Tag: relax

Posted on in Being Gracious, Gratitude, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting

More Meaningful Multicultural Moments

“Mom, this is another letter that starts, “Greetings from Paul!'” Lydia said. I had to laugh a bit, as she’s been reading a lot of the Bible’s New Testament lately. The Apostle Paul did write quite a bit of it, namely in letters to believers in various cities. He interacted with several different cultures all over the Mediterranean region!

I was still thinking about this Saturday night when we attended a birthday party for an African boy in Lydia’s grade. These are the immigrants we met last year at the bus stop – and the very first thing I asked them was if they had snow gear!

In full disclosure, I was so happy to be invited, but I wasn’t quite up for going. It had been a long day with a delivery, phone calls, laundry, and feeling crummy from my flu shot the day before (for work). I was tired.

Nonetheless, we wrapped up a couple of LEGO kits and decided to go for a little while before returning home. However, I knew leaving early could be a bit of a challenge because of certain cultural differences regarding time.

Free earth world planet illustration

You see, I am prompt and hate to be late… but sometimes others consider time differently. The invitation said 5:30 p.m., but the mother told me to come “anytime after 6 p.m.” So, we decided to go right around 6 o’clock and were the third family to arrive.

The younger brother (fifth grade) started to answer the door, but he ran away before opening it to tell everyone, “Lydia came, Lydia came!!” Then, the younger sister (third grade) came and peeked out the window as well. She also squealed and ran to get her dad, who thankfully opened the door. Seeing their excitement, immediately, I was glad we came.

They gave us a tour of their new house, having moved from a small apartment a few weeks before. My friend and some other ladies warmly greeted us as they made fried rice. Many of these people also work in healthcare – highly qualified doctors, nurses, and CNAs. Some of them are immigrants, as well.

Within a few minutes of arriving, I smelled the delicious food and forgot I hadn’t felt well for much of the day. I decided to stay awhile, especially when my friend introduced me as his “first friend here in Fargo who welcomed his family.”

Later, I ate some goat meat stew, jollof rice, as well as seasoned beef and chicken. I chatted with a high school student who happens to play the viola. I’ll be sure to look for her when she and Lydia’s schools have a combined concert in November.

Free Jollof Jollof Rice photo and picture

This girl’s mom took a while to warm up to me. She questioned if I had ever had African food before (yes, I have!) and made some other comments. Perhaps she felt like I was invading her cultural safe zone. I did not take offense, as it’s likely she’s experienced much more discrimination than me. Thankfully, we soon bonded over some drinks, and by the end, she offered to share her food with me. 

Two hours later, we finally decided to go. I thanked my friends and hugged them goodbye. I waved to everyone else, and they all seemed grateful we came. It was a fun night, and I carried the weight (impact) of it home with me!

The next morning, I received a text from the family thanking us for coming. They were “especially surprised” that we stayed the whole time. 🙂 I’m so glad I decided to stay.

I’m sure the Apostle Paul felt like this sometimes. Looking for commonalities with people who were so different. Having awkward conversations at times and some misunderstandings. Hitting roadblocks but bonding over food and faith. Bringing the Good News of Jesus to everyone he met. These nuances require compassion, wisdom, and persistence.

Isn’t God good?! I love how we can always lean on Jesus. When He is present, nothing else matters as much. Not only are we His ambassadors, we can become brothers and sisters in Christ! All around the world, His love changes lives… and we are conduits of His grace.

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God, thanks for all the ways You love us. Thanks for creating so many different types of people. And thanks for opening up a way for people all over the world to know You, through Jesus. Help us bring Your light everywhere we go. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Have you ever had authentic African food? Do you enjoy trying new things?

Tasks: Next time you are invited somewhere new, go and stay awhile. Try new things and don’t be the first to leave. Perhaps look at it as being on mission for the Lord. Be His ambassador (2 Corinthians 5:20) and share His love!

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

Never and Always

Driving to work recently, I heard another ‘radio reminder’ of God’s grace. I was listening to the song “Never” by Tasha Layton and was moved. The chorus of her song talks about how God has never abandoned her:

Never forgotten
Never forsaken
Never abandoned
Not for a second
I am safe in Your hands
Always and forever
You’re never not working
My heart is the proof
There’s not a broken too broken for You
Will there ever come a day when You’re not holding me together?
You say “never”

Free Stones Pebbles photo and picture

Of course, the opposite of never is always. So, I started thinking of how God is always present and always there for me. He always provides for me, protects me, and showers me with His unending love. Every step I take is filled with an overwhelming level of grace.

He is always faithful and always leads me forward (occasionally pushing or pulling, as needed!). He always comes through for me!

