Tag: strength

Posted on in Gratitude, Kindness, Miscellaneous, Perfectionism, Perseverance, Personality, Wisdom, Worship

As Close As You Want To Be

Three separate, somewhat random sayings came to me yesterday morning while I was getting ready for work.

You are only as close to God as you want to be.

If you want what they have, are you willing to do what they did to get it?

Comparison is the thief of joy.

Free photos of Flowers

Here’s the short backstory: I was thinking about a picture I saw recently filled with some great people I don’t know very well… Well, this is off to a good start, right?!

Even though I have tried to get to know them better at various times, we just run in different social circles. I’m sure it’s nothing personal, and they are kind when we happen to run into each other. They are just busy serving God and going about their days, as am I. 

Still, for a split second, I started to compare my walk with God with how I perceived theirs must be. Perhaps they pray more or read their Bible more… If I were more spiritual, maybe I could… 

STOP. Thankfully, I nixed that game before it got out of hand!

While each of the three phrases is noteworthy on its own, yesterday, they somehow all seemed to converge together. For me, they felt like a personal reminder, or perhaps a timely challenge. So here goes!

Free photos of Rose

You are only as close to God as you want to be. God is never far from us, though sometimes we feel like He is nowhere to be found. The good news is that’s simply not true. Our emotions can change quickly, but the Lord is always faithful, steady. Nonetheless, connecting with God takes time, effort, and intention. Thankfully, He is infinitely patient and wise. Yes, God makes Himself known to those who seek Him and want to know Him.

Gut check: Are you just skimping by on quick, little prayers and random online Bible quotes, or are you really digging deep into God’s Word? Do you come to Jesus several times a day, or just on Sunday mornings? Do you run to Him first, or as a last resort?

If you want what they have, are you willing to do what they did to get it? This one could be a bit convicting, though it doesn’t have to be. Perhaps those people are praying more than me or reading their Bibles more than me. That’s wonderful… if it’s true. I really can’t know for sure, and I am not responsible for them. Besides, I don’t know all the sacrifices they have had to make!

I am only in charge of what God has put on my plate, and I can rest in that freedom. When I consider all that is, well, He must think I am pretty capable. I don’t have it all together, but neither do the people in that photo. The little I know them, I’m pretty sure they would agree.

Gut check: I can only do my best, but am I actually doing my best? Or could I do better? Spiritually, how does this look? Am I willing to sacrifice more, or do I need to be content with my resources and limitations?

Free photos of Dahlia

And finally… Comparison is the thief of joy. This adage is so true. Thankfully, I caught those thoughts and bent them toward making me better, not bitter.

Of course, life isn’t automatically easy for anyone. Perhaps the grass is greener on the other side because they are watering the grass. Or, perhaps God decided to bless them with rain, so they could focus on other things He has asked them to do. Both situations require a decent amount of God’s grace, plus a good deal of faith and a whole lotta elbow grease. 

Gut check: Am I spending adequate time with Jesus, letting Him be my all in all? Am I being obedient and walking in peace? Or am I getting sidetracked with sin and/or envy? 

Ultimately, I don’t have to compare my life or walk with Jesus to anyone else’s. I just need to stay close to Jesus and walk humbly with Him, grateful for where I am at this moment. He is so good and has good things in store for me!!

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God, thanks for all the wonderful ways You have blessed me. Help me not take You for granted, but put You above all else. Help me have a good attitude, think the best of others, and do what you have called me to do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Which of those phrases stood out to you today? How can you apply them in your life?

Task: If you are feeling far away from the Lord, reconnect with Him this very moment! He draws close to those who draw close to Him (James 4:8). Don’t delay; just come as you are!

