Tag: patience

Posted on in Apologetics, Fruit, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Personality, Pivot, Prayer, Wisdom

Don’t Let Your Love Grow Cold

A man once asked me, which is worse, ignorance or apathy? I told him, “I don’t know, and I don’t care.” (Get it?!) 😉

According to dictionary.com, apathy is defined as, the “absence or suppression of passion, emotion, or excitement.” Or, the “lack of interest in or concern for things that others find moving or exciting.”

Spiritual apathy is a risky place to be. I have found myself there from time to time. It’s good to be challenged, but prolonged unpredictability and discomfort can deplete us. And, with the state of the world, that is, crazy politics, controversial religious issues, and evil around every corner, it is easy to stop caring and focus instead on ourselves. But, we cannot let our love grow cold.

There are many things in our lives that can lead to spiritual apathy. Here are four.

First, apathy can be a byproduct of unconfessed sin or feelings of guilt. Sin and guilt can lead us to separate ourselves from God. We feel judged or condemned, and eventually may not care to draw near to God due to bitterness or resentment. He is holy, just and righteous, but also full of love, mercy and grace. The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and selfishness, but He never shames us. Read Romans 5:1-11 and then ask for the forgiveness (available only through Jesus) and be reconciled to God!

Second, we grow apathetic when we compare ourselves with others. We notice our lack and see how it stacks up with someone else’s skills or abundance. Remember, we are all uniquely made and individually called. Ephesians 2:10 says that we are God’s masterpiece, and He created us for good works long before we ever came to be (my summary). He doesn’t make junk!

Third, we may be dealing with defeat, discouragement, or disappointment in God. Maybe He didn’t do what you thought He should and you feel let down. Well, I understand, but in my experience, the issue is that my faulty expectations of God do not match the actual reality of His sovereignty. He is in full control, even when we don’t like it or don’t understand.

As my dad says, “We don’t have to have all the answers to walk by faith.” So, rest assured, if the Father calls you His child, He will take care of you. Bring all your hurts, questions, and doubts to Jesus. He can handle them and give you peace, if you let Him!

And fourth, apathy can be related to exhaustion or burnout from doing too much. This may include saying yes to too many things, or saying yes to the wrong things. If you are “Still Trying To Run the Entire Solar System,” it’s no wonder you are dealing with STRESS. Indeed, exhaustion comes in several forms: spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, social, creative, and sensory. When your tank is empty, at least one of them needs to be addressed! Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith has some good resources on rest and restoration here. Let the Holy Spirit guide you to the giving your best yes.

Finally, we must guard against apathy and let the Lord replenish us. I will talk more about that next week, but for now, take some time to reflect on how well you are loving others. If you “just don’t care,” consider that a sign that you need to take a break and come to Jesus!

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Heavenly Father, thanks that we don’t have to be in control of our lives. Instead, we can rest in knowing You are sovereign and will lead us where we need to be. Help us wait on Your timing and stay in step with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: How do you recognize apathy in your life? What has made you turn the corner toward caring again?

Task: Take this free quiz to help you identify where you need to rest.

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

Finding Grace #547

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?!

We had a good week easing into our next season!

Work was a little lighter this week. I was still fairly busy but had a few open spots, which let me catch up and work on some projects. It felt good!

The weather was perfect this week as we move closer to Autumn. I have enjoyed watching all the Monarch butterflies in the healing garden at work. Every day there seems to be a couple more, though I am sure they will soon start their great migration south.

Lydia had a great start to her Freshman year on Thursday. We went to the back-to-school night on Tuesday, which helped her feel more prepared. She likes her classes, and I think she will do well!

Today, Lydia worked on some homework, and I did my usual Saturday things. I’m trying to soak up the quiet, calmer pace before things really pick up in the next week or so!

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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, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, MARPE/Orthodontics, Miscellaneous, Wisdom, Worship

Cheers to Another Year!

Today, I am celebrating another trip around the sun!! I am really grateful for all the ways God blessed me over the last year! Last summer, I sensed that He had something special for me. Soon I recalled that I was about three years old when I decided to follow Jesus… So, essentially, this was my fortieth year of walking with Him!

