Needed Memories

“My God will use his wonderful riches in Christ Jesus to give you everything you need.”  Philippians 4:19

His smile and gentle spirit are his legacy.  My cousin, Ron, took the journey home to Heaven, and we celebrated his life in a very traditional and humble service which expressed how he lived his life.  When I think of Ron, I first remember his smile, his head nod of recognition, his easy-going and laid-back view of life, and his deep love for Jesus, his family, and the land.  Ron was a farmer, a community servant, and a loving husband, dad, grandfather, cousin, and friend. He was a gentle man with a quiet spirit that served faithfully, humbly with a sweet smile and a touch of humor. 

When we gather at funerals to remember our loved ones, we share memories.  We need these memories to celebrate their life and that they made a difference in this world.  I so enjoy the stories and hearing how a person influenced other people and made an impact in their corner of the world.  We need these stories and memories because they sustain us in our grief.  Knowing the one we loved was loved by others fills us with joy.

Oh, memories.  They are a gift from God.  Nobody can take away our memories, not even death itself.  Memories tend to come to the forefront of our minds at the time of loss.  We begin to remember the difference the person made in our lives and the specialness that they gave to our lives.  Memories soothe the pain of loss because we remember their love and that we are who we are because of their presence in our lives.

Memories also connect us to the people in our lives.  It is a joy to gather with my siblings and share memories of growing up.  Our views are different because of our ages.  The memories bring alive in my heart my mom and dad and my grandma.  It is as if I can feel their presence and love as we share stories of our life together as a family.  Photos make the memories even more defined.  I have been looking through photos and sending them to family.  It brings a smile and a story that centers around the picture.  It also brings a sense of gratitude for the people in the photo and a rush of reminiscences.

Music also triggers a flood of memories.  It is amazing how many songs are in our heads.  When a song from our past is sung or played, the words seem to automatically flow from our mind without thought.  The rhythm of the music brings the memory of the words, and we also connect a song to certain people or events in our lives.  My dad’s favorite song was “In The Garden” and every time I hear it or sing it, I think of my dad.  My mom’s favorite song was “Victory In Jesus” and I usually find a few tears escaping from my eyes when I sing the third verse of the hymn.

Recently I shared a meal with my cousin, Dan.  His mom and my dad were siblings.  We grew up together, and I have wonderful memories of sharing life with our Grandma and families.  Memories also bring a different perspective.  My cousin’s view is based on his mom’s perspective and mine is based on my dad’s. While they loved each other, they rarely agreed about life.  It was good to share with my cousin and understand our parents without allowing it to influence our personal relationship.  Memories can also bring healing and an acceptance of people for who they were.

We need memories.  They remind us of who we are, our foundation and how God has been with us through it all.  We need memories to sustain us in our loss and sadness because they remind us, we have been loved and that love never dies within us.  We need memories to remind us where we have been and how far we have come.  We need the stories that come with the memories to share with the next generation to keep alive the history of the family.

We need the stories of Jesus to remind us of God’s great love and grace.  We remember that God loved us so much that He sent His Son to be born here on earth, to share stories with us, to die on a cross for our salvation and forgiveness, and to be resurrected to give us the hope and promise of eternal life with Him.  God gives us everything we need through Jesus.  Our memories of those who came before us in the faith are our foundation for our own faith and life.

We need memories to give us this firm foundation to take steps into this life.  Memories are needed.  Memories are brought into the present to comfort us and give us hope. Memories are filled with love.  Memories continue to give life and love.  Cherish your memories and share your stories.

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You will find all my past blogs on my website – www.livinginthedifferent.com

My Books on Amazon

Live Different Moments

Live Different Moments: Finding Contentment and Peace after Change and Loss: Sturtz, Elaine J. Clinger: 9798989125708: Amazon.com: Books

Living In The Different       

https://www.amazon.com/Living-Different-passages-through-sorrow/dp/0998310239/

Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper

https://www.amazon.com/Life-Lessons-Lone-Trooper-Legacy/dp/0998310255/

Walk Humbly With

“He has showed you what is good, and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.”  Micah 6:8

For some of you the candidate of your choice in the recent election won.  For some of you the candidate you voted for lost.  Be humble and kind.  For some of you this year has been filled with blessings and joys.  For some of you the struggles of life have been intense this year.  Be humble and kind.  For some of you the celebration of wedding anniversaries has filled your life with gratefulness to share life with the one you love.  For some of you the loss of your spouse has left you grieving and alone trying to live into this different life.  Be humble and kind.

Tim McGaw sings the song, “Humble and Kind.” The last part of the song states – “When you get where you’re going, don’t forget turn back around and help the next one in line.  Always stay humble and kind.”  To be humble means to not focus on yourself and to be respectful to others.  It is not talking about yourself or bragging about your own accomplishments and wonderful life.  To be kind is to be gentle, caring, helpful, and considerate.  It is being respectful of others and their feelings.  It is caring about those who follow you on this journey and helping them through.