Posted on in Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance, Pivot, Travel

Whirlwind Weekend

Whew! From Thursday to Saturday of last week,  Lydia and I had a whirlwind weekend full of family, fun, a road trip, and two planes. We flew to Chicago and drove with my sister, brother-in-law, and nephew to Michigan for a family reunion.
We were only there overnight, but it was well worth the quick turnaround to see our loved ones. Life is short, so it is important to make the most of our time together. We managed to see 31 different state license plates, too!
Then, we drove several hours back to O’Hare (via Lake Shore Drive and Wrigleyville) only to be delayed several hours on the plane. We arrived home at 3 a.m. on Sunday morning, and Lydia carpooled to Bible camp in Devils Lake a couple hours away.
All in all, it was a memorable few days, though we could have done without the four-hour delay at the airport. We weren’t overly hungry for dinner on Saturday night, so we ate a few light snacks from our backpacks. I did buy some water before the shops and restaurants closed, but with the delay, we were a little hungry later on.
We had several gate changes and had to wait for our airplane to arrive from another flight. Part of it was a giant storm from Iowa to Michigan, which included Minnesota and Wisconsin, though not Chicago at the time. We had to have three different flight plans before going out of our way to Kansas City and then Fargo.
This change required us to wait for extra fuel. Also, a light had to be replaced on the plane, a cargo net had to be installed, and the lavatory had to be emptied. It felt a little ridiculous at times, but I encouraged Lydia with some juice and a Biscoff cookie from the flight attendant! 😉
Lydia tried to sleep on my shoulder, but she kept waking up with every ten minutes or so. Gotta love noisy conversations late at night and all the captain’s announcements!
The captain and flight attendant went out of their way to provide nourishment and answers as best they could. That was certainly appreciated, though it still required some effort to maintain a good attitude after a whirlwind trip.
Finally, we lifted off after 12:30 a.m. Lydia was awake during that time, and we enjoyed looking out the window like we usually do. We noticed lightning off in the distance probably right where we would have been traveling. We were relieved not to be heading in that direction!
It was a good opportunity to talk with Lydia about how God protects us. Sometimes, we don’t see or understand why we face delays or obstacles, but this experience was a good reminder that God knows best! As we flew above the storms, I also thought about how God lifts us out of our problems. His ways and thoughts are higher than ours. He can take us to new heights if we rely on Him.
Another silver lining was that my sister and mom checked in with me during our delay. And, Mom kept praying and encouraging me while we were in the air. She was still up when I let her know we landed around 2:30 a.m. I was blessed to have their support! It was just what I needed.
In some ways, the weekend went even better than I could have imagined. And even when we dealt with the airport delays, God kept us safe and helped us understand Him more. With all the waiting and sitting, it was another reminder to rest in Him and let Him move on our behalf. 
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God, thanks for providing for us and keeping us safe, even when we don’t quite grasp what You are doing. Thanks for friends and family who encourage us! Help us remember to come to You with our problems when we get frustrated. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
Questions: Have you ever been in a mandatory rest period? When God has you waiting, do you feel stuck or do you see it as a chance to rest?
Tasks: Instead of rushing through rest, pause and pray through it. Consider if God is trying to teach you something about Him or yourself!

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

Comfort Amid Grief

Sometimes you are in the right place at the right time, and sometimes, that place is church! This past Sunday, I had a God moment at church that I want to share with you.

About a year ago, I met a woman and her husband. They had been watching online through much of COVID, but I met them the first Sunday they decided to “try out” our church in person.

They were really sweet, and I was glad to meet them. Flash forward to the present, and the husband’s dementia has progressed. He is now in a nursing home, about an hour and a half away. His dear wife visits him every other day, though he does not fully recognize her.

I have encouraged this wife whenever I see her; she has become a friend. Though my experience was with cancer, I know how it feels to be a caregiver and decision maker in an end-of-life situation. Watching your beloved spouse decline is difficult, and I have been cheering her on.

So, when I saw this lady on Sunday, I stopped to greet her after the service. She was so happy to see me and shared how she had been struggling. I affirmed her statement that she is already grieving, though her husband is still alive. I agreed with her sentiment that she hopes he “goes soon” rather than have this continue over months or years. (Either way, we know he is in God’s hands and that his suffering is not in vain.)

I listened while my friend conveyed her lack of motivation. In these challenging times, I confirmed it is normal to need to get groceries but feel overwhelmed leaving the house; or, to finally prepare a meal but have no desire to eat it.

She mentioned she keeps forgetting about a support group at the VA (where I work), and I coached her with some tips. Marking her calendar in advance, while she is thinking about it, might help her not feel surprised whenever she gets a same-day reminder.

I also offered to help connect her with someone at the VA who could help guide her through the funeral and cemetery details (when the time comes). As she talked it through, she started to smile, and I could see her burden was lifted a little.

