Tag: Peace

Posted on in Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perfectionism, Perseverance

Finding Grace #305

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

Landscape, Winter, Forest, Snow, Plantation, Sun, Japan

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

This was a cold, snowy week! The cold and snow are both very normal for this time of the year, so I was not too worried about them. But, a few other factors made for an interesting show of God’s grace!

On Wednesday, Lydia had an unexpected snow day off from school. It was a last-minute decision by the school district. I agreed with what happened, yet Lydia could have been left outside all alone. (The day before, I left her at the bus stop because the bus was running late and I needed to get to work.) I ended up staying home with her,  and we reviewed what to do in that type of situation. I also gave her a house key!

Usually, I work a half-day on Fridays, but this week I was able to work a full day and basically swap my hours from Wednesday when I took off. Essentially, I was able to take the equivalent of a half-day off instead of a whole day. Plus, I was able to cover for a couple of coworkers who were gone on Friday, so it worked well all around!
Friday also happened to be my 14th wedding anniversary (my 9th without Dave here). Lydia and I always miss him, but we had a nice dinner and watched a movie together! A friend sent me a picture of someone reading my book at a gymnastics class. It made my day a little sweeter knowing someone was reading about us!
Today, we went to brunch with a friend/coworker. Then, we went to “help” her pick out a dalmatian puppy! We played with thirteen puppies, and Lydia had fun cuddling one in particular. We are not getting a puppy at this time, but it was sure fun to dream! In reality, I don’t have the bandwidth right now to put in the effort a puppy would require. But, my friend does, so I’m sure we will get to play with her puppy soon!

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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, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Wisdom

Un-Resolutions

Do you make New Year’s resolutions? Many people choose to make self-improvements at this time of year. Yet, after a few weeks, they stop following through. Perhaps they lost their motivation or maybe they tried to change too many things at once?

For me, I simply want to do my best and continue working toward good habits all year long. I want to set myself up for success and sustainability. Small changes add up over time, and slow progress is still moving forward.

We are not guaranteed a certain number of days, but we can make the best of each moment God gives us. We can honor Him and redeem the time.

Beach, Rocks In The Sea, Sea, Sun, Light, Vacations

Instead of resolutions, I simply set an intention this year. Instead of resolving to change a bunch of things, I’m focusing on good boundaries, resting in God’s grace, and taking good care of myself. That may look different from day to day. It’s less about willpower or wishful thinking and more about a mindset.

I do have to occasionally remind myself that close enough is good enough… no need for perfectionism here! I am giving myself credit as long as I show up and keep practicing healthy habits!

If I keep putting one step in front of the other and don’t give up, eventually, I will get where I need to be. Or, in the meantime, God will redirect me and it will turn out better than I had planned. I don’t have to worry; I just have to listen to Him and be flexible.

Yes, challenges and distractions will inevitably come, but we were made to do difficult things. We are more than conquerors, and if God is for us, who can be against us?

I’m not saying to slack off or don’t try to make positive changes in areas like sleep, nutrition, fitness, finances, or even Bible study. Give ’em all you’ve got!! Just don’t attach your value to whether or not you succeed.

Ultimately, our worth comes from who God is and how He sees us. We are loved and accepted as-is. We don’t have to DO, we already ARE. His grace is more than enough.

So whatever we do, we can find joy every day!

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God, thanks for loving us as-is. We don’t have to earn Your grace, we already have it! Help us honor you in our habits, words, and actions today. May You be first in our hearts. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Did you set any resolutions or intentions this year? Or do you just make changes as the year goes on, whenever they are needed?

Tasks: Consider making an UN-resolution. Don’t settle for a quick fix, but be consistent when the going gets tough. Be willing to change habits and put in the effort, but also know you are loved and accepted whether or not you reach your goal!

 

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

Finding Grace #304

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 another interesting but good week. We stayed home on Monday due to Lydia not feeling well and the blizzardy weather. It turned out to be a good thing since her daycare opened late and closed early anyway.

I discovered my car battery was close to dead on Tuesday, but thankfully, I found a charger hidden in plain sight on the workbench. (Thanks, Dave, for always being so prepared!) I bought a new battery and had it installed on my way to work because at 8+ years old, the original one was on borrowed time.
As we arrived home that night, the thought occurred to me… perhaps God kept us home on Monday so I wouldn’t get stuck in a blizzard with a dead battery and sick child. Our doctor was closed, and daycare closed early, so we had just chalked it up to another day of rest. But, of course, God always sees what we cannot.

