Tag: Victory

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

Fan the Flame

Last Friday, I attended our church’s weekly prayer meeting. I am glad I went, though honestly, I considered skipping it since it had been a long week. Still, I decided to go with a good attitude and expectant heart, a sacrifice to honor the Lord.

I walked in, sat with a friend, and waved to a few more. It turned out to be a really good experience with the Lord! Just what I needed.

In addition to worship and prayer, we happened to have a special guest. He was an evangelist with roots in our church from about 45 years ago! He told some cool “God stories” and then gave a brief sermon.

The topic was about not quenching the Holy Spirit, protecting His holy fire in our hearts, and fanning the flame of our faith. Satan hates our relationship with God and wants to pull us away from all Jesus has for us. He wants to kill our passion and influence, and he is always looking for ways to get us off track.

So, if you find yourself disinterested or feeling blah about God’s work, then you need to fight to stay close to Jesus. Check your heart and discipline your flesh; consider fasting and re-establishing good boundaries. Get rid of distractions and tune your heart to the Master.

To fan the flame, we must pray without ceasing. Fervent prayer, mentioned in James 5:16, leads to tremendous power and spiritual energy. Prayer, quite simply, is a two way conversation. Sometimes we talk and sometimes we listen. That said, we also must steward our time, energy, and resources. How we love, pray, and serve matters. Let’s choose wisely!

We also fan the flame when we invest in our relationship with God. To start, we do this by praising Him, reading His word, talking to Him, and asking the Holy Spirit to help us. In the parable of the ten virgins, five were prepared with oil, and five missed out because they were not prepared. The oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit and the time we put in with Him to work in our lives. We cannot live off someone else’s faith!

Later, we were all praying together as the speaker closed. He went around and had a word of prophecy for a few of us. This is basically a special insight and calling out God’s truth in our lives. He addressed a few physical conditions with healing prayers. This included a couple of people with gut issues, and he then asked if there was anyone with neck issues. After a minute of no one stepping forward, I said, “Oh, maybe that’s me!” I was surprised!

He prayed for my neck, then asked a few questions about me (to get a fuller picture and make sense of things). I don’t recall all he said in the moment, but the main takeaway was that I felt “seen” by God. Yes, the healing words were important, but the personal connection with Jesus is what meant the most to me!

Sometimes we need those little personalized reminders of God’s love. He does not owe us anything; in fact, the opposite is true! But He is so kind and gracious to bless us. I would have rather stayed home, but in faith, I went, and He had a sweet message for me. Thank You, Jesus!

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Father God, thanks for meeting me on a personal level! Thanks for encouraging me and bringing healing to my life. In You, I have everything I need. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Have you had a personal connection with Jesus lately? When was the last time you felt the fire of faith?

Task: Fan the flame of faith today and don’t let the devil steal your joy. Spend time with Jesus like your life depends on it! Spiritually, it does!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Prayer, Worship

Finding Grace #531

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 but fun week! God is good!

On Sunday, we served at OASIS and sang hymns. Be sure to read about that, if you haven’t already! 🙂

I officially graduated from my church leadership training class on Monday evening! It was a great experience, and I am honored to have participated. I know God will help me use what I learned to teach and encourage others. I hope to continue taking some of the online classes on my own.

Work was really busy, but I had fun using AI to create meal plans. I love teaching about food and nutrition, but hate making meal plans! That’s because people expect me to tell them what to eat, but then don’t actually follow through, even though I put in a lot of effort. It feels like a waste of my time, so I was happy to let AI do that for me! I helped a few people with allergy-friendly meals and was impressed by how quick and easy it was overall! I don’t use AI much, but I’ll gladly consider doing it again for meal plans!

Lydia had two chamber orchestra concerts, one during the day on Wednesday and the other on Thursday night. The music was the same for both, so I prioritized the one in the evening. I sat near some friends and really enjoyed the show!

Last night, I went to church for weekly corporate prayer, while Lydia hung out with a friend. We worshiped for a little while, prayed, and then we had an evangelist as a guest speaker.  I hope to go again soon, as it was a special time to meet with God among friends.

Today, Lydia and I worked around the house and enjoyed the beautiful day. She did some homework while I mowed. We did laundry and dishes, cooked and cleaned. We’ve also done some packing ahead of an upcoming trip!

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

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

Posted on in Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Worship

A Hymn Sing-Along

On Sunday, Lydia and I helped serve at OASIS. We cut up watermelon and prepared sandwiches. We set up tables and added place settings. We greeted some of the regulars and even saw some older friends we hadn’t seen in years. One was a dear lady who gave feedback on my book all those years ago!

