Tag: prayer

Posted on in Being Gracious, Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Wisdom, Worship

Holding Space During the Holidays

Well, we made it to December! It has already been an interesting month. On Monday, we had work and school, followed by a funeral and a class in the evening. It was a lot to juggle!

The funeral was for a thirteen-year-old girl, someone Lydia knew a bit from church. They were in the youth group together, though they went to different schools. They were two months apart, so her sudden death was very sad and shocking. We attended the visitation (skipping the funeral) because I also needed to take Lydia home before returning for my church leadership class in a separate area.

Free Wreath Flowers photo and picture

The funeral was still happening when I walked back into the building, and I heard several students talking about how the girl had made a difference in their lives. She loved Jesus and seemed to be very sweet and encouraging.

My class was the final meeting of the semester, and we had pizza for dinner, a lesson on prayer, and then a white elephant gift exchange! It was a lot of fun, and I am so grateful to have the opportunity.

During the training, we prayed for the family of the girl who died. We discussed how to hold space for these two different events of the night – the funeral and the training/party. We can rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn.

It’s not easy, but it is important to honor the sadness and grief while also moving forward and celebrating Life. The holidays seem to be full of these situations, don’t they?

This year feels like it flew by, with so many personal wins, but there’s also sadness because my mom died in February. This time of year is challenging for other reasons anyway, including Dave’s birthday, Christmas, and the fact that he’s not here either.

But, I also recognize how GOOD God is through all of it. Jesus very much understands the dual nature of sorrow and joy. He was a Man of Sorrows, yet He also possessed the fullness of God’s joy (Psalm 16:11). Somehow, He held both simultaneously and remained faithful to His mission.

If Jesus can hold space for emotional duality, so can we. I know from experience this is true. While I don’t know what you are facing this Christmas season, Jesus does. He loves you deeply and cares about your concerns.

It is okay to feel conflicted, whatever you are experiencing. None of it is a surprise to the Lord. Take a little time to rest. Then, bring all of your emotions to Jesus and let Him help you sort them out. He really wants to be there for you, if you will let Him.

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Father God, thank you for the gift of Life and for emotions to express how we feel. Help us hold space for all You are doing in us and through us this holiday season. Bring us comfort and peace as we trust You and lean into all You have for us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: How are you holding up so far this week? Do you have any helpful tips for the holiday season?

Task: Take a few minutes and check in with Jesus and tell Him how you really feel. Don’t stay stuck in your emotions; let them be indicators, not dictators.

Posted on in Being Gracious, Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Fruit, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Pivot, Wisdom

A Higher Calling

Today, I’m going to jump right in… Bear with me, please and thank you!

I recently read an online post that mentioned something to the effect of “judge not, lest you be judged.” You can read more in Matthew 7:1-5, but Jesus meant to take care of your own sin before pointing out the same problem in others. Ironically, the half-truth came from someone whose life is a mess, to put it nicely. They have made some really poor decisions, yet want to tell everyone else how to live. Hmmm.

Indeed, Christians are required to judge the conduct and spiritual fruit of other Christians. It is wise to examine the behavior of people who claim to love God, as well as those who don’t. We must discern who is pointing us to Jesus and who is dragging our attention away from Him. We are called to test and weigh spiritual matters. Let’s do it with humility and integrity.

At the same time, we cannot hold non-Christians accountable for Christian standards because they are spiritually dead. They may have a sense of morality and have an inkling of who God is (Romans 1), but it’s not the same. In fact, a post I saw last night said, “Satan is not opposed to good morals. He is opposed to Jesus Christ.” We can’t expect the world to understand or get on board so simply — we must demonstrate who Jesus really is.

Free Avenue Trees photo and picture

Another recent online post was from someone who is all about promoting goodwill, equality, and equity. We absolutely should offer merciful compassion and seek justice, but sadly, these often get twisted. In reviewing our current political climate, this person implied it is “un-Christian” to pause certain social programs, as if that were the end goal. They flat-out deny wanting anything to do with Jesus, but they want to hold people to that perceived standard.

Professing our faith and living for Jesus Christ is not for the faint of heart. It is easy to want to hide out and ignore all the drama this world brings. Especially when we feel pressured, censored, and mocked. We must remember our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the dark spiritual forces of this world (Ephesians 6:12). We are citizens of Heaven (Philippians 3:20), but we must make the most of our time here! Because of Jesus, we can bravely run into battle, not away from it.