We live in a society that is quick to respond to any situation without putting thought into it.  That is, without being humble and kind but choosing to share one’s opinion and view while being negative to the other person’s perspective.  You do not need to agree with someone’s view, but you can be humble and kind.  God requires us to love kindness and to walk humbly with Him.  It is not an option but a requirement.

How we deal with the disappointments in life reflects who we are and how we live out our faith in Jesus.  We want life to go the way we planned and based on the choices we believe to be right and appropriate.  We interpret our faith based on our preferences.  So, when life does not give us what we want, we complain, get angry at others and God.  It has brought sadness to me to read some of the responses on social media from those who profess the Christian faith.  Yes, we all have our opinions, but we first represent Jesus to the world.  What comes out of our mouths comes from our hearts.  If our hearts love Jesus then our words need to be humble and kind even when we disagree.  It is good to be strong in our convictions but compassionate in our love for others.

When grief and loss encroach our path, compassion and kindness does not always come from those around us.  Some people step farther away from us because they do not know how to deal with the emotions of grief.  Some of the people who promised to be there for us have disappeared from our lives.  Others want us to get over grief quickly and back to normal.  Normal no longer exists for those who have experienced loss.  Life is different.  In grief, be kind and allow those who grieve to grieve in whatever way they need to.  Grief has no time frame.  We will grieve in some way the rest of our lives because we have loved deeply.  We miss sharing life with our loved ones.  We can still live and enjoy life, but there will always be a part of us that misses our loved ones.

Allow people to grieve.  Don’t rush the journey.  Don’t talk about yourself but be compassionate and listen to the one who is just beginning the journey of grief.  Be humble.  Listen not to respond and share your story but listen to the hurt so you can share compassion.  Be kind. 

Walk humbly with God.  It is not about you.  It is about God in you.  It is God’s love.  God’s strength.  God’s compassion.  God’s mercy.  God’s grace.  That is what is in you.  God is the one who is walking with you through the joys and sorrows of life.  Through the disappointments and the victories.  Allow God to come through you to help others on the journey of life.  Allow God to guide your thoughts, your words, and your actions.

 Let’s be humble and kind.

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You will find all my past blogs on my website – www.livinginthedifferent.com

My Books on Amazon -

Live Different Moments

Live Different Moments: Finding Contentment and Peace after Change and Loss: Sturtz, Elaine J. Clinger: 9798989125708: Amazon.com: Books

Living In The Different       

https://www.amazon.com/Living-Different-passages-through-sorrow/dp/0998310239/

Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper

https://www.amazon.com/Life-Lessons-Lone-Trooper-Legacy/dp/0998310255/

Through Things

“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”  Philippians 4:13

“It seems like one thing after another.”  “I never seem to get a break.”  “I just want things to be calm for a change.”  “I want things to go back to normal.”  “Things seem to always go wrong for me.”  “Everything seems to bother me.”  Why can’t things stay the same.”  Statements I have heard, and even some statements I have muttered from time to time or at least thought.  I am sure many of you have uttered some variation of these statements through the struggles of your life.

“Things.”  It is what you cannot specifically define.  It is when you cannot recall the name of an object and you say, “You know, that thing – that “thingamajig.”  Things are more than objects that cannot be defined.  Things are also situations and circumstances in life that cannot be explained, overcome, or even understood. 

You may be going through a difficult situation or season of life right now. You have been trying to understand and solve the situation.  You may feel overwhelmed, exhausted, and your strength is almost gone.  This “thing” has invaded all your thoughts, feelings, and focus.  Every emotion has found its way into your thoughts, and you have lost your foothold on the situation.  Oh, at times you feel in control and your strength and hope comes back but it only lingers for a short time, and you stumble.  This thing is huge and is changing life as you know it.  You want your old life back, but you know this thing has changed everything. 

When the thing is huge and life changing like a death or illness, we tend to pray and go to God for help and strength to walk through it.  Most of the time, we want life to go back to what it used to be, but in the moment, we even find it hard to pray.  Usually in these times, we depend on other people to pray for us.  That is why we ask for prayer. 

Now when it comes to the small things – or at least we regard them as smaller – in comparison to those big things of life, we tend to depend on our own strength and power to get through them.  We see God as too busy to take time with the small stuff of life.  So, we worry and raise our anxiety and stress over the small things of life.

Can anyone reading this relate to what I am talking about today?  Life happens continuously around us.  Yes, sometimes it does seem like one trauma, tragedy, heartache, problem or dilemma after another.  Why do we expect life to run smoothly according to our plan and schedule?  We call it stress, anxiety, being overwhelmed, and out of control.  But in reality, it is just life.  We live in a fallen and broken world where nothing is perfect, and things happen without notice or reason. We do not have complete control over any big or small things of life.  Life happens.