Here’s a quick recap of some of the highlights:

Last Fall, I finally had some landscaping done! It took me years to get around to it (to have the money, set it up, and make the decisions). But the Lord helped me follow through. No, I have not added any plants yet, lol. But, truthfully, I just love how the rocks look, and so the plants are not my top priority right now!

From September to May, I completed two semesters of leadership training at my church. This was a comprehensive class where we met once a month for teaching and did some online coursework. It covered many important topics and gave me more confidence in sharing my faith. I am excited to see what God has in store for me next!

After years of avoiding it, I made the decision to widen my palate and start orthodontics in January! I will get the metal MARPE device out in the next couple of months and then finish with more aligners. I am still hoping to avoid double jaw surgery, but I am happy with my progress so far!

In March, I went full-time at the VA, after years of being classified as part-time! I am grateful for all the ways God has provided for us since Dave died in 2013. He continues to be a wonderful Provider. Somehow His math always works out!

In May, Lydia and I flew to Chicago to see family and attend a barefoot shoe expo. Spending time with my sister was just what I needed! We hadn’t had that much time together – just the two of us – in many years! It was a fun trip and helped us get through the thirteen-year mark of Dave’s death. The Lord has been so faithful!

I have continued my journey to relieve pain and tension in my neck, shoulders, back, and hips. I’ve changed my workouts, practiced mobility exercises, gone to the chiropractor, prioritized sleep and rest, and said ‘no’ to better manage stress.  I can’t take good care of others if I don’t take care of myself! One specific praise is that in June the Lord healed my neck on the spot at a prayer event. I was surprised but gladly received His personalized gift.

I joined a book club at church, and it has been such a joy. Books + deep conversations about faith + friends = a few of my favorite things! Pretty much any book or genre is fair game. So far, we’ve read Murder, Motherhood, and Miraculous Grace by Debra Moerke, and also Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus by Nabeel Qureshi. Our current book, The Winning of Lady Wisdom, is by a North Dakota author, Sarah Dixon Young!

Over the last few months, Lydia and I have visited with several Caterpillar families. It’s really special when we meet up with friends who actually knew Dave when he was at his best. I appreciate how these dear ‘CAT guys’ still reach out to connect with us. Thank You, Jesus!

This year, I have greatly enjoyed watching Lydia grow in confidence and faith. She got her driver’s permit last fall, and it’s been fun watching her learn the rules of the road and put them into practice. I can’t believe she will start Freshman year in a couple of weeks! I’m extremely grateful for how God has gotten us to this point!

Finally, I’ve seen how God continues to use my story to help others. I have had the opportunity to share my book and, in some cases, to get together for coffee to encourage people: widows, moms, etc. After all, the highlights above don’t overlook the real struggles and sacrifices of the last year, but God’s goodness and grace triumph over them.

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Heavenly Father, thanks for Your faithfulness in my life. It is a privilege to walk with You every day and move Your heart. May I never take it for granted! Help me continue to be a blessing to others so they may know You, too. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: As you reflect on the past year of your life, where do you see God’s faithfulness? Have you thanked Him for all He has done for you, or are you focused only on the lack?

Task: If you’ve read this far, the yellow roses in the picture were sent to me at work yesterday!! It was a timely reminder that God sees me – and it felt like a capstone to finish off an amazing year. My kind, generous friend was simply obeying what God told him to do, and we had a good chat about all that He is doing in our lives. We don’t always know the outcome of our obedience, but as Dr. Charles Stanley always said, “Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.”

Posted on in Apologetics, Books and Movies I Like, Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Kindness, Life is Short, MARPE/Orthodontics, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #544

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 great week, and I felt God’s grace all around me.

On Sunday, after church, we stayed to serve at OASIS. I’m glad we did, because some of the ‘regulars’ who serve were not able to attend. Later, we enjoyed family Zoom.

Monday was quite a full day! Work was busy, and then I left early for an orthodontic appointment. I am on track with my treatment plan, though I still have a long way to go to get my teeth in correct alignment. Hopefully, at my September appointment, I will find out more about when I will get the MARPE device removed!