Christians are called to a higher standard—to imitate Jesus Christ and draw people to Him. Salt and Light, Grace and Truth. Kindness, hospitality, generosity, and self-sacrifice. Helping the poor, sick, and marginalized. It’s not about adding more to our to-do list, but showing God’s love in practical ways. Yet, how we use our resources will look different for each of us in the context of community. The point is that we have to be consistent in how we represent Jesus. We must follow through and not drop the ball.

On Monday, in my class, we talked about building authentic connections with others and sharing Jesus’ love with them. We can open hearts with simple conversations and show excellence in all we do. As one speaker said, “If you are lazy, prideful, rude, and negative… no one wants that!” We cannot just do the minimum. We must set an example for others in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity (1 Timothy 4:12), so that they ask what makes you different. Jesus!

Of course, we cannot do this on our own. That’s why we have the Holy Spirit and the Church (each other!). Sure, we have our flaws, but praise God, we will one day be made perfect in Jesus. Let’s minister to our local communities with cheerfulness and initiative. There are always challenges, but loving one another well draws outsiders into the heart of God.

Bottom line: All of us deserve eternal damnation in Hell because we fall short of the glory of God, and the wages of sin is death (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23). We cannot earn our salvation, but there is hope! “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8) It is by grace we have been saved through faith (Ephesians 2), so let us run this race with endurance (Hebrews 12).

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Heavenly Father, forgive us when we fall short or give people reason to doubt You. Help us spread Your grace, love, peace, and joy to others. May we be quick to help in times of need. May we consistently show up and follow through. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Where are you at in all of this? Are you with Jesus or the world? Are you living out your higher calling, found only in Him? Or are you playing with fire and trying to do it all on your own?

Task: Check your heart and see where you really stand with Jesus Christ. Read Romans 10:9 and the other verses linked above. If you aren’t sure, message me at nat.grace.lemonade@gmail.com. I’d love to connect.

Posted on in Being Gracious, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Personality, Wisdom, Worship

An Ebenezer

I’ve had some really special experiences with God recently! It started Saturday night when Lydia debriefed from her youth convention before bed. She shared about the parable of the talents and was concerned that she was not doing “enough” for God. Lydia felt like she should do more, but had doubts about her talents.

I worked with her to bring relief and understanding. I explained that she is only thirteen, so she can’t drive and has little money to give. Still, she is capable of obeying and honoring me, doing her best at school, and being a good friend. I reminded her that God’s expectations of her are not a factor in obtaining His love!

I think we all feel the same way sometimes—at least I know I do. I sometimes lose sight of my talents, and it is easy to feel like I’m not making a difference.

A few minutes after lights-out for Lydia, a dear friend called me for help and input. We ended up talking for about two-and-a-half hours! It was around midnight by the time I went to bed, but it was worth it to help my friend!

Free Bench Park photo and picture

I was amazed that God used me right after Lydia expressed concern about how He used her! I woke up early for church and let Lydia sleep in a little. I wanted her to feel restored before another busy week.

The church service was powerful, as the Holy Spirit was moving in our hearts. We had less of a sermon and more of a heartfelt message. We alternated worship with talking about topics including communion and generosity. We had a time of healing, anointing with oil, and prayer.

During the service, people went forward with ministry needs. Pastors prayed for them and anointed them with oil. My neck and upper back have been hurting for over a month, but I decided not to go forward. My confidence was in God, and so I thought, “I don’t need to go up front. By faith, I am already healed and anointed in Jesus’ Name!”

After the service, I caught up with a friend. When she left, I decided to go up for prayer after all. I still had my earlier confidence, but wanted to mark the moment with an “ebenezer,” which means “stone of help.” Sometimes it helps to cement an experience like this. Anyway, I simply asked for prayer to cover me with God’s grace since there’s been a lot on my plate this season!

Free Ginkgo Autumn Leaves photo and picture

I met a new friend, and as she prayed, God spoke to my heart. He confirmed several things, and the takeaway is that He sees me, loves me, and is pleased with me. I felt like God spoke to me about some future opportunities, too. What a blessing.