Usually, if we are able to stay for the meal, Lydia and I sit and visit with everyone. It is heartwarming to hear stories from these older folks. Often, we listen to a short sermon afterward while we eat dessert.

This week, instead of a sermon, we had a hymn sing-along! It was so much fun. We used the old-school hymnals, and people called out song requests.

Hymns are special because, unlike modern worship songs, many of them have been around for centuries. They hold so much church history and theology! As a parent, I want Lydia to understand the importance of these traditions. We don’t give up when times get tough. We hold fast to Jesus!

As we sang through maybe ten or fifteen songs, I was a little overcome with emotion. There was a bit of nostalgia, since I grew up singing various hymns over the years. We didn’t go to a church that used hymns every week, but many of them are well-known. We sang them at home, with the radio or just because, and even a few select choruses at camp.

We certainly sang a few hymns at Dave’s funeral almost thirteen years ago! On Sunday, I was reminded of this as we sang “Victory in Jesus.” I got a little teary-eyed as I thought about how far God has brought us. After we sang “Amazing Grace,” I even said inwardly, “I would really like to sing ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus,'” since we also sang that at Dave’s funeral.

Immediately, to my delight, that song was requested! It touched my heart and made me know God was watching me, blessing me, and drawing me close. That’s the thing about these old songs – they help us connect with Jesus.

The last song we sang was “Jesus Loves Me.” When Dave was sick, some days this was the only song we could sing. We had no energy, and our hearts were down and out. All we could do was bring our brokenness to the Lord. When I could barely think straight or make sense of all the chaos, this song was the only thing that came out. God’s Truth that was placed there when I was so little, and when life pressed in, that was the foundation!

I’m not alone in the fact that “Jesus Loves Me” is one of those that many little children learn. In fact, as we wrapped up, Lydia and I smiled at each other. She had a cute way of singing it with a hearty emphasis. “…Little ones to him belong, they are weak, but he is… STRONG!”

The next time you find yourself at a hymnal sing-along, I pray you will take it in stride. Soak up the Truth and consider the strong traditions. If you listen closely, you’ll hear the voices of the Saints, a precursor to Heaven, when we all worship Jesus together!

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God, You are faithful over generations and centuries. Thanks for meeting me at church on Sunday. Thanks for answering my heart’s request. May I honor You in all I do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you enjoy singing hymns now and then? If so, what’s your favorite?!

Task: Create your own worship playlist on Spotify, YouTube, or your favorite online platform! Make sure to add some hymns! 😉

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #530

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 quieter week, and I was really grateful.

Work was consistently full, but there were some fun parts, too. We had an annual day of competencies, which is a nice change of pace. Plus, we ordered lunch and ate together! All week, I had challenging patients who did not really want my help, and I had just as many who very much appreciated what I was doing for them! 🙂

Lydia had an awards banquet for the Forensics club at school. She earned several awards, including the ones she won at her Congress and Speech meets. She even ‘lettered’ as an 8th grader! I am proud of her and all her hard work!

Today, Lydia and I stayed home. We did some housework and our usual Saturday things. Lydia rearranged her whole room and cooked and deep-cleaned a few areas around the house while catching up on podcasts. I also put out the deck furniture since it finally feels warm enough. It felt great to knock off some items on my to-do list!

Finally, this afternoon, I also finished my last ministry class of the season. I took my online test and passed! I have my last group meeting this week at church. I learned a lot this last year and am grateful for the opportunity!

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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, MARPE/Orthodontics, Miscellaneous

Sufficient For My Smile

On Monday, I went to the orthodontist for some X-rays and scans to update my MARPE progress. I have not turned my device for a little over a month. My orthodontist wanted more information before deciding whether I am done with that part or need to do a few more turns. We will talk through the plan in mid-May.

I did not see the orthodontist yesterday, but I did have a chance to talk with the technician. I asked a few questions, and she answered them and gave me some insights. We weren’t sure about all the details, but I will soon find out more.

I think my progress is pretty good overall. I am on the bottom aligner tray #13 out of 29 (to start). Later, I will get more lower trays and start the top ones. One difficulty is still eating and chewing. Every meal is still a challenge, and I am favoring softer foods that are already bite-sized or smaller. The technician helped me understand why.

After taking some pictures and bite samples, she confirmed that my teeth aren’t really touching when I close my jaw, except for the very last tooth in the left back. So, when eating, instead of moving my teeth up and down, I kind of have to move my jaw sideways a little to grind the food. And, that’s just barely helping!