Monday evening was fun because I went to my small group/book club at church. We shared our thoughts on Nabeel Qureshi’s Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus and other facets of salvation and our walk with the Lord. It tells the story of his conversion from Islam to Christianity before his death in 2017. I learned so much about the differences between various Muslim sects and how they think vastly differently than we do in the West. One important thing to remember is that the Bible stands on its own when compared to any other book or religion. We need to know what’s in it and how to live it out, but God is the one who changes hearts. It is on us to develop friendships with people and share His Truth mixed with grace and love.

Work was once again very busy, but good. I had a full schedule with patients and meetings, but also had almost no cancellations or no-shows. This is really good for my patients, though, and I enjoyed seeing them. Many of them were quite friendly and had fairly easy issues to work through. So, while I had a lot of charting, at least it all went fairly smoothly! We also celebrated one coworker’s birthday, and I had a good conversation with another about my story. They ended up buying my book, so that was really cool!

The weather was amazing this week! The mornings were much cooler (in the 50-60s on some days!), and it was great walking into work. The afternoons were warm but not hot, which is just about perfect. That said, it is an early indication of the changing of seasons! Fall will be here soon!

Today, I met a newly widowed single-mom friend for coffee. It was nice to finally get together in-person. I listened to her tell her story and encouraged her in her faith. We talked for nearly three hours, and we both were grateful for the time together!

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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, Miscellaneous, Wisdom, Worship

No Need to Earn Status

I came across an advertisement recently that said collecting points in their membership program was “a new way to earn status.” Of course, a purchase was required! The more money spent, the faster you earned rewards. Naturally…

As soon as I heard that, I was indignant. I told Lydia, “That is not right! There’s no need to earn ‘status!’ We already have it in Jesus!”

As I thought about it more, I grew more annoyed. The world wants us to obsess about earning and achieving. The implication is that there is always something else to work towards. But, praise God, Jesus already accomplished all that needs to be done!

Our part is to believe that Jesus is Lord, agree with Him that we need to be saved, and place our full trust in Him (that His sacrificial death and Resurrection are enough). That is all that He requires. Straightforward faith with nothing added to it.

Here are some Bible verses about our identity in Christ. That is all that matters!

  • 2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
  • Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
  • Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
  • Colossians 3:3 – “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God”
  • 1 Peter 2:9 – “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
  • John 1:12 – “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” affirms adoption into God’s family and the privileges of being His child.
  • Romans 8:16-17 – “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children… Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.”
  • 2 Corinthians 5:21 – “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

We are transformed in Christ, leaving behind the old self and embracing a renewed life in Him. We live by faith in Jesus and are intentionally designed for purpose and good works. The Holy Spirit empowers us, and we reflect His glory with our attitudes and actions. We are adopted into God’s family, and our full inheritance is found in Jesus. We are beloved, called, and redeemed. All we have and all we need is in Him!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for choosing us and caring for us. You do all things well. Help us remember the high calling You have on our lives. May we glorify You in all we do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: If we are constantly worrying about getting ahead, what does that say about our faith in God’s provision?! Which verse above speaks to you the most?

Task: Print the verses above and place them on your bathroom mirror or on your vehicle’s dashboard… or somewhere you will see them often. Let the Lord renew your mind and help you understand all He has for you!

Posted on in Being Gracious, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Fruit, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Personality, Prayer

Finding Grace #543

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 FULL of God’s grace! 

On Sunday, after church, we met some dear friends for coffee. We had fun catching up! Then, Lydia and I had a relaxing afternoon before family Zoom.

Work was very busy, finishing off a full month of patients, meetings, and so on. But I know I was right where I needed to be. I helped several patients who were really special. I enjoyed a potluck with my coworkers and helped solve some minor problems. I also finally got my full-time status officially approved. I have been working FT since March, but there were a few glitches, so I wasn’t getting paid properly. It’s all good now, and I will get some backpay. I am grateful my manager and supervisors are such great advocates for me!!

