Tag: Peace

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Food and Nutrition, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Prayer

Finding Grace #495

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

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

Free Monarch Echinacea photo and picture

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

This was a great week, and I saw God work all around me!

On Monday, I started a ministry training class at church. We will be covering two courses this semester and two next semester. It will be a commitment, and also a great opportunity. I don’t know all that God has in store for me, but I am excited to learn and grow!

Work was steady but really good. There is always a lot going on, but it always feels worthwhile. I am happy to be where God has me, making a difference!

On Tuesday, I had an appointment which has me thinking about possibilities and answered prayers. I might have a decision to make, but I am still researching the information presented. I am grateful for how God guides and cares for me!

This week, I received garden-fresh beets and carrots from a friend at work. I roasted them last night, and they are delicious. After that, a neighbor gave us some freshly-picked sweet corn! I love it when people share the bounty of the season!

I woke up early this morning with lots of energy and ideas. I decided to organize a few spots around the house and started right away. I did not complete all that I wanted to do, but now I have a plan. 😉 I also mowed, did laundry, and cut up watermelon. With the long weekend, I hope to make more progress!

This afternoon, Lydia and I attended a little friend’s third birthday party. It was fun to see how much she has changed in one year! I pray God will do mighty things in her life and that she will one day trust in Him as her Lord and Savior.

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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 Books and Movies I Like, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Parenting

Finding Grace #494

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

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

Free Sunflower Yellow Flower photo and picture

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

This week felt really busy, which is right in line with the start of the school year. We had a mix of meetings, errands, and back-to-school night.

My nephew, Alex, started Kindergarten in Illinois on Wednesday, and Lydia started 8th grade on Thursday. I am sure they will both have a great year. Lydia seems to have a well-paced schedule with some easier classes interspersed among the more challenging ones. She was excited to see her friends, too!

Work was quite busy. I taught a couple extra classes and saw some extra patients. All went well, but it was just… a lot. I ended up staying almost two hours later than usual yesterday. But, I am glad I have the option as a part-time employee!

After work yesterday, I ran some errands and then went home to mow with Lydia. We had pizza and watched Back to the Future. It was a fun end to a busy week!

Today, Lydia and I went shopping for shoes. Lydia came home with a pair of sneakers and a pair of dress shoes. I have plenty of shoes so didn’t get anything! We got up early to beat the Saturday rush, and then we came home to relax. And by relax, I usually mean catching up on housework and getting ahead for the next week, lol.

I forgot to mention last week that I have officially been blogging for ten years! I am fairly happy with my platform, and although I could do something differently, I am not planning to change anything for now. Thanks for being here and for reading along! I hope my words bring encouragement, insight, and challenge you in your walk with Christ Jesus.

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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 Books and Movies I Like, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #493

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 relaxing at first and then picked up later. We were on our road trip Sunday, then I was off Monday and Tuesday to celebrate my birthday.

For my birthday, I enjoyed a quiet early morning with coffee, reading, writing, and exercise. Late morning, Lydia and I visited another little flower garden, refilled my peach balsamic vinegar, and bought a half-flat of peaches for a Youth For Christ fundraiser. In the afternoon, we watched Freakier Friday, read at Barnes and Noble, and ate at Crave. Then, we walked around the mall before getting ice cream for the surprise chocolate cake Lydia made me. It was a great day, and I felt a bit like a celebrity with all the birthday greetings and well-wishes! Thank you!

On Wednesday, it was back to work, but it was manageable. Ironically, I did not have to bring lunch any day this week. Besides being out of the office on Monday/Tuesday, on Wednesday, we had a potluck, and on Thursday, we had a birthday treat for me, so I just brought a light snack. I also don’t stay long enough on Friday to need lunch there. 🙂

After work on Friday, I went to the bookstore to do some continuing education while drinking a latte. Then, I went home to mow before taking Lydia to a friend’s house. After that, I worked on another project. It felt good to get so much done, and I also squeezed in some reading before Lydia got back!

Today, I did various chores and made a peach galette. It tastes delicious, but fell apart and wouldn’t look good enough to bring anywhere. Maybe next time, I will leave the fruit on the bottom and make a cobbler with the crust on top!

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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, Travel

A North Dakota Roadtrip Adventure

Over the weekend, we had an awesome two-day North Dakota road trip adventure! I wanted to do something special before my birthday (yesterday), and almost our whole trip involved places we hadn’t been before. We stayed in Rugby and went to the border to see the International Peace Gardens (Lydia’s first time through Customs). We enjoyed the fountains, trees, flowers, and saw way more cacti than I knew existed (some gigantic, some tiny). We met some really sweet Canadians at a vendor show and bought some souvenirs.