We made it to work and daycare for three days, and now have a three-day weekend! It might be rough going to work and school for five days next week!

Last night, we had a great time hanging out with some new friends for NYE. It was so nice to be invited! Lydia even lasted past midnight and was in bed by 12:45 a.m. She slept until 11:50 this morning!

Today, we are mostly relaxing and preparing for this new year. We watched a couple of movies, started our new yearlong Bible reading plans, and did a few chores. We also decorated some Christmas cookies since Lydia wasn’t up to it last week. Overall, I love January since it is usually a little slower-paced. It’s below zero today, so it’s been good to stay in! Happy New Year!!

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

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

Posted on in Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Wisdom, Worship

The Wonders of His Love

Recently at church, we were singing “Joy to the World,” the classic Christmas carol. As we sang, these lyrics stood out to me:

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

With the pandemic these last two years, it’s easy to focus on all that is wrong in the world. But what if we focused on the wonders of God’s love? What does that even mean?

For me, “the wonders of His love” are all about grace and favor. God doing for us what we could never do. Quite basically, whether you know God or not, He gave us Nature and He gave us each other. God is also our Provider, Jehovah Jireh, and so much more.

He gave us Jesus, who brought us His Truth and reconciliation. God makes Himself available to us and adopts us into His family! He gives us grace, love, peace, and hope. (The list never ends!)

Christmas, Gingerbread, Holiday, Sweet, Cookies

And then, this week Lydia and I were listening to a newer version of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.” She misheard the lyrics, and said, “Mom, they’re not singing that right.”

I asked her to explain, and Lydia sang, “O tidings of confident joy, confident joy. O tidings confident joy…” Not quite “comfort and joy,” but now I can’t un-hear it!

That made me think. We can indeed have confident joy (every day) because of Jesus!

Thank God, He is who He says He is and can do what He says He can do. In some ways, Christmas was a new thing God was doing, but really, God doesn’t leave anything to chance. Jesus’ birth was long-awaited and planned for. Same goes for His death and resurrection. 

The message of Christ eventually upended the whole Roman empire, and it still has the power to rock us, today. Will we let the Holy Spirit change us? Jesus didn’t just come to save us or bring eternal life. He wants us to live in the here and now… make it count!

Gingerbread, Pastries, Cookies, Frosting, Sweets, Treat

Yes, when our confidence is placed in Christ, we can take heart and have the courage to do whatever He has called us to do (Ephesians 2:10). He is the Master Planner and has good things in store for us; we just need to walk them out.

We have reason to celebrate every day because “It is finished!” We can have comfort, and yes, confident joy, knowing that God with us (Emmanuel) is for us and will help us.

Because of Jesus, we have peace with God, and through Him, we have peace with each other (might take some work, grace, and forgiveness though!). 😉

I’m so thankful we are free to follow Jesus, hold onto God’s promises, and let our faith rise up. We don’t have to worry or be anxious. We do not have to be afraid.

Place your confidence in Jesus today… and be joyful!

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God, thanks for the peace, comfort, confidence, and joy You bring! Thank You for Jesus!! Help us trust You, Lord. Give us the strength we need today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: What are your favorite Christmas carols? Do you get the lyrics right, or do you make up your own version?

Task: Even before the Bible was produced en masse for the public, there were Christmas carols full of Gospel Truth. Listen for God’s heart the next time you sing along.

Posted on in Being Gracious, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Wisdom

Ageless

This past week, Lydia and I took a long weekend to fly to Chicago and visit family. My dad turned seventy, and it was so fun to surprise him!

Dad thought he was flying to see my sister and her family, but Lydia and I wanted to come, too! I had coordinated our tickets with Mom, but the rental car was in my name. Then, Lydia and I had an unexpectedly long delay at the Fargo airport, so Mom and Dad had to wait around. He was a little annoyed, but when Lydia ran up to him, he was completely shocked! He realized the joke was on him!

Lydia really enjoyed being the big cousin, and I rented my first car on a trip! God graciously helped me navigate Chicago traffic, too! We saw a few beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins. And all in all, time with family was just what I needed.

In the days and weeks leading up to our trip, my siblings, mom, and a few others came up with “70 Things We Love About Tom.” Basically, we thought of all our favorite things about my dad, though we have done this for others in my family, too. My mom, my aunt, my sister, etc. It is good to honor each other and make them smile, too!

My parents are alive and well, and I am so grateful. But, life is short, and we’ve already lost several loved ones over the years. Now is the time to show our love!