The overwhelming feelings come from believing we need to handle all things through our own strength, wisdom, and power.  We may give some of the things to God, but God wants us to give Him “all things.”  Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”  Yes, all things – big, small, and in between.  Jesus gives us His strength in all things.  It is a willingness to surrender our plan, our will, our desire for a peaceful life without problems to Jesus and allow Jesus to give us strength through them.  The key is through things not avoiding things.  Going through things is not what we want but we know it is through things we grow and become dependent upon God.  We are not able on our own to walk through the storms of life.  Jesus reaches out and takes our hand and walks beside us and with us through the things of life.

You can do all things because Jesus gives you His strength through His Spirit.  Trust Him.  Find peace in Jesus.

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You will find all my past blogs on my website – www.livinginthedifferent.com

My Books on Amazon

Live Different Moments

Live Different Moments: Finding Contentment and Peace after Change and Loss: Sturtz, Elaine J. Clinger: 9798989125708: Amazon.com: Books

Living In The Different       

https://www.amazon.com/Living-Different-passages-through-sorrow/dp/0998310239/

Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper

https://www.amazon.com/Life-Lessons-Lone-Trooper-Legacy/dp/0998310255/

Faithful Incidences

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning, great is thy faithfulness.”  Lamentations 3:22-23

“Thank you for being faithful in visiting my mom.” She responded after I had texted her that I had spent time with her mom in the nursing home.  I have tried to make regular visits with several people in the later stages of their lives.  I want them to know they are not forgotten and that someone will listen to them and pray with them.  Visiting with people has been a gift God has given to me since the beginning of my ministry.  I receive such a blessing from them.  This past week when I visited, God allowed me to connect with people I did not expect to see.  God blessed me with extra hugs.

I have been regular in my morning runs for the past twenty-five years.  It is my prayer time and quiet time with God.  It is also my exercise time.  I want to be consistent in my time with God and caring for my body which is God’s temple.  It is also giving myself grace when I do not run my normal pace or take a day off occasionally.  God always blesses me with the beauty of His creation in sunrises, clouds, deer, birds, and the feel of the breeze.  God is faithful in showing up and providing a God incident each morning!

Recently, I spoke with a Grief Support group.  The people were grieving at different stages, but everyone in the room understood grief and loss.  They were faithful in their love even in death and faithful in their grief by acknowledging the depth of their feelings in the loss.  They were steadfast in love.  To be steadfast means to be loyal, devoted, steady and true.  Love never comes to an end.  In that group, one person was grieving the loss of her husband, and her husband and mine had known each other and worked together on the Highway Patrol.  It connected us not only in grief but in the stories of life.  God is faithful and provides incidents that could only be created by God.

When we eat a meal at a restaurant, we try to support locally owned “mom and pop” restaurants.  After our recent visits to the nursing homes, we stopped at a nearby local restaurant to have an early dinner.  As we were sitting at the table, in walked a special couple that I had been praying for over the past months because of her health issues.  What a blessing to hug them and share updates and connect together.  This was no coincidence, but a God-incident that God had orchestrated.  All that day God kept putting in my path people I would have never expected to see. 

So, I share all these incidences to remind you and me about God’s steadfast love, mercy and faithfulness.  Even in our grief, change, and loss, we can witness the faithfulness of God.  God never leaves us, gives up on us, never rejects us, and always walks with us.  God is faithful even when we do not see it.  God is faithful to His will not our desires. 

“God’s got the best set of crayons,” commented my friend, Sandy to the picture of the trees in our backyard which you now see beside this blog.  God continues to paint the sunrises, the sunsets, and the beauty of the fall trees.  They are new every day if we just pay attention to the beauty of nature all around us.  God never wavers in giving to His children.  God never stops being tender hearted and compassionate. God is always faithful.

As we experience change, loss, and the brokenness of life, it is difficult to see beyond the hurt and pain that God is steadfast in His love and faithful in His mercy.  It is when we focus only on the negativity of the past, we become blind to the blessings of the past that continue in the present.  God’s grace, mercy, and love are new every morning.  That is, each day we receive an abundance of love and grace from God.  God reminds us that He is always with us, never leaves us, and is faithful with His love and blessings.  It is releasing to God each day and trusting that God will show up in the most unexpected ways.

Look for God’s faithfulness in your life.  God has been faithful in the past and will continue to be in the present.  Look for God-incidences today!

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You will find all my past blogs on my website – www.livinginthedifferent.com

My Books on Amazon

Live Different Moments

Live Different Moments: Finding Contentment and Peace after Change and Loss: Sturtz, Elaine J. Clinger: 9798989125708: Amazon.com: Books

Living In The Different       

https://www.amazon.com/Living-Different-passages-through-sorrow/dp/0998310239/

Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper

https://www.amazon.com/Life-Lessons-Lone-Trooper-Legacy/dp/0998310255/

Keep Showing Up

“Keep your eyes on Jesus, our leader and instructor.”  Hebrews 12:2 (LB)

Instead of planting grass around our home in the woods, we are spreading wood chips and letting the yard become whatever nature creates.  The last of the wood chips were dropped off beside our house in two large piles this past week.  The pile seemed insurmountable as I began to shovel the chips into the wheelbarrow and dump them around the house.  When I focused on how big the pile was the task seemed impossible, but when I focused on one load at a time, it became more manageable.  Also, when I looked up at the blue sky and the beautiful trees dressed in their fall colors, it became a joy to be in God’s creation.  While the task was hard labor, I kept showing up for each load and enjoying the beauty around me.  The pile of chips no longer was negative, but a part of the creative beauty around us.