I gave this dear woman a big hug, and she just fell into my arms. I prayed for her on the spot, and she just melted in surrender. Not that my words were so deep, in fact, they were rather simple, but she felt seen and understood. She said it was just what she needed.

We only talked for a few minutes after the service, but it felt like a God-ordained moment for both of us. I am grateful He has used my story and experiences to help and guide others along the way.

I was reminded that we don’t JUST go to church to worship God but to be His hands and feet. My friend said, “And to think, I wasn’t even feeling up to coming today. I was going to stay home and watch online. But now, I am so glad I came.”

2 Corinthians 1:4, NLT, says that God “comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”

During the well-timed sermon, our pastor mentioned this all is like a game of tag. God comforts us…and then it’s our turn to comfort others with the peace, strength, and grace He has given us. Tag! You’re it!

So, don’t discount your story or experiences. God can use all your pain, grief, and life’s ups and downs to make something beautiful… if you let Him!

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God, thanks for my friend. Would You please encourage, strengthen, and comfort her? Please meet her needs (spoken and unspoken) and remind her of Your grace and love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Have you seen God at work in your life story? Have you seen Him use your pain and grief in someone else’s life?

Task: Listen to this song! God will never fail you, no matter what.

Posted on in Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Personality, Pivot, Wisdom

Stay the Course

If you are ready to give up, give in, throw in the towel, or put a fork in it (you’re done), this post is for you! There are so many things coming at us every day. Life sure is chaotic at times! If you are feeling drained, keep reading!

Some internal factors include the daily stress of getting out the door or getting everything done. Then, add in pain, grief, loneliness, anxiety,  PTSD, financial issues, or chronic health conditions, etc.

Externally, everything from the news to the weather counts. Every week, it seems we keep getting hit by one horrible tragedy after another. Wars, famine, violence, death, and more. These are very real problems with no clear solution.

On a smaller level, work is time-consuming (at the least) and relationships can be messy. It’s tough to gain momentum. Life is tough, no doubt, and it may not get easier any time soon.

Free illustrations of Big bang

Perhaps you are simply tired of waiting for things to change. It’s easy to get antsy or even bored, tired of the same old problems. You’re all ready to pivot toward the new and shiny, but wait! You may not fully understand the problems that come with those gains (because you know there will be problems and challenges, there too!).

Yes, sometimes we crave busyness and excitement, but when we have that we crave the calm of peace and quiet. Generally, it is good to be content wherever we are right now. Though, sometimes God does use discontent to get us on board with the next steps.

Either way, I want to challenge you today: Stay the course. If you are waiting for life to fall into place, you are in good company. I understand your frustration when it seems your prayers have gone nowhere, but God has not forgotten you! You can still choose to enjoy life today.

Maybe He has you in a holding pattern, just a little longer to finishing preparing you or the next set of circumstances. You can keep serving with joy where you are now. All around us people need His love and help!

The problem is we feel like it’s all on us. Some of us work day in and day out to get ahead. But, as Christ-followers, we walk by faith, which means trusting even when we can’t see the path before us. By faith, stay the course and stay close to God.

If you don’t know what to do, stay put. Don’t move until God says to move. If you don’t know what’s next, seek His input. That alone can save you a lot of heartache… and time, if you have to undo mistakes.

If you’re struggling with patience, remember that’s a fruit of the Holy Spirit. He put it in you and wants to cultivate it in your life! You are not alone in your struggle. Let Him help!

If you recall, STRESS can be an acronym for “Still Trying to Run the Entire Solar System.” But, remember, the One who created the stars and calls them by name also made you on purpose and knows you personally.

Just like God hung the stars and guides them, if you let Him, He will guide you, too. He has a wonderful plan for your life, and He is able to redirect you as needed. Stay the course.

God never grows tired or weary, so He’s always got your back. He cares about what concerns you, more than you could ever know. What God has for you, is for you.

As long as you are walking close in step with Him, God Almighty will make sure you get all that He has for you. You don’t have to be afraid of missing out. He is trustworthy and your life is not a small thing to Him… You are covered in His mercy and grace!

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God, You hold all things together in Christ, from outer space to a teeny-tiny ant hill! Thanks for holding my life together, too. You are so good, Lord. Help me trust You more with all the challenges in my life. Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Are you dealing with S.T.R.E.S.S.?? How can you trust God with it all today?