As I think about our trip and celebrating family birthdays in general, the word ‘ageless’ keeps coming to mind. Not in terms of the absence of wrinkles… those are lines well earned! But, rather for those of us who love Jesus, we will keep building upon those wonderful moments for eternity.

Yes, in Heaven, we will be made new, but I have a feeling that those godly qualities or what makes us special will just be made better! All our negative qualities will be swallowed up along with death; only the good things will survive.

My late husband, Dave, has already experienced all for that first hand. He was already pretty amazing, to begin with, so Dave being even more “Dave” blows my mind!

As Christmas is just around the corner, now is a good time to reflect on how Jesus makes all things possible. One day, all we know will be renewed. The old will pass away, and we will become how God sees us already, all He made us to be.

On December 25th, we celebrate Jesus’ birthday, that is, His coming to Earth. But, He always has been and always will be.  He is the Alpha and Omega, the Ancient of Days.

Yes, Jesus truly is ageless… but His birth (and death) are also timeless. One sacrifice with an impact that will be felt for all eternity.

I love how Jesus welcomes us in like family and holds everything together. He is unmatched and loves you more than life itself. Life is short, so don’t miss the opportunity He brings. Invite Jesus into your life, and prepare Him room this season!

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God, thanks for the blessing of birthdays and family. Thanks for Your love and for all You do for us. May we remember to look for the best in others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Have you made a personal decision to follow Jesus? Can you imagine what the celebration of Christmas must be like in Heaven?

Tasks: Spend as much time as possible with family! Also, check out my Grace and Lemonade page on Facebook for a special giveaway, in honor of Dave’s birthday!

Posted on in Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Wisdom

Come What May

The last couple of weeks have been busy with my book, Thanksgiving, and… signing up for health insurance benefits! The deadline to sign up again will soon be upon us, and each year, I weigh the pros and cons of various plans. Even though we are healthy, there are still preventative things we do. And, the costs keep going up!

It is difficult to know how to plan for what we don’t know we will need. There are so many decisions to make! These choices include health insurance, vision insurance, dental insurance, plus FSA and HSA options. Not to mention planning for vacations and appointments and other days off. 

I am grateful to have a job that provides all these benefits, but it can be a little overwhelming and time-consuming to figure it all out. Dave certainly enjoyed this much more than me!

Lantern, Sea, Sky, Beach, Water, Clouds, Tree, Shore

Thankfully, we can trust God! He knows all things, and yet He cares for us deeply as individuals. We can make our plans with Him in mind, and He will protect, and occasionally correct, us as He leads us along.

While we cannot control our future, what will happen to us, there are some factors we can control. We can control our attitudes and make good plans. We can predetermine that we will trust God and keep coming to Him in times of distress.

We can choose joy in the midst of trials. We can choose to cling to Jesus.

Come what may.

I don’t know all you are facing today, but God does, and He loves you so much. He never sleeps nor slumbers! He has you covered with His grace.

The holidays are tough for so many people as the season reminds us of the absence of loved ones, but it also reminds us of other struggles and how we try to fix the pain.

Lantern, Sea, Sky, Beach, Water, Rocks

Just this week, I have had several people contact me to request prayer. A son-in-law died suddenly, leaving a wife and four children. Upcoming surgeries for cancer. Struggles with addiction. Relationship difficulties.

If you are facing unimaginable loss and your first holidays alone, I understand. Or, perhaps you are barely making it financially. Or, maybe you are dealing with a chronic illness or other stressors. It’s gonna be okay.

Come what may, don’t give up. Bring all your emotions and pain to Jesus. He is the Light of the World and will make something bright and beautiful out of your situation.

God has been faithful in the past, and He is here with you now. You can trust Him with your future, and He will never let you down. Thank you, Lord!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for being so faithful. We can trust You no matter what. Carry us through the uncertainty of this season, Lord. Be our strength and peace. Fill us with your grace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Are you ready for the holidays? How can I pray for you this season?

Tasks: Listen to the song, “Come What May,” by We Are Messengers. Reflect on all the ways God has come through for you in the past, and then trust Him with your future!

Posted on in Being Gracious, Books and Movies I Like, Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Kindness, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #299

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 fairly relaxing week! On Sunday night, we celebrated Lydia over family Zoom. She was surprised with a new scooter! Everyone pitched in, and she has been riding it in the garage now that it is chilly outside!

Monday through Wednesday was spent working, but I got a lot done in a short amount of time. The holiday mood makes the workday go by faster!