It makes total sense, and I am glad I am not going crazy, lol. We agreed it is just par for the course right now, probably not forever. While my upper teeth and palate have expanded very nicely, my lower teeth are going the traditional slow-and-steady route. That’s part of what we wanted to do with the new scans, so the orthodontist can better predict how things will line up in the end.

We also verified that my front teeth are not connecting at all, and they are still likely off in the middle. I can’t quite tell because my bite is “off,” and I’m not currently able to clench my teeth enough to see! She reminded me that the only thing that might help my lower teeth to move toward the midline would be surgery.

To be honest, I practically forgot about possibly needing surgery! I have been patient and diligent in wearing the aligner and cleaning my device to the point that I hoped they would just be enough. So, I was a little unsettled about the reminder, but I am choosing not to get too far ahead of myself. Instead, I will keep praying!

If my bottom teeth remain off-center and there are no other concerns, I think I could skip the surgery. But in theory, if none of my teeth line up correctly (as is happening now), surgery might be needed. However, not only is that probably a lot of money, but it is also a long recovery that I would like to avoid. Still, there could also be some other advantages, so I won’t be stubborn and rule it out altogether.

So, all in all, I am pleased with everything thus far, but I am still not out of the woods. I am right on track and am trusting the Lord to make it all work out. His grace is sufficient for my smile!

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God, thanks for taking such good care of me. You do all things well, for Your glory and my good. Help me trust You more. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: How has Jesus been working in your life this week?

Task: I would appreciate your prayers for my continued success with MARPE, and for the orthodontist to have wisdom about my next steps when I talk to him again. Thank you!

 

Posted on in Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Prayer, Wisdom

Helping or Hindering?

On Monday, I was teaching a class, the fifth in a series on healthy lifestyle changes. Now, Veterans are at a higher risk of essentially any illness or chronic condition you can think of compared to the general population. This includes financial concerns, relationship problems, PTSD, drug abuse, alcoholism, and homelessness.

Many of the Veterans in my class were struggling with a variety of issues. Sadly, that is to be expected on some level. But the class was meant to introduce some action steps to address some of the health issues and perhaps ease their mental and emotional concerns as well. We talked about nutrition, stress management, sleep, exercise, resiliency, gratitude, etc.

What struck me was that even as the class ended, many of the people were still stuck in the past. One person would ask a question or share an experience, then others would chime in and commiserate. There were some tears and some laughter, and I think it was a good thing overall. However, some of the people almost worked themselves up as a result.

It was as if they couldn’t let themselves rest or relax. I know hypervigilance is common and can be difficult to change, yet letting go of what we cannot control (past, present, and future) is vital. In Romans 12, we are called to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. I wanted to share that Jesus calls us to bring our burdens to Him, but that wasn’t really the scope of the class. Instead, I sprinkled tidbits of faith here and there. 

I did not feel called to share my story, but I did explain that we all have past hardships, trauma, or grief. No one is immune. But we must check our words and even our thoughts in order to keep moving forward.

Several people made up their minds to try new things, but I’m curious how many of them will let go of their anxiety and worry, understanding that we don’t “have to” live in fear. I will be praying for the class that they might take a step of faith and trust Jesus. I’ll pray they realize how much God loves them and wants to give them His joy and peace.

Our stories — and how we tell them — are powerful. We can rehash all the old hurts and fears, or we can let the Lord redeem them and make something beautiful out of our darkest moments. It’s never easy, but it is our choice to make.

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Heavenly Father, thanks for setting us free from all our burdens – sin, shame, sickness – so we don’t have to stay stuck. Help us walk in that freedom and grace. Keep us close to You, in Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Are the stories you are telling yourself (or others) helping or hindering your healing? What’s one step you can take to keep moving forward?

Task: Write down a few key turning points in your life story, whether joyful or painful. Then, rewrite them using God’s perspective – see the story through the lens of Jesus and how He may want to use it for His glory and your good.

Posted on in Apologetics, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Miscellaneous, Prayer, Worship

The Lord’s Prayer

This week, I have been reviewing the Lord’s prayer! This is found in Matthew 6 and Luke 11. It is perhaps the most underutilized piece of Jesus’ direct teaching! The words are not magical; they help us remember our mission.

Often, if you’ve grown up in a church that uses this as part of its daily or weekly liturgy, it can become so familiar that it feels mundane. But we must slow down and take the time to understand the background of Jesus’ meaning. Then, with humility and expectation, we can connect more fully to God’s heart and power.

On Monday night, I listened to a Blurry Creatures Podcast episode featuring a couple of guys who put together both a movie and a TV show about The Lord’s Prayer. Essentially, we can remind ourselves of who God is and our role in His Kingdom. They broke down each phrase, like I did last week!