Tasks: Make a list of all that is bothering you, or the pros and cons of a specific situation. Then, look at it in light of God’s grace and goodness. Wait on Him, and see Him work it out on your behalf. Trust Him!

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

Protect, Provide, and Prepare

Once again, I have been thinking of all the ways God protects us. Sometimes we are aware of His mercy and grace but often we have no clue.

For instance, a while back, I was backing out of my parking space after work and was thinking about the upcoming errands for my evening. I braked and then saw the car parked directly behind me… in my rearview mirror. I did not get out to see just how close I was, but I could have easily hit the car if I had kept going in reverse.

I had no idea it was that close… obviously, I wasn’t paying attention because my mind was elsewhere. I do have a good backup camera, but since I park in a less busy lot, I didn’t put it all together that there would be a car “so close.” (All the other vehicles were nowhere near me.)

But I immediately thanked God and praised Him for watching out for me. He protected me and the other person’s car, too!

Free photos of Flower

Of course, God’s protection doesn’t always mean no trouble or lack of challenges. As you may recall, in May, I had someone my driver’s side mirror. But even then, God protected me and my car.

Thankfully, the damage was contained to only a small area. It could have been so much worse. Like if you’re going to have your car hit by someone, that’s the best possible scenario!

And, the other person paid for the damage that very day. It took about ten days to get it fixed, but I was able to drive it in the meantime. I could see God’s hand at work, even though I was unaware of how it all would play out. He is a good Provider!

That made me consider how many times God prepares us in advance for certain challenges. Only He could then uses those victories to build us up for the next challenge!

Free photos of Lavenders

How does God protect, provide for, and/or prepare you? Three things come to my mind, but there are so many more! I’d love to know your thoughts, too!

1) God protects us from and prepares us for unknown circumstances. This might include getting a medical test for one reason and catching another illness early while it is still treatable. Note: It may not work that way for someone you know, but God is no less good. He is still in control and has a plan and purpose for the pain!

2) Sometimes, God steps in and stops or promotes a decision outside of your control. (Case in point: A few months ago, I faced a tough decision that was already made in my favor by the time I showed up.)

3) God protects us and prepares us by using the people in our lives, too. Some people rotate in and out, while some stick around. And some circle back at a different time! But, ultimately, He works these relationships out for our good, which often means growth and refining.

One final example: Last weekend, I needed to change a light bulb in the garage. It was a 48″ fluorescent one, and my arms don’t extend that far! I was three rungs up on a ladder and kept getting down to try another angle. Not my favorite thing! I had a hunch that Lydia would come find me and scare me by accident. Sure enough, I soon heard her on the other side of the door getting her shoes. Thank You, God, for the heads up!

So, I paused and called to her. She came outside and I reminded her to stay back. We then prayed that I could get the light in both sockets without falling. Praise God, I did it!

At the end of the day, there are countless ways God protects, provides for, and/or prepares us. Regardless of what happens in our lives, if we are on God’s side, we can trust He will work everything out for our good and His glory. That’s a promise in Romans 8:28!

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God, thanks for all Your goodness to us! Lord, we only see a small part of what You do every day. Lord, help us become aware as we learn to trust You more. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: What is one example of how God worked things out for you recently? Did He protect you outright or prepare you to walk through the challenge?

Tasks: Make a list of how God is working in your life lately! Listen to “For the Good,” by Riley Clemmons.

Posted on in Books and Movies I Like, Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Life is Short, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #328

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 had some ups and downs, but I certainly saw God’s grace all around me. The picture above shows some more beautiful flowers in the healing garden at work!

My arm is still a little bruised after falling down that small set of stairs almost two week ago! I have a little bump under the skin, and I am praying it continues to heal. It is right where my arm hits the table when I am typing… which probably means I need to improve my form at work and when blogging. 😉 Anyway, it is still a little painful and I appreciate your prayers!

I heard some sad news that an extended family member died early in the week. My uncle had Alzheimer’s disease and was fairly young. It had been a long time since I had seen him as he lived in Ithaca, New York, but I always think of him when I drink my Caribou Coffee at home or eat Thomas brand English muffins (so basically, several times a week!). Nearly twenty years ago, a good friend and I went out to visit his family when we were considering where to go to grad school. As you can imagine, we made many memories on that road trip! We visited Cornell and Uncle John introduced several foodie delights before they became well-known around the country. He was quite funny and will be missed.