On Thursday, Lydia and I enjoyed a relaxing Thanksgiving. We enjoyed seeing the new movie Encanto! Then, we visited with some friends and made some yummy food.

Then, I was able to take Friday off. Woohoo, a four-day weekend! It’s been good to relax and catch up around the house without rushing. I always have a long to-do list, but many of the tasks are quite simple. I have been able to cross those off my list, so I am glad about that! I also worked on signing some books before sending them out!

Today, we worked on a few things around the house before our afternoon and evening plans. We caught up with a friend at a coffee shop earlier, and tonight, we are going to have dinner with other friends! These friends were a great help to me when Lydia was little, and they are in my book. So, I am happy they will be receiving a copy of it tonight!

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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, Kindness, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance, Wisdom

Thanksgiving Thoughts

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, which is one of my favorite holidays. Growing up, my family had some fun traditions. I always enjoyed taking a few moments to say what we are thankful for. We often went to the movies, and we almost always had an extra guest or two around the table.

We haven’t had a big family Thanksgiving for a few years because now we live in four different states in three time zones! So, generally, Thanksgiving and other holidays do look a little different for Lydia and me.

If you flip back to some of my 2015 and 2016 blog posts around the holidays, you would see more emotion and grief. I’m grateful to be a little further out from all that now. God has brought us through so much!

Sometimes we get invited to spend the holidays with other families, but this year, they all have different plans. We have invited friends over to our house in the past, but this year, we are on our own. And that’s okay! Traditions are good, but so is flexibility.

Lydia and I are planning to cook our favorite foods and maybe go to the movies. Or, maybe we will play games and stay in our pajamas instead. Either way, I know God’s grace surrounds us, and I am grateful for all He is and all He has done.

I’m also thankful for the gigantic Costco pumpkin pie a friend left on my doorstep! 😉

Cake, Pastry, Sweet, Sugar, Unhealthy, Food, Fat, Diet

This season, I am excited to have my book, Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward, out in the world. This is the first holiday in about seven years that I don’t have to think about writing or editing in my free time! Woohoo!!

I am already amazed to see how God is using it, too. I’ve heard stories of people wanting nothing to do with God now open to reading my book. His love never fails!

I love that people are buying extras to give as gifts. I’m grateful people trust me to speak into the lives of those they love… even before they have read the book! 🙂

I understand the holidays can be sad for many people, as it is a time to miss loved ones. I have dealt with those same complex emotions. If that’s you, know God is holding you close.

Recently, I met with a few lonely Veterans. They were each coming for help nutritionally but had other issues on their minds. I was able to listen to their stories, acknowledging their grief and other dilemmas, and in the end, I encouraged them to try something new.

One lady decided she might volunteer at a nursing home this year, choosing to be the friend she wishes she had. Perhaps you can be brave and step out of your comfort zone, too. Put yourself out there. God loves you so much, and the best is yet to come!

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God, You are so good and have good things in store for us. Help us be brave and embrace the difficult moments, knowing it can launch us to greater things. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you have any special holiday plans? What are you thankful for?

Tasks: Be open-minded regarding your holiday plans. Look for all the ways God is at work around you. Perhaps, looking back, you will see this as a turning point in your life.

Posted on in Books and Movies I Like, Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Miscellaneous, Perseverance

Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward Book!!

Surprise!! It’s finally time for my big announcement, and I am so excited!

My book, Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward, is available for purchase! The book captures a two-year period of dealing with (my late husband) Dave’s cancer and my subsequent grief. At times, I didn’t know how I would make it.

During a time filled with chemo and chaos, I nearly walked away from my faith. But, God proved Himself over and over again. Despite my doubts, He came through for us!

Yes, it is a sad story at times, but I wanted to chronicle what happened for Lydia and inspire others. We all go through rough times on this side of Heaven, and it helps knowing someone understands. All hope is not lost!

Currently, your best way to buy Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward is to order through Barnes and Noble. I spent countless hours at our local B&N bookstore writing and editing with my laptop and a cup of coffee. So, it feels incredible to see my book online!

Announcing my book TODAY is significant for several reasons.

First, Lydia’s tenth birthday is coming up, and I wanted to beat that milestone. So much happened in the first two-and-a-half years of her life, and it just seems right to keep this project contained to her first decade. That way, we can officially close that chapter and keep moving forward.

