By:
On:
In: Encouragement
With: 0 Comments

God’s plans are greater than my plans. I never know His step by step instructions but do my best to follow His lead. About a year ago, I had a plan to retire from teaching and find an office job. This did not happen as I ended up substitute teaching. At times, I wondered if I made the right decision. Sometimes it is hard to tell if I am following God’s plan or convincing myself what I want is God’s plan for me. Proverbs 16:9 is, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. Holy Bible, English Standard Version, 2001Read More →

By:
On:
In: Encouragement
With: 0 Comments

It would be nice to enjoy a stress free week (or even a day). I am “done” with facing constant trials, problems, and issues. Every time a storm ends, another one arises. Deep down, I know Jesus tells us in John 16:33 that we will suffer in this life. This never-ending stressful cycle is tiring. James 1:2-3 is, Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. Holy Bible, English Standard Version, 2001 God uses all of my trials to mature me. I need to experience hard times to learnRead More →

By:
On:
In: Encouragement
With: 0 Comments

Psalm 37:4 has always been one of my favorite verses. Often, I skipped ahead to the part that says, “He (God) will give you your heart’s desires.” Even though God grants some selfish requests, He wants more from me. As I have drawn closer to the Lord, He showed me the true meaning of this verse. Psalm 37:3-4 is, “Trust in the Lord and do what is good; dwell in the land and live securely. Take delight in the Lord and He will give you your heart’s desires. Holy Bible, Holman Christian Bible, 2009 Instead of granting selfish wishes, the God of the universe desiresRead More →

By:
On:
In: Healthy eating
With: 0 Comments

My eating was better, but the scale stayed the same. I blamed my aging hormones and thought I would never lose weight. I was eating too much and stubbornly did not want to admit it. I fell back into old habits like using food to soothe my feelings. I thought my food intake was fine, but I ate more food than my body needed. Proverbs 3:7-8 is, “Don’t be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. This will be healing for your body and strengthening for your bones. Holy Bible, Christian Standard Bible, 2017 The Lord gently showed meRead More →

By:
On:
In: Encouragement
With: 0 Comments

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 →

By:
On:
In: Encouragement
With: 0 Comments

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 →

By:
On:
In: Healthy eating
With: 0 Comments

I will never be perfect or good enough. Since perfection was out of my reach, I decided to “give up” in the past. I tried ever diet or meal plan offering quick results. After a few days of “depriving” myself, I had enough and ate everything I could. Over time, I started using excess food to cover my feelings of never being enough. Psalm 139:17 is, “How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered!” Holy Bible, New Living Translation God takes me as I am. He created my imperfections so I would seek Him. My efforts will be never beRead More →

By:
On:
In: Emotional eating
With: 0 Comments

Stress is one of my eating “triggers”. I reach for excess food to comfort my emotions. Excess food helps me temporarily forget my pain but does nothing to solve my problems. Instead of lasting relief, soon I feel guilty for eating too much. 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 The King of the universe invites me to come to Him for rest. I try to handle stress myself and fail. God provides me with lasting comfort and erases my guilt. He guides me to findRead More →

By:
On:
In: Encouragement
With: 0 Comments

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 →

By:
On:
In: Encouragement
With: 0 Comments

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 →