She said her thoughts were always focused on the negative and the worst-case scenario.  She had no idea how to focus her mind on seeing the good and positive aspects of a situation.  So, she has begun to acknowledge the negative but is also beginning to be aware that good shows up too.  It is re-training the pathways of her brain to allow good and positive thoughts to be an option, too. 

This past week, a sweet, loving, energetic fourteen-year-old girl was diagnosed with leukemia.  Devastating news for the family and her friends.  The worry and fears become intense as medical treatment begins.  This young lady is surrounded by prayer and the love of family and friends.  Jesus keeps showing up.  Yes, cancer is bad, but good is showing up.  Everyone is leaning closer to Jesus and relying on the power of prayer.  Miracles and healing happen every day, and the family is trusting Jesus for strength and guidance.  Jesus keeps showing up.

The devastation of the hurricanes and the possibility of more storms is overwhelming.  The hurt and pain and loss seems more than anyone can grasp.  But good keeps showing up in the tragedy.  We read of those who survived, those who are volunteering, those who are donating, those who are showing up as the hands and feet of Jesus.  Even in the loss, people are keeping their eyes on Jesus to lead and instruct them in what to do.  Jesus keeps showing up.

So, in your day-to-day life, does the pile of hurt, pain, and loss seem insurmountable? Where are you focusing?  Is your focus on the death and the loss of the one you loved?  Yes, this is the reality of our lives, but if we stay in the death, we never become grateful for what we had and how the love and difference they made in our lives keeps showing up each day.  My mom shows up in me every day.  I remember her love for nature, her home remedies, her recipes, her laughter, and most of all her love for Jesus.  My mom shows up in my heart every day.  Now that I am back in my hometown and around my siblings more, my parents show up in our interactions and love.   

We cannot change our reality of loss, hurt and tragedy, but we do not need to make it our focus.  Just like negativity is all around us, can we begin to re-train our brain to look for good in the bad?  It is releasing the bad of the past, not denying it happened, but also not allowing it to still be in control and changing our focus.  Look not at the pile of tasks but look up at the beauty of God’s presence around you.  Jesus keeps showing up to remind us life is not all about the work and tasks.  Life is about enjoying being in the presence of God.  It is not about worrying and trying to control the future, but it is living in the presence of Jesus in the present moment.

Focus on the good you remember of your loved one.  The part of the past that makes you smile.  Maybe it is a statement they always said that made you smile and feel secure.  My husband, Dave, used to say when we were in places we did not want to be or dealing with a difficult situation, “Stick with me, kid.”  I still hear him say this to me when life gets tough, and I feel alone.  I believe that is what Jesus says to you and me too – “Stick with me.  I will keep showing up every time.  Just focus on me.  You are not alone.”

Jesus will keep showing up in your hurt and pain, in your joys and laughter.  Jesus will keep showing up in your cancer diagnosis and in your huge pile of wood chips.  It does not matter what it is, Jesus will show up to walk beside you, to carry you, and to remind you that you are never alone.

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You will find all my past blogs on my website – www.livinginthedifferent.com

My Books on Amazon

Live Different Moments

Live Different Moments: Finding Contentment and Peace after Change and Loss: Sturtz, Elaine J. Clinger: 9798989125708: Amazon.com: Books

Living In The Different       

https://www.amazon.com/Living-Different-passages-through-sorrow/dp/0998310239/

Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper

https://www.amazon.com/Life-Lessons-Lone-Trooper-Legacy/dp/0998310255/

Blessings From Behind

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you.  The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.”  Numbers 6:24-26

I was headed west as I finished my run in the early morning.  The sun was rising, and I looked over my shoulder and was blessed with an amazing sunrise.  I stopped and turned around and took a picture of this awesome picture God had painted to begin the morning.  I was blessed with the beauty of God’s creation.  If I had not looked behind me, I would have missed this blessing.  It made me think of the blessings I may have missed in my life because I did not stop and receive them.

I shared in the thirteenth birthday blessing party of my niece, Juliana.  Her parents began a tradition in their family of having a blessing celebration when each child turns thirteen.  It was a way to bring together those in their child’s life that are mentors and encouragers and friends to share a blessing and encouraging words and scripture.  As I shared with Juliana, I reminded her that she is blessed with a foundation of love and faith from her family.  Her blessing comes from what her parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents instilled in their children and imparted to the next generation.  I gave to Juliana a framed scripture of Joshua 1:9 – “I command you to be strong and brave, do not be afraid because the Lord your God is with you everywhere you go.”  This blessing comes from behind her.  It is God’s word to Joshua, and it was also my husband, Dave’s life scripture.  By giving her the framed scripture, it was as if Dave was supporting and encouraging her too.