Then, I ran home to get Lydia and returned to the church to serve during the third service. We already served a couple of weeks ago, but they needed some more help. It was a good chance to use more of our talents.

Fast-forward to Monday. We headed to the chiropractor after work. My neck and shoulders have had ongoing pain, but it has been worse lately. This time, my chiropractor tried a different technique. Instead of lying down, I sat in a chair while she gently adjusted me. It worked and I felt an immediate release of tension!

I was in awe that God did that for me! What a gracious Father! I’m hopeful it will continue to stabilize in the coming days. The pain is 99.9% gone unless I tweak my neck in a certain direction. But I have a lot better range of motion now. I’m calling it healed and will continue to work it out!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for all Your kindness to me! Help me use my talents and all the gifts You’ve given me for Your glory and fame. In Jesus’ Name Amen

Question: How has God been working in your life lately? Are you coming to Him in faith and resting in His goodness, or are you just seeking what He can do for you?

Task: Check out this classic hymn, and listen for the word “ebenezer!”

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

Finding Grace #502

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 Autumn Forest photo and picture

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

This was another week of hustling!

We served in the kids’ ministry at church on Sunday, and I squeezed in a quick walk with a friend. Then, we ran home to get Lydia packed for Congress before her team left on the bus.

Lydia was gone all day Monday, but did really well at Congress. She gave four of her speeches and scored high enough to place! It was a cool end to her first season!

My Monday was very full but good. I stayed close to Jesus and enjoyed several church-related events. I’m grateful.

On Tuesday evening, we attended a golden birthday party for one of Lydia’s school friends. If you recall, we met a family from Africa a few years ago at the bus stop. Over time, we have seen less of them since they have gotten more settled. We enjoyed catching up, eating really good food, and enjoying their culture and traditions. And, they sent us home with leftovers!

Wednesday was my mom’s birthday. We all miss her so much, but we are doing well. And, she is with the very One who loves her the most. So, while we are sad, we are also happy for her and proud of her!

At work, I felt like I was chasing my tail all week, and I was only there four days! 🙂 I barely stayed on top of my charting, but somehow did. I know God was helping me all along the way. I had nice patients and accomplished a lot. Thanks, Lord!

On Thursday night, I dropped off Lydia and a friend at church for a youth convention that went through today. It was a funny week because I was pretty much on my own for much of it (Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday).

Yesterday after work, I met up with my coworker, Natalie, to hang out again. (She is off on maternity leave.) She had her new baby girl and her older son, who did not have preschool that day. It was fun to spend time together, and we visited a church ministry on the NDSU campus before getting coffee!

After that, I went to Menards and then finished up some outdoor projects at home… while catching up with my sister on the phone. Next, I did some studying and watched a movie. It was a fulfilling day!

This week, the weather definitely felt more like Fall! It was a little chilly, overcast, windy, and rainy. I didn’t mind too much and am thankful it wasn’t snow!

Today was a fairly restful Saturday. I did some studying before running errands and picking up Lydia from the youth convention. She had a big week and ended up resting for quite a while after that! After a three-hour nap, I had to wake her up!

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

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

Posted on in Being Gracious, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Miscellaneous, Prayer, Wisdom, Worship

A Day Off with Jesus

On Monday, I was off from work due to Columbus Day. Normally, I would set up a massage or do something relaxing. But, this year, I had a relatively full agenda!

I did sleep in an hour or so; I did not have to get up super early because Lydia was a few hours away at her Congress event. I woke up and did a little stretching, made some coffee and breakfast, spent time with God, noticed the beautiful fall colors outside, did some laundry, and started my blog post early. I had fun with Jesus and invited Him to come with me!

Free reading cozy coffee illustration

Later in the morning, I went to church for a ‘staff chapel.’ I am not on staff, but was invited as part of the leadership class I am taking. It was cool to have a peek behind the scenes and also to see the heart of our pastors. I talked with some new-to-me people and enjoyed some delicious food before we worshiped, took communion, and prayed.

Actually, we prayed a lot, lol! We prayed for a few key needs and for individual dreams, too. We wrote some God-sized dreams and prayer requests and then swapped them so others could pray. We did this a few times, and I enjoyed lifting up those I knew and some I hadn’t officially met yet. Some were housing or vehicle needs, while others were simply dreams for travel or fun adventures.