The weather was partially cloudy, with sprinkles on and off, but we made the best of it. Truthfully, I was a little irked at first. I was hoping the rain would hold off, and of course, I left my umbrella at work. We decided to do the Canadian driving portion first. That helped, but then it started up again in spurts (on and off, for most of the day).

Lydia and I walked when we could and jumped into and out of the car to see some of the sights. We were glad I had thrown a couple of beach towels in last minute, and Lydia kept laughing about it all. Later, I overheard a dad telling his child, “Well, it seems God wanted it to rain today, so we aren’t going to argue with Him.” I took that to heart and just went with it after that. In fact, perhaps because of the rain, we saw so much on Saturday!



Then, we drove to nearby Lake Metigoshe State Park and knocked out a few fun roadside attractions (see below). We even made it to Minot, which was larger than I expected. We enjoyed the Scandinavian Heritage Park. I thought of my mom many times on Saturday, surrounded by beautiful flowers and some Danish cultural items.

On Sunday, we drove home another way, this time going the northern route around Devils Lake. Lydia had been that way before on her way to camp, so it was fun to see her recognize some landmarks. We visited Graham’s Island State Park and then went on to Grand Forks for lunch. We even made it home early in the afternoon, so I could mow!

Lydia hopes to take her driver’s permit test in a few months, so we discussed the rules of the road along the way. We talked about our goals for the upcoming year and other trips we would like to take together. It was great spending time together and making memories!

Traveling can be a lot of work, but we tried to keep this one simple. We took our own snacks and treats to save money, although we also picked up a few items on the way. We cut out another large swath of driving and decided to save that destination for another trip. I had wanted to visit the Peace Gardens since my birthday trip to Medora last year, and I am glad we made it happen.

More importantly, I want Lydia to know what North Dakota is all about, since she was born here. In five-ish years, she will likely go to college, and then we will have limited opportunities together. So, I want to make the most of our time. Sure, we tend to stay home a lot, but when we do travel, we make it worth our while! 🙂

A road trip is also a good way to connect with God. His beauty is found in Nature, and His provision in timing, safe travels, and new adventures to do or see. Taking a step away from our routine helps us appreciate what we have when we get back home. Thank You, Lord!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for being with us on our road trip! Life with You is always an adventure. Rain or shine, You are so GOOD to us. Please continue to lead us and guide us along the way. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: Have you been on any summer road trips this year?

Task: Become a tourist in your own state. Take a day trip or stay somewhere new overnight. I’d love to hear all about it!!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Travel

Finding Grace #492

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

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

Free Zinnia Composites photo and picture

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

This was a busy, but really good week!

Work was surprisingly light, even though I covered for a few appointments and classes. Lydia and I also had dentist appointments on Monday, so the day flew as I left work early to pick her up.

On Friday, someone came over to give me an estimate for some landscaping. It won’t be anything too exciting, but just some dirt and rock around the foundation of my house. I might add some flowers, but we’ll see. Still, I am looking forward to seeing the estimate and hopefully getting this long overdue project completed!

After that, we jumped in the car to head a few hours to Rugby, ND, for an adventure. For the most part, we just relaxed once we got to the inn. It was nice to just chill after a long week. As a side note, Rugby happens to be the geographical center of North America, so it was interesting to see the small monument in tribute.

Today, we headed to the US/Canada border to see the International Peace Gardens! It was on my ND bucket list for some time, and I knew August is a month where a lot of flowers are in full bloom. Lydia loved going to the Canadian side, her first trip over the Northern border! Later, we toured more of North Dakota, heading west to Minot and several random tourist sites. I’ll give more details on Wednesday!

For now, we will rest and have some more fun on the way home tomorrow!

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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 Miscellaneous, Personality, Pivot, Worship

Rest Is A Command

Yesterday, I saw this quote on Substack, in green below. I took a screenshot to share with you, but what stood out to me is that rest is not an option or nice suggestion. As we read in Hebrews 4, it’s a command. Rest is found in Jesus alone.

In Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV), Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Jesus gives us the permission and freedom to make rest a priority.

Rest is a way we show our faith. We prove our trust in God when we are willing to lay aside our work and take a break. Even when we still have a lot to do, we understand that He will provide for us. We step away from busyness and choose to let God work on our behalf. He can craft circumstances in our favor, so whatever we get “done” will be enough.

Rest does not mean hurrying to finish our ‘work’ to block time to relax. It can involve pacing your tasks, but that’s not the point. We should rest – and check in with the Lord – either way.

Rest means leaving your to-do list, if needed. This one is hard for me to remember. I feel like I need to get everything done first. I am learning to manage my energy and lean into God’s rest, which also includes Sabbath. We unplug and turn off all the noise to walk with the Lord at His pace.