I visited my cousin and his wife as he now begins the journey home to Heaven.  As I talked with Ron, his smile emerged.  When I think of my cousin, his smile is my first thought.  His smile is a blessing that is part of my memories of Ron.  As I shared memories of growing up with his children and times together at reunions, his smile is my fondest memory.  It is the blessing that will sustain.  When God calls him home, his smile will remain in my heart.  Every time I think of Ron, I will smile.

This past week, Ray was called home to Heaven.  He and his family were a blessing to me in the first church I was appointed as an Associate Minister.  Though it was years ago, the blessing of his life is part of my foundation of faith.  As I look behind me, I remember his smile, his sweet voice that praised God, his gentle spirit, his love for his wife and family, and his love for Jesus that radiated in his smile. 

Looking behind is not living in the past but allowing the past to be living in the present.  The past is filled with blessings and relationships that influence and guide us to become who we are today.  If it were not for these people and experiences, we would have missed how God was refining and growing us.  Blessings are not always obvious and sometimes when we go through struggles and challenges, we do not see the blessings in them until we look back and see God’s presence through them.

It is not that we wanted the experiences which resulted in loss, pain or heartache, but God brought us through these which is a blessing itself.  I have begun to look for daily blessings and thank God for each gift.  A blessing is God’s favor.  When we focus on seeing God’s presence in daily life, we smile when we become aware that God’s blessings are everywhere just like God’s presence.  It is having the mindset to focus on the good and the blessings that God grants to us even in the storms of life.

I am aware of these blessings because of what came behind me.  The people whom God placed in my life who lived and expressed the love of Jesus to me through their lives, their faith, their smiles, and their encouragement.  I am who I am because of the blessings of those who loved me, supported me, encouraged me, and their love continues to give me strength.  Those who have come behind me continue to live in me today.  Though they are physically not present in this world, their love shines in my heart and life.  I have been blessed.  You have been blessed.

Allow the blessings from behind to shine in your life and bring you peace.

You will find all my past blogs on my website – www.livinginthedifferent.com

My Books on Amazon

Live Different Moments

Live Different Moments: Finding Contentment and Peace after Change and Loss: Sturtz, Elaine J. Clinger: 9798989125708: Amazon.com: Books

Living In The Different       

https://www.amazon.com/Living-Different-passages-through-sorrow/dp/0998310239/

Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper

https://www.amazon.com/Life-Lessons-Lone-Trooper-Legacy/dp/0998310255/

Where's My Focus?

“The things you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what God wants.  Then all these other things you need will be given to you.”   Matthew 6:33

The paperwork to complete lays on the desk in front of me.  The marketing plan for my books needs to be reviewed and implemented. I have cards and letters to write.  I opened my totes filled with papers and memorabilia that I need to sort and organize.  I have pictures on my phone I want to download and create photo books.  Then I look outside and see the beautiful blue sky but also the pile of wood chips that need to be spread and the stone that needs to be carried to the back steps.  You get the picture because each of you have items on your “To Do List” either written or in your head.  They all vie for your attention.   All of them are good use of your time and energy.  They are practical and necessary.

I look outside again and see the gift of God’s creation and the wind blowing through the tall trees.  My desire is to just enjoy the beauty around me, explore the country, and relax in whatever God puts in front of me.  But my own expectations and need to be productive tends to complicate these thoughts and adventures.  I am torn between the practical responsibilities placed on by the world and my own understanding of life, and my desire to just enjoy life as God intended.  These should not be different.  So, I begin to ask myself, “Who am I trying to please?”  What is my focus?

In my counseling conversations, I find the majority of people focus on the expectations of others.  They are trying to be people pleasers or even society pleasers.  Trying to live into the expectations of others and what is acceptable to society.  For example, when you build a new house, the expectation is that you will plant grass and therefore, mow the lawn and create flower beds and spend hours in your yard.  NO thank you!  Why do we allow other people and society to dictate our lives?  When we do, it literally sucks the joy out of our lives.  We live in fear of not measuring up, not receiving approval from others, which creates high anxiety, worry and stress.

Is this really who you want to be and how you want to live your life?  What do you really want life to be and who do you want to be in this different life?  The hardest part of change and loss is knowing who you are now.  What is your priority now in life?  As I walk into this next chapter of my life, my heart’s desire is to do what God wants even though the world around me keeps clamoring for my allegiance. 

I am changing my focus.  Yes, the paperwork needs to be completed, and my desire is to market my books, but today I want to take an adventure and just enjoy what is in front of me.  Today I want to listen to God and reach out to a family member.  Today I want to visit a friend and share the love of Jesus with her.  Today, I want to enjoy the sunshine, the blue sky and breathe in God’s Spirit that is all around me.  Today, I want to smile within me when I see the hawk or the cardinal and know my loved one is still with me.  Today, I want to live and not just exist in the mundane tasks society says are more important than God.  Remember, God is always with you, and you can still do the tasks but why not focus on God with you in the task?  When you release the people pleasing which takes away your joy, you find the joy of the Lord deep within you.  Joy is from Jesus which is an inner contentment and peace that what is most important is enjoying the life we have in front of us.