I left feeling even more connected to God and my church. I praised him as I left to fill my car with gas and accomplish more tasks. Back home, I checked my laundry, made lunches for the work-week, exercised, and continued writing this blog post.

Then, I spent a few hours studying for the leadership class and reviewing the material for a five-week series I will be teaching at work. It was a good, quiet afternoon, and I was glad to catch up on one class and get ahead on the other!

Free Forest Sun photo and picture

In the evening, I went to a new friend’s house to discuss the church’s leadership class. We met as a large group last week, so this week, just the ladies met to review the material we are going through and get to know each other. I appreciated the fellowship and hospitality!

Then, Lydia returned home from her Congress outing. She did well, and it was fun to hear all about her experience. We quickly got ready for bed, and that was it!

Even though I had a full day, I was glad to spend it with Jesus. Sometimes, life gets so busy we run, run, run… and forget to check in with Him along the way. Whatever is on your to-do list today, remember to bring Jesus with you!

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God, thanks for guiding my steps, coming with me each day, and helping me complete everything. Help me feel Your presence and trust You even when I don’t. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: Do you actively ask Jesus to join you as you go about your day?

Task: Spend at least the first fifteen minutes sitting in the presence of God each morning. Talk to Him about your day, any concerns you have, or any changes He wants you to make.

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

Finding Grace #501

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 Pumpkins Vegetables photo and picture

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

This was a very full and fulfilling week with lots of personal connections! On Sunday, after the service, we served during lunchtime in the Oasis, which is the older adults ministry. Then, in the evening, we had family Zoom!

On Monday morning, I heard the landscaping company would be coming over. I was very pleased with their work, though I had them make a slight change. I’m proud of myself for speaking up and for finally getting this project done!

That night, I had my leadership training class. We talked about discipleship, which goes hand-in-hand with evangelism. It was cool to learn about the differences and how to do a better job of both. I also saw some friends and caught up with them while we ate dinner… Panda Express!

Work was pretty full this week, and I definitely relied on God to help me complete my tasks and direct my path. I saw lots of patients and taught three classes. I prepared for another round of classes and got my charting done in a timely manner! 🙂

On Wednesday evening, I went to visit my coworker/friend, Natalie, and her family. I got to hold her one-month-old baby girl for over an hour! She is so little and cute! We always have fun talking about life and spiritual matters. I am grateful for the opportunity!

Thursday after work was Lydia’s school conferences. I met with her four core teachers, and they all told me she is doing well academically. A few mentioned she is quiet but eager to learn and help others. I also heard she is a great writer, and I am not surprised. 😉 She has spent several evenings diligently preparing for her next “Congress” meet, too.

Yesterday, after work, I went to visit another mom, my coworker, Maddie, who had identical twin girls in June. She will be coming back to work soon, but I wanted to encourage her and get some more baby snuggles!

Today was more of a typical Saturday, one day to rest before another full and busy week! We did a few chores, studied, made some calls, practiced for Congress, etc.

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

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

Posted on in Being Gracious, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Personality

Landscaping and God’s Love

For the last twelve-plus years since Dave died, I have been thinking about my landscaping. Yes, that’s practically forever! I’ve known I needed to do something, but I wasn’t entirely sure what to do. So, I did nothing.

I wasn’t being lazy; I was at an impasse. Part of me realized that once I make a decision, there’s no real going back if I don’t like it. However, on some level, it was overwhelming to make decisions on my own. Dave was so good at the outdoor projects!

Then, two years ago, my parents visited, and I took notes when Dad provided me with ideas and exact details. Nothing fancy, just adding soil around the foundation, as well as river rock and a border. That was awesome, but I just didn’t know where to start or who to call. So, I forgot about it.

Finally, this summer, I requested a quote from a local company, but the timing was delayed since summer is their busiest time of the year.

On Monday, I heard they would be coming that day. I was eager to get it done, but I had to be at work before they came. Initially, I thought the foreman would come and outline where everything would go. But I decided not to worry about it.

I got home that night and was impressed by how much had already been done. The three men said they would return the next day to complete the task. I noticed one area of concern, but did not mention it. Instead, I thanked them before heading out to an evening activity. It’s been a packed week!