This week, I connected with a newly widowed, single mom. We texted and chatted on the phone, hoping to meet in person soon. She has a ten-year-old girl, and we have a lot of similarities in our stories. It made me think of my other friend, Amy, who was a godsend when Dave first died. I hope to be a good resource for her, with Jesus’ help and grace!

Lydia and I had several good mom-daughter moments. I am so proud of the decisions she is making, mostly on her own. She is learning to listen for the Lord and follow His voice. We had a lot of good laughs and some deep conversations. I am so grateful for her!

This week, we had a lot of prayers going up for various friends and family. I could sense God moving in and around me. There’s no better place to be! As a side note, I prayerfully postponed some upcoming plans, and immediately, God showed me He has better plans for me during that time. He is so good!

Today, we went to a small flower farm outside Moorhead. Then, we did some thrift shopping and dropped off a huge bag of puzzles for some friends at church. They were so surprised! Then, Lydia went to help a friend with a fundraiser, and I did some cooking at home. It was a great start to August, my birthday month!

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

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

Posted on in Gratitude, Kindness, Miscellaneous

Wherever You Go

When we walk with God every day, it is amazing how the simplest of things can remind us of how great He is. The Lord can use any circumstance to draw us close to Him, for our good and His glory. Even when we are totally oblivious to what is going on around us.

Recently, I visited with a Veteran who lives in a group home since he is unable to manage on his own. All his meals are provided, but he can buy snacks and the like. He works a few hours a week, and either brings lunch or goes out to eat. He is aware enough to use his phone and have opinions on various topics, but he still needs a caregiver to take him to appointments and be a second set of ears.

However, our meeting didn’t quite go the way I expected. The caregiver was with the Veteran, but then he left. I thought he mentioned going to pick up the patient’s medications down at the Pharmacy. Yet, the Veteran thought he had gone back to the group home for his medications, so then I wasn’t sure!

The caregiver was still not back by the time we finished. I prayed and tried to come up with a game plan. The Veteran did not have the caregiver’s phone number and grew a little upset. He mentioned the guy took a wrong turn earlier, so maybe he got lost again on his way back.

While I stalled, the patient decided to go downstairs to the Patriot Store to get some snacks. He paused to talk to someone in the hallway, and I wasn’t sure he would remember to go to his dentist appointment. I was also concerned he’d get lost. I asked a coworker if she had seen the caregiver in passing.

My next patient arrived early, so I sent them to the waiting room while I checked on the other Veteran. On my way downstairs, the thought came to me, “We may not know where this guy is, but I’m thankful Jesus does!” It brought a sense of relief that it wasn’t all on me. I wanted to be responsible and prevent an issue, but ultimately God would cover the situation.

Well, I indeed found the patient in the Patriot Store. I also saw a police officer walking through and quietly asked him what to do, since I couldn’t find the caregiver. He had overheard the Veteran saying he was going to the Canteen next door. He said the staff there could call for a volunteer to get him to the dentist if the caregiver did not arrive on time.

A few minutes later, I checked on the Veteran, and somehow, the caregiver had found him. I didn’t need to involve the Canteen staff, and God had worked it out. Maybe the caregiver thought, when in doubt, go where there is food. 🙂

“Wherever you go, there you are” is perhaps both a prompt for mindfulness and a humbling reminder that we cannot escape ourselves. But what’s even better is that nothing can separate us from God’s love or His presence (Romans 8:31-39). Wherever you go, He is there!

As we read in Psalm 139:1-12, God is omnipresent and sees all we do. We cannot hide evil from Him, and someday, He will reward His children for anything good. Essentially, there is nowhere we can go that He is not looking out for us. He will discipline His children when needed, but He also will protect and guide us. Even when we are totally unaware.

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God, thanks for always watching over us and watching out for us. Thanks for taking care of us, even when we don’t see the full picture. You are so good, God. May we honor You in all we do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Have you ever felt lost and then God showed up to help you find your way? How can you connect with Him this week?

Task: Wherever you go today, ask the Lord to come with you. The Holy Spirit is always with us because He lives within those of us who belong to Jesus. But we can also become more aware of His presence by inviting Him along!