Life will have storms and destruction just like the recent hurricane.  We cannot explain the why and the devastation and loss.  Nothing makes sense nor takes away the reality.  But I know God is still God. God is still with you and me.  Jesus feels the pain and hurt and loss we feel.  It is choosing to focus even in all the destruction, God, you are with me.  Nothing takes away God’s gift of peace and joy.  We are the ones who let go of it and allow others to crush it.  Joy and peace have nothing to do with our circumstances.  It is about our focus.  When we keep our eyes on Jesus and not the expectations and views of others and the world, we begin to live, really live.

Enjoy today and what God places in front of you.  Relax in God’s presence and be fully present with God.

So where is your focus today?

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You will find all my past blogs on my website – www.livinginthedifferent.com

My Books on Amazon

Live Different Moments

Live Different Moments: Finding Contentment and Peace after Change and Loss: Sturtz, Elaine J. Clinger: 9798989125708: Amazon.com: Books

Living In The Different       

https://www.amazon.com/Living-Different-passages-through-sorrow/dp/0998310239/

Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper

https://www.amazon.com/Life-Lessons-Lone-Trooper-Legacy/dp/0998310255/

Whispering Good

“We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.”    Romans 8:28

Tears leaked gently from the corner of his eyes and his lips formed his familiar smile.  In that moment, he was fully present with me.  The diseases of the mind and body were not strong enough to withstand the power of God’s spirit in him.  For the moments I was with him, we remembered our history together and how God allowed us to share life in the body of believers.  We focused on the good God brought into our lives though life was a struggle now for him.  I told stories from the storehouse of memories sharing how God worked through him to make a difference in the lives of others.  His life was a reflection of Jesus.

I had been invited into a very holy and sacred space with my special friends as the preparation for leaving this world became more evident and imminent.  They asked for prayer, and I offered to come, and the door was opened to this hallowed journey.  The focus was on the good God worked in his life and the good the memories represented.  The quietness of the moment whispered good while the situation cried in pain, anger and sorrow.

As I talked with his wife, memories of my own journey nine years ago flooded my emotional thoughts.  It was as if I knew what she was thinking and wanted to say but it was too difficult actually saying the words that were in her head.  I verbalized those feelings for her.  She did not want her husband to be in pain and suffer, but she did not want him to die.  She wanted him to be released from the pain, but she had no idea how to live life without him.  She was angry at the diseases and that God would allow them, but she knew her strength came from God who loved her and lived in her heart and in the heart of her husband.  God brought good out of my own experience by allowing me to stand with another beginning this journey.  I had been where she now was, and she needed someone who received her struggle and emotions.  I did not try to fix, but I understood.

God is good.  Good comes from God.  God works for good in all situations.  True statements, but difficult to live when your heart is breaking because a loved one is dying.  We tend to see death as punishment.  Not punishment to the one dying especially when we know they will be in Heaven and be healed of the brokenness this world dumped on their bodies.  The punishment is what we who are left endure.  It is a life without the one we love and with whom we have shared life with all these years.  Why do we have to go alone and give up the dreams and plans for our future?  Why not more years?

Not everything that happens in life is good nor is it explainable.  God takes the brokenness and works good out of it.  Not everything that happens to those who believe is good.  The good is that God loves us while we are in it and going through it.  God is all around us.  We just do not understand why God allows it and does not take us out of it.  We know God can do anything and miracles still happen.  So why does God answer some prayers with miracles and some we do not receive the answer we wanted?  All good questions.  And questions that only God can answer and which God will reveal to us when we arrive in Heaven.

So what about now?  Listen to the whispers of good in your heart.  Remember the love and the moments with your loved one.  That is part of the good God brings to those who love Him.  God wants us to see the good in the people who are on our path of life.  God wants us to focus on the moments that are given and treasure them.  It is not focusing on the loss but on what we gained by enjoying life together now.

God does not want us to deny the pain and hurt that comes from loss.  It is the result of the brokenness and sin of this world.  God does not want us to deny our reality.  But we tend to worry about what is going to happen, that we miss the holy and sacred moments in front of us.  God wants us to experience the good that will sustain us in the brokenness. 

“Every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.”  Romans 8:28 (The Message)

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You will find all my past blogs on my website – www.livinginthedifferent.com

My Books found on Amazon

Live Different Moments -available on Amazon -

Live Different Moments: Finding Contentment and Peace after Change and Loss: Sturtz, Elaine J. Clinger: 9798989125708: Amazon.com: Books

Living In The Different       

https://www.amazon.com/Living-Different-passages-through-sorrow/dp/0998310239/

Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper

https://www.amazon.com/Life-Lessons-Lone-Trooper-Legacy/dp/0998310255/

Sighing In The Bleachers

“Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words.”  Romans 8:26

She told me she was living her life in the bleachers with her grandchildren.  I asked her to explain what she meant.  She said, “I enjoy watching my grandchildren participate in sports and other events, but I do not have to provide everything for the activity nor be at every game or practice.  I choose when it fits into my schedule and priorities.  It is the responsibility of my children to provide for their children.”  Interesting way of stating how she was living, but it has made me ponder this concept.  Am I adding responsibility to my life that is not mine?