Then, yesterday morning, upon review, I still felt the border layout was too close to the deck. It could become a tripping hazard around the stairs, but it also didn’t look quite right to me. Yet, the work was done well, and exactly according to the quote. I wasn’t sure if I should say anything or just live with it.

I briefly texted with my family, and they encouraged me to speak up, so I had no regrets. I worked with the foreman to resolve the issue. We decided to extend the border by another foot or so on two sides to match it all the way around.

I apologized that it would take more effort to undo and redo the line, but the foreman was gracious. They even offered to add two flat stones to make a landing spot off the stairs, and I agreed. I was at work this whole time, so I had to trust them!

After work, I went to check it out. I LOVED the final result! I could not be happier with how it turned out! It’s exactly what I wanted and how I imagined it. I texted the foreman to express my gratitude and sent pictures to my family.

I am in awe of how the project turned out, and even more so, of how good God is. He stretched me and gave me the courage to say what I needed. He provided the overall plan through my dad and the foreman, and the money for the work to be done. I am both relieved and joyful about the final result!

It took me a long time to reach this point, but I am also praising God for bringing me this far. He is so faithful, and this is one more way He pressed me to keep moving forward. When I look at my landscaping now, I will think of His gracious love for me and His good plan for my life!

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Lord, thanks for giving me the courage to follow through and speak up when needed. Thanks for all the ways You challenge me and provide for me. Help me honor You in all I do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: How has God been stretching you lately? Is there something you have been putting off that you know you should do?

Task: Go ahead and take a prayerful first step. If you are trusting God, He will make sure it goes well. There may be some bumps along the way, but He will work it out for you.

Posted on in Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous

Looking in the Rearview Mirror

Yesterday morning, on my way to work, I was at a stoplight and looked in the rearview mirror. I saw a pretty lady adjusting her hair or makeup. I prayed that she would have a good day.

Later, I again looked in my rearview mirror while driving and saw someone wearing sunglasses. I noticed the other driver’s sunglasses had a reflective, yellow tint. It made me smile when it reminded me of some exotic bug! 🙂

A few minutes later, I was reached the street where I park. In front of me, I saw a silver SUV quickly pull over. I thought they must be in a hurry. After I parked on the other side, now facing the direction I came from, I saw someone walking across the street with a baby carrier.

I was listening to an audiobook, but casually watched to see which house they walked toward. Turns out, they walked toward me! I looked closer…. it was my coworker, Natalie! She saw me in her rearview mirror!

Natalie lives a couple of blocks away and had just returned from dropping her son off at preschool. I jumped out of my car to meet Baby Cecelia, who is just over two weeks old! She is so cute and little. She has that sweet newborn cry. We caught up for a few minutes, and it really made my day.

Free Rearview Mirror Exterior Mirror photo and picture

I like to notice patterns, and it is funny how a twenty-minute drive had three instances of looking in the rearview mirror. I’m not sure if it means anything significant, but I am reminded that the rearview mirror shows us what’s behind us.

We cannot spend all our time looking behind us, but we can appreciate it for the lessons learned in the past and the joy it brought. What is behind us has propelled us to where we are today.

At the same time, it is even more important to keep looking forward. As we focus on Jesus, He leads us to where we need to be. If we stay focused on Him, we will avoid distractions and navigate through any detours.

Side mirrors are good reminders of who is coming up beside us. Sometimes our blind spots can be difficult to identify, but our actions and reactions have a significant impact on others. So it is good to check in with people around us.

We tend to go in the direction of our focus. We don’t always accurately recall the past, and if our interpretations are a little foggy, or if we only ask those around us for input, we can be easily misled or deceived. We must keep our eyes on Jesus. Are you more focused on the matters of this world or Him?

Metaphors or not, I am glad for all the ways God speaks to me and moves in my life. I pray you will see Him at work in your life today!

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Lord, thanks for moving in me and around me. Give me eyes to see the world as You do. Help me love others like You do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: As you look around, where do you see God moving in your life?

Task: The next time you are driving, pray for the people in the vehicles around you.

Posted on in Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Personality, Pivot, Prayer, Wisdom, Words, Worship

Getting Through It with Jesus

The last two weeks have been rather tough. I’ve been very “busy” with a lot going on, not to mention the news has been particularly sad and heavy. It’s exhausting!

