thatā€™s a win-win!

This week, I downloaded a phone app called ā€œThinkUpā€ which already has a ton of affirmations listed. There is a free version, where you can list 5 affirmations (theirs or DIY). But, for about $15, you can buy the premium version which allows you to track as many as you want.

I have already used a number of the affirmations in the app, but I have put in quite a few of my own, too. Some of them are simple statements like, ā€œI love who I have become.ā€ Some are statements about Godā€™s faithfulness to me. Others are Scripture verses, like Philippians 4:13, ā€œI can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.ā€

Some of the affirmations I put in are quotes by famous people, like, ā€œNo one can make you feel inferior without your consentā€ by Eleanor Roosevelt.

Iā€™ll take all the reminders I can get. As long as it motivates and encourages me, it counts!

Interestingly, while the affirmations about me are true, some of them are not easy to do. Yet they give me something to work toward and achieve.

For example, ā€œI appreciate the ability to restā€ is true, but I have to remember to actually do this regularly! Taking care of myself and resting is so important.

One cool part of the app is that you can record the affirmations in your own voice. So, instead of just reading them to yourself, you can listen to them. I love this because itā€™s essentially reprogramming my self-talk. (It also reminds me of the good in other people.)

God loves affirming us, too! In Matthew 3:17, the Father affirmed Jesus and said how pleased He was with His Son. He loves us the same! Praise God!

Here are some other affirmations I have found helpful:

ā€œI enjoy waking up early to reach my goals.ā€

ā€œI love taking care of my body so my body can take care of me.ā€

ā€œI focus on progress, not perfection.ā€

Ā ā€œI give myself grace and extend it to others.ā€

ā€œI am doing my best and that is enough.ā€

ā€œI am well-loved and have lots of people cheering me on.ā€

ā€œI am grateful for my lifeā€™s challenges because they help me grow and become who I am.ā€

ā€œPut on the full armor of God.ā€ (from Ephesians 6:10-18)

ā€œI am resilient and keep moving forward.ā€

ā€œWhen I see something good, I say so.ā€

Ultimately, what God says to me and about me is most important.

I want to repeat what He says!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for affirming me in Your Word. Please renew my mind and transform me from the inside out. Thanks for all You do for me! In Jesusā€™ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you use affirmations on a regular basis? Has it changed anything for you?

Tasks: Download the ā€œThinkUpā€ app and record at least 5 affirmations!

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

Pray and Push Through

I have noticed a theme in my life lately: God is calling me to pray and push through. Keep on keeping on.

Life is certainly crazy at times, but despite the ups and downs, I need to persevere.Ā I may not always see what God is doing, but I need to hang on tight to Jesus!

Change can be a two-edged sword. Sometimes, it seems change will never come. Bored, I canā€™t stand to bide my time. Then, when abrupt change does happen, I want things to return to the way they were! (I can be so fickle!)

Similarly, perhaps you find yourself in an impossible situation that looks like it will never change. Perhaps what you were hoping for hasnā€™t come to pass. Or, perhaps life just looks so differentā€¦ certainly not what you expected.

Maybe it feels like only an ā€˜act of Godā€™ will bring what you desire! Itā€™s easy to feel down when it seems He is not listening to your cries for help. But, there is hope. Donā€™t give up!

The good news is that God always hears us and answers each of our prayers. He just may not answer how we want. God answers our prayers in three ways: Yes, No, or Not Yet.

Instead of trying to figure out how to make what we want happen, we can choose to trust God and His timing. God wonā€™t give us anything less than His best.

He already gave us Jesus, His greatest giftā€”everything else is just gravy!

Itā€™s a relief knowing God hears me and has good plans for me.

Even if God says Noā€”or makes me wait it outā€”I am grateful I donā€™t have to make the final decision. I just have to be faithful and do what He has asked me to do.

I can praise God while I am waiting (and still hoping) but also know if it is ultimately a No, then He has something even better in store. Waiting on God is a win-win!

What joy! I canā€™t go wrong!

ā€œGod always gives His best to those who leave the choice with him.ā€ ā€“Jim Elliot

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Father God, You are so good! Thanks for always giving me Your best. Help me trust You more as I wait. By Your grace and power, I wonā€™t give up! In Jesusā€™ Name, Amen

Questions: Are you holding onto a dream that seems beyond you? Are you tempted to walk away from it? Could it be that God wants you to press in closer to Him?

Tasks: Read The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson. Listen to ā€œThe Wayā€ by Pat Barrett.