So, on my Tuesday morning drive, I prayed through the prayer slowly. Father in Heaven: Now, I have a great earthly dad, and it’s amazing that God is even a better dad than Tom! 🙂 Heaven refers to Ancient Near Eastern cosmology (as described in the podcast), but for my purposes, it’s helpful to remember that God is above all things, visible and invisible. He is all-powerful but still loves us fiercely.

Hallowed is an older word for holy, meaning “set apart as sacred.” I sang this song because it reminds me of God’s character and of how we must respect and revere Him. He is not someone we can casually disregard. Carrying His Name means we bear responsibility to represent Him well. Yet, He has great grace for us when we fail to live up to His standard. Thankfully, that’s one reason Jesus came! 

Regarding the next phrase, we live to serve God, not our own purposes. It’s His Kingdom, not ours. Yes, we are citizens of Heaven and can bring many of those benefits to Earth through prayer. But our requests must align with God’s purposes and plan. He is not obligated to give us everything we want!

This is in line with the concept of daily bread. Jesus’ disciples would have thought about the manna their ancestors received in the desert for forty years. God took care of the essentials, but they depended on Him. This is where I asked for help in my workday and thanked God for all the ways He has provided for me this week. It was a good way to reflect on His grace and goodness.

The last part is about forgiveness. When we hold grudges, we act as if God’s mercy cannot cover someone’s faults or mistakes. But we forget how much we have needed it! For me, it is about trust. I can trust that God will take care of the other person as He sees fit. I can let it go and give it to Him to handle. Indeed, I can rest in the knowledge that God won’t hold my sins against me because Jesus already paid for them on the Cross.

Surprisingly, I learned that the phrase “for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory” is a doxology likely added in later manuscripts for liturgical reasons to make it sound more complete. It is not original to Jesus, but still quite compelling! Everything we are should reflect glory back to our Heavenly Father!

Finally, God does not lead us into temptation… but He does allow us to be tested. May we stand firm in our faith and trust Him. It’s okay (natural even) to doubt and ask questions, as long as they lead us closer to Jesus. He is faithful and will never let us down.

All that to say, I loved the conversation I had with the Lord driving to work. It set the tone for my day. It got my mind off “me” and put it back on Him. Yet, I still had a space to tell Him what I needed. I think I will make it part of my regular practice!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for all the ways You care for me. You always give me exactly what I need! Help me be a good reflection of You so I may bring You glory and fame. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you pray regularly using the Lord’s Prayer? What other prayer strategies do you use?

Tasks: If you haven’t already, memorize the Lord’s Prayer so it’s ready when you need it! Listen to it presented in song form here!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #526

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

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

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

This week was full of praises for the Lord. We have much to be grateful for!

Work went well. It was busy, as usual, but I felt good about what I accomplished!

I took Lydia to two healthcare appointments. The first was just a routine lab draw, and all that went well. The next one was audiology for Lydia’s tinnitus. Dave was born partially deaf, and we just monitor Lydia’s ears to catch anything if it changes. She potentially has a tiny bit of hearing loss, but it is difficult to tell for sure because of the ringing in her ears. However, she is used to it, and it has not affected her at all day-to-day. However, even a small change each year could add up over a decade or more. For the most part, everything is stable, and that is a really good thing!

We celebrated Good Friday at church yesterday. It is always a solemn event, as we remember Jesus’ bloody sacrificial death. Lydia and I watched The Chosen (season 5) to prepare during the week. It helps to envision what happened leading up to the Crucifixion. If you would like to watch The Chosen’s version of the Last Supper, here it is all in one spot. Thank You, Jesus!!

We had some cooler weather again this week, which is not unusual for Spring. Funnily enough, we went from no snow to a lot of snow over a few days. In fact, even just overnight and into this afternoon, we’ve had several inches again! I went outside to take some pictures, and the birds were SO loud. I bet they were having an emergency meeting to figure out who said they should come back ‘so soon’! Anyway, I loved seeing all the robins, juncos, and even blackbirds flying around and sitting in my five trees!

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

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

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

No Joke!

Happy April 1st! Or as some may say, April Fools Day! I don’t have any tricks for you, but I am here to say that connecting with God is no joke! It’s the most important part of your day!

I try to meet with God each morning before life happens or distractions creep in. However, sometimes, I am still sleepy or just don’t connect as easily. I am working on my sleep routine, as it is fairly common for most of us. But, I don’t want to miss Jesus!