I have shared how to step in and step out of situations and people’s drama.  You enjoy time with a person or a family event and live in the moment, and then you step out and are not responsible for other people’s lives or decisions. The idea of living in the bleachers adds the responsibility of being a supportive cheerleader and enjoying the adventure with them.  It is also knowing your role.  You are not their coach, so you are not telling them how to live or play the game.  You encourage them and remind them you are with them and care about who they are and what they are doing.  You are not in control.

So, what happens when they mess up on the field of life and you are in the bleachers?  They do not want your advice, your criticism, your judgment, or your corrective plan.  So you just sigh.  You sit there and know you cannot change the situation even though you want to fix it.  You have no words and no power to change the outcome.  At times, you just listen.  Sometimes you are asked to give your opinion or provide clarity as they work through the current situation.  Most of the time I am learning, I just sigh within me and say, “God, I do not know what to pray but I am sitting here in the bleachers with you.”

Sighing takes the focus off ourselves and our need to solve the situation.  Sighing calms our inner soul and fills us with God’s Spirit.  I want my first response to any situation to be like what God does to my own mess ups and brokenness.  God responds with grace.  I am weak and broken and make wrong decisions and create anxiety and worry because of my choices.  God knows we are weak and do not know what to do.  God’s Spirit – the Holy Spirit – “intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words.”  In the past I have read this scripture and thought it meant only in formal prayer.  No, the Spirit intercedes in every aspect of our lives and gives us this gift of sighing.

I sighed in the bleachers throughout this week as I counseled and listened to the hurts and struggles of my clients and family.  I am not living their lives but have become their cheerleader and at times they bring me to the sidelines as their coach.  In my weakness, I do not know what advice to give them, so I sigh and the Spirit speaks through me.  Sometimes I even get amazed what comes out of my mouth and I thank God for giving me His wisdom and words.  Sometimes I sigh knowing I am not going to influence them nor are they wanting to change. 

To sigh is to release to God what is going on within you.  Sometimes we sigh to release emotions and feelings.  Other sighs are an acceptance of the situation.  We sigh when we do not know what to say or do.  We can even sigh when the feeling of wonder and awe totally amaze us and words do not adequately convey the moment.  To sigh in the bleachers is to accept other people for who they are and the decisions they are making.  We may not agree, but we can still love them and be a support to them.  Sighing in the bleachers also acknowledges we are not in control.  God is.  So sigh and wait for God’s leading before you speak.  Sometimes just being present is all we need to do.

Let’s sigh!

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You will find all my past blogs on my website – www.livinginthedifferent.com

My Books found on Amazon

Live Different Moments -available on Amazon -

Live Different Moments: Finding Contentment and Peace after Change and Loss: Sturtz, Elaine J. Clinger: 9798989125708: Amazon.com: Books

Living In The Different       

https://www.amazon.com/Living-Different-passages-through-sorrow/dp/0998310239/

Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper

https://www.amazon.com/Life-Lessons-Lone-Trooper-Legacy/dp/0998310255/

Troubled Belief

Jesus said, “Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me.”  John 14:1

The cutest little boy who was probably around three years old, stood on the folding chair next to his mom in the front row of the grandstand as the county bands performed their band shows on opening day of the fair.  Each band director stood on a chair or ladder in front of this little boy directing their individual bands.  Soon this little boy dressed in shorts, a T-shirt and a hat began directing behind the band director.  His little body was moving with the music, and his arms were directing in rhythm with the beat of each song.  For almost an hour, this little boy never lost his enthusiasm or stamina.  It was as if he believed that the band members were following his direction.  He brought joy and smiles to the band show.

This little boy was oblivious to the crowd around him except his mom, and I think he believed he was literally directing the music.  He was not troubled by any noises or people around him.  Even one of the band directors came up to him and gave him a “high five” after the completion of the band show.  The little boy believed he was helping the bands and found joy in the moment.  It was evident by the smile on his face and the excitement in his body as he swayed to the music.

Are you troubled about life around you?  Is your heart troubled?  To be troubled means to be unsettled, distressed, concerned, worried, stressed, or to have anxiety.  “Of course,” you say.  “Isn’t everyone?”  These are words common in our everyday conversations.  I hear them in most of my counseling sessions.  Jesus states in John 14:1 – “Let not your hearts be troubled.”  We scoff and say, “That’s impossible in my life.  Maybe then but not now.  Life is different now.”  Is it really?  Where is your focus in what you believe about life and God’s presence?