I’ve had a lot of individual activities and events to remember. I have been spent time preparing for this very week. Maybe you can relate!

Additionally, I tend to hold stress in my upper back and shoulders, and then it travels upward. So, I’ve had sore muscles and a headache on and off this whole time.

Monday was especially full, with a big presentation at work followed by a full day of seeing patients. After that, I had a training at church and did not get home until 9 p.m. Lydia had an extracurricular activity and walked home afterward, but I didn’t see her until it was bedtime.

I don’t know about you, but sometimes when things get hectic, it’s easy just to want it to be over already. Now, all my activities on Monday were good and I looked forward to them.

But I was also praying I could get through the day and be able to relax. On my walk into work, I said, “Lord, just help me get through everything today.” And as soon as I said that, the thought occurred to me, “I don’t need to get through it, I just need to stay close to Jesus.”

Free Coneflowers Flowers photo and picture

All throughout the day, I had peace. The presentation went really well, and I was very glad that God helped me. I had practiced, of course, but I had revised my slides on Thursday and then we also had company last weekend. So, I was familiar, but maybe not fully comfortable with the content.

I had several patients back-to-back after my presentation and barely ate my lunch. I did not get a full thirty-minute break anywhere, but I had God’s peace and joy as I went about my day. It was a little hectic, but He was with me.

I ran home after work to add air to my tires. The pressure sensor went off while I was driving, but I only had time to check the tires and fix the one that was slightly low. I’ll have to do a more thorough inspection later. Then, I was off to church.

We had a small meal catered in, and I was a little early. But that gave me time to focus and decompress a little. Then, we had a great time of fellowship and learning about spiritual formation and spiritual disciplines. It was dark when I left for home, but I was happy.

On my way there, my check oil light came on. No big deal, lol, I will check that and my tires! I briefly checked in with Lydia before she went to bed, but I still had several things to do to prepare for Tuesday. I prayerfully only did what was most necessary before heading to bed myself.

Free Flower Desert photo and picture

I’m sure you have had days or weeks like mine. You may just be pushing through to get through the day, week, month, or season. It is easy to try to handle everything all on your own. But what if you invite Jesus into the mess? What would that look like and feel like?

Your day may still be a little crazy, but God already knows what you need. He can change your schedule and/or empower you to handle it with grace. Ultimately, God directs your steps anyway. You don’t have to do it all or “get through it” on your own!

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Father God, thanks for taking my burdens and replacing them with grace. Thanks for peace, joy, and rest during life’s challenges. Help me trust You more. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: Have you been resting in Jesus or STRESS-ing out?

Task: Check in with Jesus regularly, and even more when your day is chaotic!

Posted on in Being Gracious, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Wisdom

Finding Grace #497

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 Flower Impatiens photo and picture

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

This week was both hectic and heavy, but there was still a bit of joy and grace.

I have had a tension headache for several days, which may, in part, just be related to various stressors. Nothing unusual, just lots of things all at once. Mowing, cleaning, studying, parenting, work, etc. I saw the chiropractor on Monday and am starting to feel a bit better now.

I was saddened and disturbed about Charlie Kirk’s death, and it is awful all around, not to mention the internet comments, which I mostly avoided. While I don’t know that much about him, I can understand the element of grief. It made me want to vomit when I heard the news. I did not watch the actual footage, and I probably never will. Each person has their own perspective, so I don’t need to add my two cents. I will share what one pastor said, however: Grieve. Share Truth boldly. Proclaim Christ. Love. Do not fear. Walk by faith.

We had a new baby girl born this week on our team! We now have two ladies out on maternity leave, and the first one out brought in her adorable 2.5-month-old twin girls. I got to hold one of them, and we made lots of smiley faces at each other. I can’t wait to meet the new little baby sometime, too!

Work itself was busy as usual. I had some time to prepare for a talk I’m giving on Monday. We are shifting things around for coverage, too. I stayed a couple of extra hours on Friday to help out. I’m grateful that God always helps me get things done!

Yesterday, my mother-in-law came to visit! We went shopping and out to eat. We also walked around some flower gardens and did some fall activities. We always have fun when she comes! It should be a relaxing weekend, which is just what I need.

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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)!