It also hit me how the extremes of never and always impact me. It has been said, “never say never,” but I really can’t “always say always” either. Neither is physically possible or wise. Even in those moments where I can “sometimes say sometimes,” I am easily wiped out if I need to maintain the effort for too long.

While I can’t handle such extremes, I am grateful that God can. Jesus Himself was a man of extremes yet abundant grace and self-control. He was a part of creation (the Word), and then put on human flesh as a needy baby. Jesus lived without sin and then lived a nomadic life in his adult years. He was later betrayed, scourged, and nailed to the cross, asking God to forgive those who wanted Him dead. And if that wasn’t extreme enough, three days later, Jesus was raised to life again before eventually ascending into Heaven!

I am so glad that Jesus did all the difficult work… because we just can’t. Although life is tough sometimes and can feel extreme, we can rest knowing that nothing is out of bounds for God. We can sleep restfully because He never does (Psalm 121:4).

Yes, there is great peace in knowing God operates in the extremes. He is far above and far beyond anything that comes at us. His holiness is extreme, but He also removes our sins as far as the East is from the West – another extreme only He can handle because the two will never meet (Psalm 103:12). Nothing is impossible for Him!

So, today, I hope you are able to rest in God’s ‘extremeness.’ Work hard, sure, but know that He is your strength and shield. He is your protector and provider. He is carrying you!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for Your extreme love and grace. It can be difficult to accept Your love and grace sometimes, but thanks for the reminder that we don’t need to be perfect or suffer alone. Help us rely on You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: How are you handling life’s extremes right now, and what can you learn? Are you trying to handle them on your own, or are you taking them directly to Jesus?

Tasks: Think about the extremes in the post above, in addition to the many extremes we see in Nature (climate patterns, landscapes, animal species/size/colors/eating habits, etc.). Pray about how God wants to show up for you today… then rest in His mighty, capable hands!

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

Finding Grace #394

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 pretty normal week, but I felt God working all around me!

Work went well, and I had some good laughs with my coworkers. I enjoyed a walk on my lunch break one day. The weather was gorgeous, and yesterday, I took the picture above at a park after work. I’m glad because today is a little overcast and rainy.

On Wednesday, I met with my group at church. We had good discussion on who Jesus is; it was so cool to hear that he fulfilled over 300 prophecies and changed the world. Afterward, I talked with a new friend about some medical conditions similar to what Dave faced. I encouraged her and prayed for her and her husband. I’m grateful that God can use me!

It was Homecoming week, so Lydia went to the Friday night football game with friends. They had fun wearing all their Mustang school gear and putting on some paint in blue and orange. It’s fun seeing her step into the excitement!

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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 Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Wisdom

Finding Grace #393

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 Sparrow Bird photo and picture

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

This week was full of several good activities!

On Monday evening, I went to the chiropractor for a routine adjustment. It’s incredible to see how well my body is holding each adjustment. My back sometimes gets sore, which is normal, but I have felt SO much better over the last year. Thank You, Jesus!

This week, I worked with an inspiring WWII Veteran. He is nearing 100 and was a POW before turning twenty years old. He was captured in the Battle of the Bulge and then went to a German prison camp. He earned several medals during his time of service. He is a true living legend, and I couldn’t help but think of the History he represents. Thankfully, he is still going strong, and I am honored to have met him!

On Wednesday, I helped out with a new program at church called Alpha. Lydia was at youth group, so the timing was perfect. I met several people and look forward to getting to know them more!

Lydia brought home her viola yesterday. She is learning a lot already and had fun showing me each part of then instrument. She even played a little song for me!

Lydia and I did some yardwork yesterday evening. She mowed and I pulled weeds, as we enjoyed the cool, calm weather. As the darkness settled in, I turned on the garage lights so we could work a little longer. Unfortunately, a little sparrow flew in and would not leave! We tried really hard to get it out, but I think it was scared or confused. It stayed overnight, left the next morning after we left the garage open for a bit. Whew!

This morning, Lydia and I attended a church conference. We enjoyed good food, fellowship, an encouraging message, and games. We made some new friends and caught up with others. It was encouraging! Then, at lunch, I even got to hold an 11-week-old baby. It was such a joy to soak up all the snuggles.

This afternoon, Lydia went with a friend’s family to the Bison game. NDSU won, and Lydia had fun walking around and cheering them on. Then, they went to the mall. (I enjoyed the quiet time at home and was able to get a few things done.) It was a good day!

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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 Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Wisdom

Finding Grace #392

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 Coneflowers Flowers photo and picture

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

This week was full but fun! We started off with a total relaxation weekend for Labor Day. I took a nap, did some reading, and made some treats for a birthday at work. Just what I needed!