Second, we are in the beginning stages of the holidays, and I want my book to be available before all the craziness starts. For some, it may be just what they need. That said, if a friend of yours is dealing with cancer, grief, or some other trauma, perhaps get your copy first and then consider how it may affect them. The book could certainly be helpful for your friend, but I would never want to add to their emotional turmoil. In that case, maybe filter out a few nuggets of truth for them until the timing is better.

My third reason is a little more personal. Today marks twenty-five years since my dear friend, Seth, died in an accident. (Part of me feels like it was just yesterday; it doesn’t seem I should be old enough to account for twenty-five years!) So, when I saw November 17th is today, a Wednesday, it felt like God’s timing. The book does not entail Seth’s tragedy, yet in my story, I mention how that loss helped me process Dave’s death. So, in my mind, they are somewhat connected.

The fourth reason is simply that there’s no time like the present. This project was complex and took me a while to finish. I had much to learn about writing and publishing a book. Grief and being a single mom were factors, not to mention work, household duties, and various levels of motivation. But, in the end, perfect conditions don’t exist. Something always comes up, and I am just going for it!

Finally, my fifth reason is that I need to continually challenge myself! It’s risky to put myself out there, but I don’t have to be afraid. I am covered with God’s grace. He goes ahead of me and He’s right beside me simultaneously. By faith, I need to release my book and step out of the way, so He can do what He does best.

In honor of my book launch, I created a new blog PAGE! I loaded it with some key details you might want to know before ordering.

Well, that’s it. I appreciate all your ongoing support, encouragement, and prayers!

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God, thanks for all the ways You have brought me through. You are so good and faithful. Would You please use my story to help others see You at work in theirs? May this book bring You glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Any guesses on when I started writing my book?! Will you order the black and white version or the deluxe color version?

Tasks: Grab your copy of Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward today! Read more details here. I’d love for you to tag me on Facebook @GraceandLemonade or on Instagram @natalator with a picture of you and my book. Also, please share this post on social media. Goal: Tell at least 15 of your friends! 😉

Posted on in Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Worship

Every Little Thing

Have you ever thought about how God takes care of us, even when we are unaware?

Last week my check engine light came on in my car. I’ve had my Subaru for over eight years, but thankfully, it has had very few problems. So, this was a bit unusual.

At that point, I was on my way to pick up Lydia and promptly forgot about the issue. The light turned off after I restarted my car to head home.

Soon, it happened again. I usually am prompt about oil changes, and I didn’t expect a warning about my oil being low. At first, I thought it was a fluke and I tried to ignore it.

But, I am my father’s daughter and knew I should check what was going on. Sure enough, I needed some oil! I called to make an appointment for Friday afternoon and bought a little oil to just make it until then. Whew!

Car, Front, Subaru, Bumper, Vehicle, Automobile

On Friday, I went in for the oil change, along with a routine check. They also rotated my tires, which reminded me that I tend to put air in them several times a year. The same wheel always seems to be the issue, and while I do have my own air compressor, it feels like it has been happening more frequently. I casually mentioned that to them.

Then, while my car was in the shop, I made a few phone calls, read a book, and did some planning ahead. I also had some coffee and a snack. 😉 Let’s just say it was time well spent!

The technicians don’t always find something wrong, but soon they came out to tell me I had a couple of lights out. I had no clue! I quickly agreed to replace the lights which would have been difficult to find and reach on my own. A no-brainer!

When I went to pay, the technician also explained they had found a very small hole along the rim of my tire. They smoothed out the rim and fixed the tire. I will keep an eye on things, of course, but I am so grateful. I left the dealership feeling safe, cared for, and prepared for winter.

Car, Subaru, Vehicle, Automobile, Automotive, Design

The car repairs were inexpensive and I did not feel pressured to say yes. I didn’t even know all those things needed to be fixed, but God did. He took care of it all for me!

Then, on Monday, my car would not start before work. I quickly realized Lydia had left the light on to read… and then forgot to turn it off. My car was totally dead!

I‘m glad my neighbor was still home and came over to jump the battery for me. We had to move a few things around in the garage, but it didn’t take too long. Usually, I am about five minutes early to work, and I was only four minutes late!

God cares about every detail of our lives and every decision we make. Whether it is a little tiny light, a tire, a car battery, or something much bigger, His grace covers it all.

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Heavenly Father, Your grace is sufficient for me!! Thanks for taking such good care of me. Help me to trust You in every moment with every little thing. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: How have you seen God at work in your life lately?

Tasks: Daily issues are normal, but look for God’s hand at work around you. He is always watching over you and eager to help. Call out to Him in your time of need!