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God never promised me an easy life. My greatest spiritual gains have come through facing trials. When I feel overwhelmed and out of options, I seek Jesus. Even though I know to seek Him first, I turn to the Lord and go deeper in His ways during tough times. Jeremiah 29:13 is, “You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart.” Holy Bible, Christian Standard Bible, 2017 I don’t have a clear picture of what life after retirement is for me. Instead of using the world’s path, I am searching for God’s plan. Jesus draws me closer andRead More →

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There are times I feel discouraged because I still need (and want) to work. I sometimes wonder why I worked in so many a different jobs. It doesn’t make sense that one person did everything I list on my resume. I feel nudged by the Lord to use my combined work knowledge to do freelance work. Psalm 37:23 is, “A person’s steps are established by the Lord, and he takes pleasure in his way.” Holy Bible, Christian Standard Version, 2017 Life is a journey that gets better when I follow the Lord. He has changed me and continues to prune my faults away. I believeRead More →

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I am going through a season of confusion. My path is unclear and I don’t know what to do next. I have tried to find a job outside of teaching. I feel like all the work I put into this new career search was wasted since I have nothing. I want to know how this will end before continuing this search. James 1:5 is, “Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God – who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly – and it will be given to him. Holy Bible, Christian Standard Bible, 2017 I need God’s strength to walk through thisRead More →

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I retired from teaching but still need to work. My plan was to find work in accounting even though I last worked in this area 25 years ago. After a month of looking, I wonder if I should have kept teaching a little longer. I hate uncertainty and tend to predict the worst possible outcome. I try to listen for God’s voice, but am overwhelmed. Proverbs 3:5 is, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding;” Holy Bible, Christian Standard Bible, 2017 When I lean on Christ, He guides me and shows me the path to take.Read More →

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Jesus suffered greatly to pay the price for my sins. I know I failed God in the past. There are times when I go through the motions of reading God’s Word just to check another thing off my list. My devotion to Christ is not always where I know it should be. Deuteronomy 4:29 is, “But from there, you will search for the Lord your God, and you will find him when you seek him with all of your heart and all of your soul.” Holy Bible, Christian Standard Bible, 2017 All Jesus desires is for me to seek Him. He waits patiently for meRead More →

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My goal or resolution for 2023 was to create regular posts for this blog. I got overwhelmed by trials and never found time to write regularly. I knew I needed Jesus, and had days (and sometimes weeks) where I depended on Him. Instead of trusting God, I wasted energy trying to fix things using my own power. Psalm 115:1 is, “Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory because of your faithful love, because of your truth.” Holy Bible, Christian Standard Bible, 2017 My resolution for 2024 is to surrender everything to God. I like to hang onto parts ofRead More →

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I have walked with God for a while and think I have surrendered my life to Him. Even though I know the Lord works everything together for good, I hold on to some selfish desires. My fear is that God won’t work this situation out by giving me what I want. Job 22:21 is “Submit to God, and you will have peace; then things will go well for you.” Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 2015 Giving up control and submitting to God all the time is challenging. I need to give Him control of everything. Hanging on to my selfish desires keeps the Lord’s powerRead More →

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Summertime is one of my favorite seasons. I love the beach and water activities. The world’s standards tell me I must be fit to wear a swimsuit in public. I used to believe I was too large to wear some clothing styles. My body will never be perfect. I have wasted past summer days by worrying about how I look. Psalm 139:14 is, “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous – how well I know it.” Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 2015 When my eyes drift away from Jesus, I concentrate on my body flaws. God created me in HisRead More →

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In my journey to eat less, I have messed up many times. Every time I feel my clothes getting tighter, I feel ashamed for overeating and gaining weight. I have fallen many times and will probably do it again. I need to keep seeking God to stay on track. Ephesians 2:4-5 is, “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive in Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!” Holy Bible, Christian Standard Bible, 2017 I am grateful to serve my merciful Lord. He doesn’t keep track ofRead More →

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My summer break started the week. After a stressful school year, all I want is rest. So, I spent the first days of break watching TV and scrolling on my phone while resting in bed. This earthy relaxation has not refreshed me. I can waste my time off by seeking worldly fixes and still be tired. Matthew 11:28 is, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Holy Bible, Christian Standard Bible, 2017 My spirit needs to be refreshed by Jesus. I started using my time off to soak in God’s Word first thing in theRead More →