Rest can include going to bed at a decent time. I’m constantly working on this. Somehow, it changes each season for me, but I am getting more sleep than I used to! Rest days from exercise are also important because your body gets stronger with recovery.

As I incorporate more rest, my house might just be a little messier… but I am enjoying myself more! I like watching the bunnies play outside and listening to the birds sing. Last night, I was mesmerized by the pouring rain and lightning, and I took a moment to thank the Lord for His provision to keep me warm and dry at home.

Free Colorful Zinnia Blooming photo and picture

Rest is not laziness. It takes a lot of effort to learn how to chill! It is challenging to let go and not try to figure out all the details. Rest requires setting aside certain expectations and people pleasing. But, the joy and peace, are worth it.

Rest is part of restoration. God often brings healing in our downtime. We tend to race ahead and risk missing all He has for us. Pause periodically to check in with the Lord and see what He has for you. Find His rhythm for your life. I promise it is for your benefit.

This song has been on my heart this week. I keep singing these lyrics over and over: “Everything I need, my Father has it. The Lord will provide.”

God is so good, and He is not “empty-handed.” He gives us infinite blessings, and it’s our job to rest in Him and trust Him to provide. He loves showing off His power on our behalf. But, we have to let him!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for all You do for me. Help me walk at Your pace and not run ahead. Give me peace and rest as I trust in You. I know You have good things in store for me. Help me wait on You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: How are you entering God’s rest this week? Is it difficult for you to relax?

Task: God gives us so much grace through the principle of rest. Slow down, hit pause, listen, wait for Him, and make every effort to enter His rest today.

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #491

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

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

Free Bee Honey Bee photo and picture

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

This was a pretty quiet and smooth week! 

Nothing new to report for work. Or, at least I don’t think anything unusual happened! I had nice patients and good conversations with my coworkers.

I did a lot of organizing around the house this week. I went through some piles of clutter and also tossed some old papers and boxes. I shredded some documents and cleaned part of the garage. It feels great to get things squared away before the seasons change!

Today, Lydia went to hang out with a friend and I stayed home. I caught up with some chores and mowing. I also weeded and did some trimwork outside.  Tonight, we worked out together for a little bit and then played three mean games of Sorry!

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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, Parenting

Just Keep Growing

As a parent, it’s fun to see our kids learning new things. Lydia has been lounging for most of the summer, and I have been happy to let her. Sure, I have given her chores several days a week, but I also realize we are only young once.

Teenagers need more rest, and I can let her sleep in. She prefers to have a small to-do list, so if I don’t have chores for her that day, I encourage her to make her own. I might suggest practicing her viola, reading, spending time with Jesus, cleaning her room, showering, etc. I don’t worry if she doesn’t get it all done.

Someday, Lydia will have to get up and go each summer morning. So, I relish letting her chill for now. It has been an interesting summer in that when I get home, Lydia is eager to chat and hang out. It probably helps that I put some time limits on her phone and internet use! 😉

Since she has a lot of downtime, Lydia enjoys making wish lists of things she wants to buy. She has limited cash, of course, so either she will have to burn through her funds or I will have to chip in. I have to laugh because a lot of what she is picking was popular when I was a kid: faded jeans/shorts, sweatpants, baggy shirts, and Birkenstocks.

Lydia is my only child, and she is generally an easy kid, so it would be easy to spoil her. However, I set good limits and remind her to look for value and a good deal. I rarely buy the first thing Lydia sees and make her research the best price for the quality. I tend to resist buying name brands and ask for a list of the pros and cons since I don’t want her to feel entitled. Sometimes I will splurge, but often we’ll split the cost, shop at a thrift store for the item, or buy a knockoff.

It has been fun to see how Lydia has grown this summer, moreover, in the last two weeks! She’s grown a little taller, yes, but she’s also impressed me lately in other areas. Lydia has shown more responsibility and initiative around the house. She has grown in spiritual maturity, too, asking her friends if she can pray for them. She has texted them the most thoughtful prayers on their behalf! I love seeing her heart for her friends!

All on her own, Lydia also found a website that encourages people to write to the elderly. She plans to start doing this regularly, though I am not holding her to it. We bought some cards, stationery, and other supplies so that she can bless these strangers. (She’s a little timid to write to people she knows, but I hope she will in the future.) I will review what Lydia writes to ensure it meets the guidelines, but my mom would be so proud because she had her own card-writing ministry!

As I reflect on these points above, I am reminded that each of us has a special way of helping others. Serving and loving people is not about giving a lot of money, but about having a compassionate heart to bless others and spread the love of Jesus.