 We had a four-day workweek, which included the birthday celebration, some meetings, and a training class. So, it went pretty fast! I didn’t have as much pressure toward deadlines, which was nice, too.

On Thursday, I took Lydia to the grocery store. The twist is that she made all the choices and paid! She’s learning about value and costs, and it was a good exercise to see how to plan and stick to a budget. Knowing that the money is limited makes us consider our choices. She had to compare brands and expiration dates, weigh produce, and more. It went so well that we will be doing it regularly!

The grocery trip helped us be creative with the pantry foods we sometimes forget about. We talked about our values and goals related to money (on Lydia’s level). One bonus is that she saw parallels with her clothes – what’s worth the money and when it’s better to choose the basic brands vs. name brands. 🙂

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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, Perseverance

Collision Course

Yesterday, I had a few minutes before work, so I went to get the mail that I missed the day before. On my way back inside, I looked up at the sky and noticed two airplanes. From my perspective, they were only an inch or so apart. 🙂

In fact, based on their trails, they looked like they could collide. Though I knew they wouldn’t. The air traffic controllers would have them on separate paths at different elevations. Safety first!

I tried to take a picture, but they were gone by the time I came back outside. I could only see part of the trail from one airplane. It’s crazy how fast they moved apart!

Free Plane Aircraft photo and picture

But, then that got me thinking… we are all on our own course, but God makes sure we get where we are going. Your destination might be work or school today, or maybe the grocery store. But, for those of us who know Jesus, our final stop is Heaven.

I also thought about how there are people on the journey with us, such as family, friends, and coworkers. At times, our paths collide and we go together, and occasionally our paths diverge. But, in both cases, we can trust God to lead us.

Finally, I was thankful for all the ways God keeps us safe, even when we can’t see the danger around us. We face many possible “collisions” (or challenges) in a day, but God watches out for us. We typically have all potential problems on our radar, but He does.

Occasionally, we see life from a different angle and get a glimpse of who God is or what He is doing. It’s like we are on a collision course with God’s grace! He won’t let us get too far from His love!

In those moments, let’s praise Him for carrying us, protecting us, and providing for us. Let’s encourage those who are on the same path (or plane) as us, too!

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God, thanks for taking good care of us and navigating our path. Help us trust You along the way. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: When you see airplanes, do you ever imagine where they are going or think about the lives on board?

Task: Next time you see an airplane, briefly watch its trail… from where it has come and consider the trajectory. Remember, each person and plane is important to God!

Posted on in Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #389

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 Flowers Zinnia photo and picture

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

This was a good week! It started off around Midnight on Sunday watching the Perseid metro shower for my birthday (Saturday). We saw about ten meteors, and a couple were very close and spectactular!

Work went well, and I had a nutrition student shadowing me each day. She’s trying to decide if she wants to be a dietitian. I had a variety of patients, and it was fun to show her what I do. I’m sure she will choose whatever path is best for her!

Lydia had two sleepovers this week. I was happy for her to soak up the last few days of her summer. Each girl is a good friend, and I also enjoyed a couple of evenings to myself.

Today, while Lydia was gone, I made the most of the time and did some deep cleaning while catching up on a podcast. I would have done it if she was home, but I probably got more done on my own! Tonight, I am doing a little organizing while watching a movie!

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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, Pivot, Wisdom, Worship

Rush Hour

Rush hour in Fargo is, well, nothing compared to say Chicago or Minneapolis! In the big cities, you could be in traffic for over an hour and barely move. I don’t think I could handle that on a regular basis!

In contrast, you may drive for fifteen to twenty minutes in Fargom yet typically keep moving along. But you still need patience, especially when people try to rush ahead or cut in traffic on the highway.

Yesterday, I spent some time running errands after work. I decided to skip the busier route and went through town. I still hit some traffic, though not as many vehicles switching from one lane to the other. Funny how the other lane always seems to move faster!

I am just as guilty as others trying to get home after a long day or move on to the next activity. But yesterday, I just took it easy and enjoyed the ride. Even so, I was home within eleven minutes after finishing my errands.

Free Traffic Cars photo and picture

I thought about how a spiritual “rush hour” might go. Now, often, God’s timing is much slower than ours. He is never early, never late, and always right on time!

Second Peter 3:8 says, “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” God’s timing is unique, but so are His purposes for us.

So as I sat in traffic and watched other people, I wondered how often I rush to move closer to God or hurry up my routine to spend time with Him. I don’t usually have a lot of wiggle room, so I have to set aside time diligently and even invite Jesus to come with me.

Do I speed up and ‘switch lanes’ to get to Him?