Work was busy as usual, but went well. Every day was full of different meetings and patients, but I was able to connect with my coworkers, which always makes it worthwhile. We have some upcoming changes in the near future, such as covering a maternity leave and transition between two other staff positions. It was good to find out more about what temporary changes we will need to make, though we don’t have all the details just yet.

Today, we have been working on some home improvements. Most were little things, like tightening some screws on the deck or reorganizing our little free library. But, we also cleaned and rearranged some more of the garage. I definitely was thinking about how much Dave loved hands-on work as I swept, put things on shelves, put air in my bike tires, and used the shop vac. I started cleaning the workbench but decided to take a break. It’s looking good!

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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, Perseverance

Finding Grace #327

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 busy week, full of hard work!

Oddly enough, I fell down a small set of stairs, after missing the bottom step. Thankfully, I was not hurt badly and just had a nice bruise on my arm where I caught myself. It is still a little sore and colorful but improving.

Lydia attended a couple of art classes during the week. She went with a friend, and it was really helpful because she could get a ride there. They pour-painted some canvases and created objects with resin. It was fun to see the end results!

Each night this week was busy. It included the typical blog writing, grocery shopping, and other errands. But I also ended up mowing, paying some routine bills, and making summer plans. All good things, but it all took a lot of time.

I saw some gorgeous peonies in the healing garden at work (picture above). Walking through the garden is one reason I park across the street every day (instead of the regular employee parking lot)! 

On Friday, I took myself to see another movie after work, while Lydia was at a YMCA field trip. This time, I saw Top Gun: Maverick! It was really good. It had a lot of references to the original 80s movie, but I think it was even better. Not only the improvised picture and action, but the storyline brought things full circle. I’d recommend it!

Today, I finished putting out the deck furniture (after staining it last weekend). I also worked on catching up around the house, while Lydia worked on chores, cleaning her room, and doing some art at home. We had the screen door open all day! It felt pretty relaxing and productive!

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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, Parenting, Wisdom, Worship

Keeping An Eternal Perspective

Lydia and I recently were talking about habits that are helpful versus habits that are not. We discussed seemingly benign ideas like playing games on her tablet, watching our favorite shows, and more.

Around this time, she also came up to me and exclaimed, “Mom, do you know how long eternity is? Forever!! I can’t even think how long that is!” Her mind was blown!

Sensing an opportunity to tie these things together, I steered our discussion toward the types of things we should be doing to prepare for eternity. Some examples would include reading our Bibles and learning Who Jesus is. We imagined what it would feel like showing up in Heaven not knowing anything about it, other than Jesus’ death and resurrection.

We agreed that want to make sure we know as much as we can now!

Free photos of Mountains

Soon, Lydia’s eyes lit up in understanding. Our lives are so brief in light of eternity. I told Lydia our current problems will someday seem very small and distant. Though it doesn’t feel that way in the stress of the moment!

That very night, she started rereading her Action Bible, which is a graphic novel version of the Bible highlighting key stories. I did remind her that it doesn’t have every story in it, so we need to make sure to read the real Bible, too.

I appreciate that the Action Bible brings the stories to life in a fun way. Lydia jumped straight to Revelation, as she has been fascinated by the Rapture and the great beast who brings horrible evil. This led us to briefly chat about how crazy this world is becoming. It’s good to know the signs of the times!

We also talked about faith versus works, and what that means for believers and unbelievers on Judgement Day. We all will have to give an account of our actions!

Then, in her actual Bible, Lydia somehow found the story of Elisha and the widow in 2 Kings 4. “Mom, I didn’t even know this story was in here!” We talked about how the widow followed through on Elisha’s command to collect jars from her neighbors to hold the oil. She was able to sell the oil and provide for her family. Our actions demonstrate our faith in what God can/will do!

It’s no surprise that Life can be complicated at times. We plan and prepare, yet still, our days get crazy and chaotic! It’s easy to get stuck on whatever problem is in front of us that day. How quickly we forget the bigger picture!