As much as I am proud of Lydia, just think about how much God loves you and is proud of you. Let that sink in for a minute!

If you have not connected with the Lord for a while, now is your chance. Call out to Jesus, and He will be right there with you. He loves you so much and wants the best for you. He has good plans in store, so just keep growing in Him!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for all the ways You love us and help us grow. Help us continue to draw near to You and mature in our faith. May we love others like You do! In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: How has God blessed you this week? How can you serve someone else today?

Tasks: Use your unique gifts, skills, personality, opportunities, and interests to love God and serve others. Let your roots grow down into Him… and read Colossians 2:7-9. Pray about what to do and then move forward!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting

Finding Grace #490

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 has been pretty calm, compared to some weeks! 

Work was steady but good. No big changes this week, lol. Visiting the chiropractor was greatly needed and appreciated; I am glad to have access to quality healthcare benefits. I feel way better than I did a year ago!

I talked with one of my best friends late one night. We always end up laughing a lot. We’ve been playing phone tag for a while, but finally managed to catch up just as I was ready to turn out the light and go to bed. It was worth staying up another forty-five minutes to chat with her! Good friends are good for the heart!

On Thursday, Lydia got her final orthodontic retainers (meaning she doesn’t have her Invisalign trays anymore). The change was rather subtle since she didn’t have actual braces this time. She did when she was seven, but we opted for the trays a year and a half ago instead. She’s happy with the transformation and will soon only have to wear the trays overnight.

Yesterday, I dropped off Lydia and a friend at the Redhawks baseball game, where they met the youth group for a fun outing! After that, I visited the NDSU horticulture research plot nearby. I took several pretty pictures of flowers (phlox above) and reminisced about the times I would call my mom from there to tell her about the flowers and get her insights on life. She’s been gone five months, and it seems like forever.

After we arrived home from the Redhawks, Lydia was in the mood to chat. It’s always at bedtime, lol! But, as my dad reminded me this morning on a phone call, these times go by so fast, and it’s good to be available for her. Lydia did say she’s glad she can tell me anything, so I’m grateful to take advantage of the opportunity!

Today, we are mostly relaxing after a late night and sleeping in. Tonight, we worked out together for a little bit and then played three mean games of Sorry!

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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, Personality, Pivot, Prayer, Wisdom, Worship

Worthy of Praise

We sing a song at church called “Praise” by Elevation Worship. It is a fun song to sing, but the message is also important. Here’s one section of the lyrics:

I’ll praise when I feel it
And I’ll praise when I don’t
I’ll praise ’cause I know
You’re still in control
Because my praise is a weapon
It’s more than a sound (more than a sound)
Oh, my praise is the shout
That brings Jericho down
 
 
God is worthy of our praise whether we feel like it or not. Praising Him is not always easy or enjoyable. Sometimes, it is downright difficult. Distraction, pain, suffering, grief – there are so many things to take our eyes off Jesus. Still, praise and worship are tools to show others how great God is.
 
When we give God credit for His work in our lives, we magnify His glory and shine attention back to Jesus. Our pride and self-promotion take a worthy hit in the process. As we redirect our focus, we see things His way and trust Him at a deeper level.  This frees us from our chains and confuses our enemy.
 
It’s difficult to praise God when things are going wrong, but it blesses God and brings blessings upon us, too. Praising God may or may not change our circumstances, but it does change our hearts as the Holy Spirit moves and tweaks our perspective. Talk about transformation!

 
Praise is a timely reminder that people will fail us, but our Creator and Almighty God, never will. He is infinitely faithful and good. He is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love. Our Heavenly Father will never leave nor forsake His children. 
 
Praise has the power to prepare us for God’s greater work. As the Holy Spirit redirects us, we are open to what He wants us to do. We align our vision with His and gain confidence to move forward with intention.
 
Praising God has the potential to prevent panic when things go awry. We can praise, pray, and plan in advance! Then, whenever a problem does arise, we are prepared.
 
Praise can be a form of prayer, which is really just communicating with God. The acronym ACTS starts with Adoration, then Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. In some ways, you can praise, worship, and pray all at the same time!
 
Don’t worry if you are a good singer. You can shout your praises or whisper them. There is always a reason to praise. Just come and give God the glory for all He has done for you. He just wants your heart!
 
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Heavenly Father, I praise You for Your mighty works! Thanks for all the ways You love me and provide for me. Help me walk worthy of Your calling today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
 
Questions: What are some things you are praising God for today? Do you like to sing, or shout, or dance, or journal?
 
Tasks: If you need a primer on praise, the Psalms are a great place to start. I came across Psalm 93 today and encourage you to check it out! Also, here are some of my other blog posts on praise.