Do I readjust my schedule and rush to Him, or do I rush through my time with Him to move on to the rest of my day?

Every day is a little different, with a morning and evening rush (traffic, and often at home). But ideally, we should be excited to spend as much time with the Lord as possible. I am challenged to rethink my daily routine, and I hope you are, too!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for these little insights into the spiritual world. Help us throw off everything that entangles us so we can run toward You.  Help us keep You as our main priority. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: How can you focus on God in your travel time? Do you like to sing and worship God; pray for your day or others; or listen to a podcast or audiobook about spiritual matters?

Tasks: Listen to God’s word through the YouVersion Bible app. Or, tune your car radio to KLOVE or your local Christian radio station (in Fargo, that’s Life 97.9 FM). If you have SiriusXM, check out The Message. Several of these have phone apps, as well!

 

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Life is Short, Little Free Library, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #388

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 fun week, partly because it was all leading up to my birthday TODAY!!

Work went well, and I enjoyed a lighter patient load. There were a few little surprises, but one good thing is that my patient with a complicated case has been improving quite a bit. He called me with good news, and I was so happy his condition is stable, and he is eating more.

Lydia and I went to check out some more sunflower fields. They are so pretty en masse! We got some fun pictures and enjoyed seeing more of the North Dakota countryside!

On Friday, I met a friend for lunch after work. We had a good two-hour conversation about all God has been doing in our lives. This friend has been through a lot but continues to challenge herself and grow in faith. It’s encouraging to me, and I always enjoy hanging out with her!

After that, Lydia and I got a head start on celebrating my birthday! We went to see those sunflowers, then followed it up with dinner at a Lebanese restaurant. The food was so delicious and such a treat. We shared several dishes and had baklava for dessert. Then, we took a walk around our neighborhood and the middle school!

Today, I woke up early and enjoyed some espresso and quiet time. I made a full breakfast with eggs, toast, fruit, and veggies. Then, when Lydia woke up, we went on a bike ride. The weather was perfect with bright blue skies and just a slight breeze!

After that, I did a little weeding – because I wanted to!! I also updated some hardware on my little free libraries. I did NOT feel like mowing on my birthday, though! So, that will have to wait. 😉

Later, I caught up with several birthday shout-outs online and a number of texts and phone calls. I really appreciate everyone cheering me on and reaching out. Also, thanks to all of you who faithfully read my blog each week!

Tonight, we are enjoying some homemade cherry dump cake, watching a movie, and playing Qwirkle. If we can stay up late enough, we hope to go see the Perseid meteor shower. It comes every year around my birthday, but I always seem to miss it. Occasionally, it’s due to the weather, but most of the time, I have to work or be somewhere the next day. So, hopefully, it works out tonight since it’s supposed to clear. It would be the best ending to a wonderful birthday!

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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, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Food and Nutrition, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #387

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 went well!

My lawn mower wasn’t working on Sunday. Through a little reading and tinkering, I realized it likely was the carburetor. My neighbor offered to take it in for a tune-up, which was so kind. I called and set it up, and he transported it back and forth. In the meantime, he let me borrow his mower, which was a big help!

We celebrated someone’s birthday at work, which gave us a chance to laugh and connect. I also had a lot of interesting patients, including the one from last week. He seems stable but had some issues with his tube feeding regimen. I worked behind the scenes with the pharmacy since we don’t carry the formula he needed. Thankfully, it all worked out!

On Wednesday, I dropped Lydia off at our church youth group and then went to pick some veggies from a friend’s garden. She was out of town and didn’t want them to go to waste. I picked a zucchini, a few tomatoes, and some peppers. On the way back to get Lydia, I saw two fields of sunflowers, which called my name. I pulled off to get a few pictures, and as I was sitting there, a couple of men drove by. A minute later, one returned to check on me. I appreciated him and did not feel threatened since he never got out of his vehicle. Thanks, Lord!

For Wednesday’s post, I wrote about how friendships are sometimes complicated as we age. They just take more effort because there are more factors involved. Many of my good friends have moved away, so it can be hard to keep putting myself out there when people might leave. Thankfully, Jesus always draws me closer. Furthermore, I aim to be a light wherever God leads me, so I won’t hide away even though that would be easier! 🙂

Today, we stayed home and mostly relaxed. I woke up early, lifted weights, and walked through the neighborhood. It was overcast and I saw some pretty cattails (pic above). Later, I made some fried green tomatoes with my friends’ garden produce! I just added a tiny bit of oil and some Maldon sea salt flakes. So good!

Now, we are enjoying a good thunderstorm. My lawn really needs the water, so I am thrilled. The downpouring rain on my windows means it’s a perfect night for a movie and some popcorn with Lydia!

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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)!