Posted on in Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Parenting

Laundromat Lessons

Yesterday, Lydia and I checked out a new laundromat nearby!

On Sunday, Lydia washed a load of laundry at home, and I heard the washing machine make a weird noise. I chose to ignore it, but I did make a mental note to “keep an eye on it.” (That always seems to work well, right?!)

On Monday, Lydia texted me at work that her favorite hoodie had come back with some weird spots, perhaps not quite clean. I told her to rewash it, but I also mentioned staying next to the machine “in case something happens and you can stop it.” She did not hear me…

Instead, she took a shower before checking on her hoodie. 🙂 By then, the washing machine had overflowed, like it did last year. She called and texted me for help, but I was working with a patient and didn’t see her message for about two hours. At that point, I tried calling right away, but she did not answer. I called multiple times to no avail; her phone was on 4% and wouldn’t charge.

Then, I told my manager that I needed to leave right away to check on Lydia and make sure my house wasn’t flooded! I only had thirty minutes left on the clock anyway. I prayed that God would help me stay calm and help Lydia know what to do.

Thankfully, Lydia was fine, and she had put about five towels on the floor to soak up the water. She helped me clear out the items we have stored there, including the toilet paper I bought at Costco on Saturday. Almost everything was elevated off the ground, and I was very glad that nothing was ruined. A couple of boxes were wet, but the bottles inside were okay. Whew!!

Nonetheless, I spent about eight hours over that night and the following morning trying to soak up the water and wring out the towels. I turned off the water and also used a squeegee and a shop vac to help! Still, more water kept coming out from under the washing machine! On Tuesday morning, I called my manager to let her know I would be a little late. I was waiting to hear back from the repairman and needed to figure out a plan.

I went to work, but was also able to leave early to address the wet towels and laundry. Last year, we had a new laundromat down the block; I decided this was a good opportunity to try it out! I had Lydia come with me to learn how it works.

In fact, the machines were so fancy that I also had to figure them out, too! The machines accepted quarters, but there was an automated pay option via an app that was more convenient. The app synced with the washing machines and even gave us a countdown on when our laundry would be done!

While Lydia sat, I walked around to scout out the rest of the room. There were vending machines, beautiful bathrooms, a small play area and fish tank, a bookshelf, and several televisions throughout the seating areas. It was a better experience than I expected, and I told Lydia most laundromats are not like this one.

While Lydia should have stayed next to the washing machine at home, it wasn’t really her fault. Whatever the problem, it would have needed to be addressed at some point. As it is, the repairman should come today. I’m hoping it is just a clogged tube like last year and still worth keeping! Indeed, I’m pretty sure the Lord is singlehandedly keeping all my household appliances running for me! He is my Sustainer and Rock!

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God, thanks for always coming through for me and for protecting my house yesterday. It could have been much worse. Keep me focused on what really matters, not just what is convenient. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: When was the last time you were at a laundromat?! How is God sustaining you this week?

Task: Pay attention to the little noises and clues around you that something might be wrong. Don’t ignore them… or you might be spending time cleaning up more messes than you expected!

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

Riding Around the Neighborhood

For the last several weeks, the roads in my neighborhood have been under construction. It started with reconfiguring some drainage tiles and sewer upgrades. That included busting up part of my yard and sidewalks. Technically, those parts belong to the city, but it was still a little surprising.

It took a month or so to finish that initial project. One of my boulevard trees (technically the city’s) was also damaged, and it has taken even longer to report and hear back about the tree. I think it will be okay, but I wanted it documented in case it struggles next year!

The next phase of the project was to resurface the roads. This has needed to be done since I moved here in 2010. I don’t know what has taken so long, but I am looking forward to having a smooth road instead of a lot of bumps and dips!

On Monday morning, the machines started laying asphalt on my street. There were impassable orange cones in front of my house blocking the quickest way out, so I had to go the other way. No problem.

But, on my way home, things quickly turned strange! I attempted to drive through the neighborhood in reverse from my morning route. It was blocked by more orange cones. So, I went the opposite way, but my street was closed, too. I tried two other streets, but they also were impassable. Finally, I tried one last road, thinking this might be it. NOPE. I could not get through there, either!