Sometimes we try to do it all on our own, forgetting that God is right there. If you find yourself spinning your wheels or hitting a wall, check back in with God. He is our peace.

Besides, Jesus told us not to worry because each day has its own troubles! So, it’s good to ask ourselves, “In light of eternity, does this matter?” As someone once told me, “It’s all gonna burn someday!” Let’s keep an eternal perspective as we go about our day.

Let the Holy Spirit instill you with His grace and strength. He is not only our Advocate and Comforter, but He is also our Teacher. He is preparing us for greater things, which absolutely includes Eternity!

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God, thank you for setting Eternity in our hearts. Help us live each day fully, walking in Your grace, truth, love, and peace. Help us keep the main thing the main thing. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Are you prepared for Eternity? How can you stay close to Jesus today?

Task: Remember, the best way to succeed in Life is to stay close to God. Know Jesus, accept His sacrifice, death, and resurrection. Then, live for Him! (As always, reach out if you have questions or need some guidance on what this means for you!)

 

 

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

Incomparable

This week, I was showing Lydia a cute dog video online when a commercial popped up with a popular fitness brand (Company A) showcasing their gear. Of course, a trim model was using the fitness equipment and was dressed in a clingy outfit.

I was ready to move on to the next cute dog, but Lydia told me what she thought about Company A’s advertising. “Mom, they are using this skinny model to get people to buy their products.”

Her statement piqued my interest because I hadn’t expected her to be so aware. Naturally, I quizzed her a little. “What else do you think they are trying to say, Lydia?”

“If you buy this, you will be like her. If want to look like this, you have to buy this outfit and gear. There’s only one kind of acceptable person…. but of course, that’s not true.”

Free photos of Young woman

Then, Lydia mentioned another comparable brand with a slightly different focus. She said, “Company B uses people who are all shapes, sizes, and colors. Tall, short, black, white, and so on.”

I asked her if she picked up any other messages in their advertising. “You can be who you’re meant to be. You are unique and don’t have to look like everyone else. Healthy goes beyond how you look.”

“Lydia, I am impressed that you understand their marketing and can see what they really mean! Where did you learn all of this?”

She replied, “I learned that from you!” 🙂

We went on to discuss moving our bodies in healthy ways and feeding our bodies well so they will do what we need them to do. Thankfully, ‘healthy’ can mean something different for each of us!

I asked Lydia if she had a verse she wanted me to use since most of this blog post uses her words. I suggested Psalm 139 which says we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.”

She requested, “He’s the potter and we are the clay.” This comes from Isaiah 64:8 (above). I asked why she chose that verse, and Lydia explained, “God made you special so don’t envy others. He has a purpose and plan for you! Don’t compare yourself to others because you will be disappointed. It makes it worse.”

A ten-year-old doesn’t think about original context, but even so, she had a good application! My takeaway is this: Each of us is one-of-a-kind because God Himself is incomparable.

Only in Him do we find our purpose and meaning. He alone brings fulfillment and helps us live for Him. He is our joy and peace, so we can enjoy life without worry!

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God, thanks for making us each unique. You are so kind, generous, and wise! May we remember You have created us for purpose and meaning that can only be found in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: What is something that makes you unique? How can you bless someone with that trait?

Tasks: Instead of comparing yourself to others, consider why God made you different and how you can use those skills and characteristics to His glory.

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

Finding Grace #323

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 photos of Flowers

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

This was a great week!

Mother’s Day on Sunday was nice and relaxing. We enjoyed church and some rainy weather. Later in the afternoon some friends came to visit, and then we saw family over Zoom.

On Wednesday, we finished up our ladies group with a meal. The host brought most of the food, and I was blessed by her generosity. I hope to join up with the same ladies for another book study sometime!

Friday was quite busy after work. I bought some new shoes, returned some clothes for Lydia that didn’t fit, and bought some stain for my deck. I also did some grocery shopping and dropped off a small gift for a friend whose mom died that day. Then, I dropped Lydia off at another birthday party and ran some more errands!

Today, Lydia and I had a YES day as we honor Dave’s ninth anniversary of being in Heaven (tomorrow). She was so excited to call the shots! While we certainly miss him, we are choosing to celebrate instead of be sad. Thanks for your support!

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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)!