Yesterday, I was reflecting on Holy Week and even read that part of Scripture. Still, I was having trouble focusing. Now that my work schedule has changed to full-time hours, my whole morning has shifted earlier. I am doing well, but still figuring out the timing so I am not late.

So, on my drive to work, I skipped the usual audiobook or podcast about God and took the opportunity to connect with Him personally. (That is the point!!) Often, I’ll meditate on a specific Bible verse, but yesterday, I just sang an old song from the heart.

I learned the song at summer Bible camp as a teenager, but it came to me again. I sang it a few times and then broke it down phrase by phrase.

“You are love, You are life, You are LORD over everything.
Alpha, Omega, Jehovah the King of kings.
Wonderful way maker worthy of my offering.
Hallowed be Thy Name.”

What does it mean when it says God is love and life? I am so grateful to be able to recognize and receive His love and live the life He predestined for me (Ephesians 2:10).

What does it mean for Him to be LORD over everything, or the Alpha and Omega? In Revelation, we see Jesus say this: “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” He is before all things, and all things were created through Him and for Him.

What does Jehovah mean, and why is Jesus the King of Kings? Jehovah is similar to Yahweh, the name God revealed to Moses in the desert. As King of Kings, Jesus reigns over every part of creation. He reigns over outer space, our world, each country, and each person. There is nothing not within His dominion. So, we can trust that He is in control.

What does wonderful way maker mean? For me, this is something I rely on daily! I am always asking God to make a way for me, or to show me His path forward, or to help me figure out the next steps. I love how faithful He is to constantly guide me and provide steady direction when I need it most.

Finally, I ended with two portions of the chorus. Hallowed by thy name is talking about holiness. God is above all and separate due to His nature, and therefore He is worthy of all our praise. We cannot do anything without Him!

As you can see, God’s love for us is no joke! This Holy week is evidence in that Jesus died as the perfect sacrifice for our sins, to redeem us so we can be with Him forever. Then, as further proof, God raised Him from the dead. Indeed, His Resurrection is our Victory, too!

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God, thank You for sending Jesus as our perfect sacrifice. Thanks for not waiting for us to get everything right. We praise Jesus for being our righteousness. Help us as we continually refocus and live for You! In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: How do you connect with God in the morning? What questions do you have about Jesus’ death and Resurrection?

Task: If we don’t have a plan, we will fail to accomplish our goal of connecting with God. So, pick a passage of Scripture to meditate upon today. You could start with the Lord’s Prayer, Psalm 23, or Luke 12:27-31.

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Life is Short, MARPE/Orthodontics, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Pivot

Finding Grace #525

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 saw God’s faithfulness anyway. 

First, this week had an element of death. A dear friend had a miscarriage the day after she discovered she was pregnant. A beloved aunt (by marriage) lost her sister after a brief illness, similar to my mom’s. Both of these were very sad, and I tried to support both of these ladies with God’s help. He comforts the brokenhearted and is near to them.

I also have some really good news regarding my teeth and MARPE. I had an X-ray to check on my palate, and it is right on track. Even though the gap between my teeth has been minimal, the X-ray shows I’ve already had a six millimeter expansion! This is close to what I need, so we will hold off on further turns of my device for now. Next month, I will have more detailed scans and 3D modeling to see whether there are any benefits to further expansion or if I am fully done. This also depends on my bottom teeth, which are moving more slowly because of our plan. Either way, I’ll still have the device in my mouth for six months to help things stabilize after we finalize the process. I’ve had ideal progress so far, praise God!

On Thursday, Lydia and I woke up to a chilly house. I didn’t think anything of it at first, except when she mentioned it. I happened to take a look at the thermostat, and it was totally blank (dead). I changed the batteries, but that didn’t help. I waited a little while, prayed, and asked my neighbor who to call. I had a man come over in the afternoon; he just adjusted the batteries, and it turned right on! He double-checked the furnace, then started putting his shoes back on. He said I didn’t need to pay anything, but I offered to pay him something for coming all that way. I gave him twenty dollars for the trouble! Win-win!

My blog website was down for about an hour one evening. The server was down on my blog hosting site. This occasionally happens, but it usually gets fixed right away. I spent some time on the phone with tech support, but there was nothing wrong on my end. Thankfully, I wasn’t hacked and didn’t lose any of my data or posts. Lydia and I prayed for God to protect everything, and it all turned out well!

I saw the first robin of Spring this week! I also saw some other song birds and woke up to their singing. The weather has been windy and cold with a few flurries, but also sunny and warmer on a few days… I also am seeing the grass green up a bit. I love this time of year! 

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

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