Literally, every street I could possibly use to get to my house was blocked. Did I miss a memo?! I considered parking on one of these roads, or maybe at the middle school. But, as I thought about it, I noticed a man on a resurfacing machine pass in front of me. I parked in the middle of the road and ran toward him as he rolled away. I raced ahead of him and waved around like a fool. 😉

He stopped to listen while I “yell-asked” him how I was supposed to get home. He spent a minute backing up to park and then got out to talk with me where it was quieter. I explained the situation, and he kindly said he could move a couple of cones as long as I stuck to the opposite side of the street. I thanked him and soon pulled into my driveway.

Later, I was thinking about how funny it was, and then sadly, it struck me how many people go round and round in life and don’t know how to get Home. We foolishly think we know best but often find ourselves lost and alone. But the Lord is good, leading us and directing our steps.

Every day, sometimes every hour, we must stop what we are doing and turn to Jesus. He is both the Way and the Door. No one comes to the Father except through Him. Connect with Him and hold fast to Him, for He loves you dearly!

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God, thanks for leading us on the path Home. May we have eyes to see what you are doing and a heart to understand. Help us walk in step with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: How are you navigating the summer road construction where you live?!

Task: Whatever path you are on today, stop and check in with Jesus. Make sure He is leading, and you are following!

Posted on in Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance, Personality, Prayer, Wisdom, Worship

Parenting and Proverbs 3:5-6

The last several months have been great with Lydia. It is fun to see her spread her wings with her friends and make decisions apart from me. I have coached her through some challenges and at times bankrolled her, but it is good to see her thriving. And it has made me lean on the Lord even more!

Yesterday, Lydia had her third official driving lesson with her teacher! She has been doing well so far; however, I was a little nervous. You see, I had heard the teacher was taking Lydia on the highway for this lesson.

I have had Lydia driving on both I-29 and I-94 a handful of times, but not during Fargo’s “rush hour.” Obviously, the traffic is nothing like that in Chicago or Atlanta, but it can still be quite fast and busy. There are some crazy drivers at times!

So, over the last week, I had been praying that God would keep Lydia safe. After all, He loves Lydia even more than I do. And, when I saw it might rain, I asked my coworker, Natalie, to pray as well!

On Sunday, I took Lydia out for a quick highway lesson. We practiced merging onto the highway and exiting. I reminded her to be aware of her surroundings and to get up to speed as soon as she could. Then, yesterday, before I left for work, I coached Lydia to speak up if she was in over her head. She is typically pretty calm, but I wanted to remind her she had a voice.

I also reminded Lydia to have a snack before she walked to the school to meet the driving teacher. She admitted she was a little nervous, but I kept my own thoughts to myself! Now, I still deal with fear from time to time, but I am aware and working on giving it to God. I don’t want my fear or concerns to negatively influence Lydia.

All day, while Lydia waited to drive, I prayed during my work breaks. I had read Proverbs 3:5-6 that morning, which says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (ESV)

I tried not to worry or overthink it, while praying that the teacher would have wisdom and that Lydia would have confidence. The weather forecast predicted rain, but I asked God to hold it off.

And you know what? He did! Lydia did a great job, and traffic was backed up due to road construction, which helped people drive more slowly in those sections. Even the teacher was surprised that they spent more time sitting in traffic, even though it normally flows quickly. However, he told Lydia she did well and passed the lesson.

Lydia texted me on her walk home, and I heard thunder just as she made it into our yard. Less than a minute after she walked inside the door, the rain let loose. It poured on and off for the rest of the night, and I praised God for answering my prayers!

When we trust God with all our hearts, we acknowledge He is in control as we submit our plans, thoughts, and feelings to Him. We remember His love for us and rest in Him, as we let God work on our behalf and do for us what we cannot. Thanks, Lord Jesus!

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God, thanks so much for protecting Lydia yesterday. Our Victory is in You! Thanks for covering us with Your mercy and grace. You are so good and faithful, Lord. Help us trust You more and more. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: How are you trusting God this week?

Task: As 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”