Are you troubled in your belief?  That is, Jesus says that we need not be troubled or anxious or even worry when we believe in Him.  So, if I am worried and troubled, does that mean I do not believe?  I don’t think so.  These are normal and natural feelings.  It is not wrong to feel them.  We are grounded in our belief system and usually build our foundation for life on our basic beliefs.  As a Christian, our basic beliefs are grounded in Jesus as our Lord and Savior who died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins.  We believe that God is with us through the gift of His Holy Spirit.  Sometimes we have trouble translating our basic beliefs into everyday living.

That is, we tend to separate our spiritual foundation of belief from our everyday life and decision-making in the routines and basics of existing in this world.  God is with us when we pray.  When we are at Church, and when we serve Him, but we tend not to recognize God is with us doing dishes, mowing the lawn, going to school, driving to work, and even at our work place.  That is when we become troubled.  Life is up to us, and it gets overwhelming to figure everything out on our own.  There is too much to do.  Too many problems and struggles.  Too many demands.  We lose our focus and get distracted by the world around us.

Oh, we pray about these situations and ask for God’s guidance, but rarely do we wait for an answer.  We plow ahead as if everything is on our shoulders.  We strive to be independent and confident.  We do not need help.  We can do it on our own, but then the unexpected happens.  Life becomes different and we lose our back up.  We have no back up plan, and that is when we become troubled, anxious, worried and afraid. 

You know you are saved from your sins through Jesus, and you confess them.  You know Jesus died on the cross for your forgiveness and the gift of eternal life.  But in your believing in Jesus, are you trusting that He cares about your daily, routine of life and wants to be your support, comfort, help, guide, and friend on the journey?  Are you troubled that you have worries and anxieties and know you should not?  The only way to release these troubles is to trust Jesus is with you every moment of every day, and Jesus cares about every aspect of your life.  From the big decisions of relationships to the small decision about what to eat and buy.  Your focus needs to be on Jesus just like that little boy kept his focus on the band and listened to the rhythm of the music.  Follow the rhythm of God’s Holy Spirit. 

When your belief system reminds you not to worry and you still do, you become more worried that you are not measuring up to God’s standards.  This is missing the essence of belief in Jesus.  Jesus wants to walk with you each step of life.  God wants you to be aware of His presence in each moment of life, not to judge you, but to love and guide you.  Jesus carries our burdens, our cares, our worries and gives to us His peace, protection, love and grace in exchange.

So, when Jesus says, “Let not your hearts be troubled.  Believe in God, believe also in me,” He is saying to you and me, “I got this.  Trust me.”  Breathe in the Spirit of Jesus every moment of every day.  When you start to feel anxious or troubled, stop and release it to God.  Don’t worry about others around you, allow God to direct the music of your daily life.  Find the joy in the adventure of life.

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You will find all my past blogs on my website – www.livinginthedifferent.com

Check out my new book – Live Different Moments.  Each chapter has an Annie story.  Annie will guide you in living into life

My NEW book – Live Different Moments - Available on Amazon -

Live Different Moments: Finding Contentment and Peace after Change and Loss: Sturtz, Elaine J. Clinger: 9798989125708: Amazon.com: Books

My Books – Living In The Different  and Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper – Available on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Living-Different-passages-through-sorrow/dp/0998310239/

https://www.amazon.com/Life-Lessons-Lone-Trooper-Legacy/dp/0998310255/

Peaceful Easy Feeling

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your hearts be troubled neither let them be afraid.”  John 14:27

I sat on our porch with the morning sunlight peeking through the trees that were swaying in the morning breeze.  The sky was bright blue with a few white fluffy clouds dancing across the sky.  The only sounds were the rustle of the leaves in the wind and in the distance the muffled sound of trucks on the highway about a mile away.  A huge difference from the constant sirens, traffic, and street noise I was used to hearing in the mornings. 

A song came into my head by the Eagles – “Peaceful Easy Feeling.”  While I am not usually a pop song fan nor a fan of the Eagles, this song’s chorus spoke to me this morning.  “Cause I got a peaceful easy feelin’ and I know you won’t let me down. Cause I’m already standin’ on the ground.”  My surroundings were peaceful, and life was not pushing or demanding.  I knew God was all around me as I was standing on the firm foundation of His love and grace.

Since my recent move, I have been slowing down my thoughts and my vision.  Yes, vision.  I am looking at the trees all around me.  The deep blue sky.  The bean field across the street.  Nature.  It is all around me and we are leaving the yard all natural.  No grass will be planted, just wood chips spread all around the house and then letting nature be natural.  This is easy because God’s creation will be allowed to grow however it chooses.  To me, this is the perfect yard.  It is not demanding to be trimmed, mowed, or pruned.  It just goes with the flow and does not demand anything of me but to enjoy its beauty.

This peace is also coming to me in my schedule.  While I am counseling virtually and in person as I accept new clients in the area, I am at peace choosing when to counsel and when to reserve time to enjoy the adventures of life.  This is a peaceful easy feeling that nobody is dictating my schedule or use of space.  Nobody is watching what I am doing.  It is God’s timing and schedule.  I like God’s way of looking at life.

I have found throughout my life and career that the demands of others have taken precedence in my schedule and view of life.  I believe this has been the root of much anxiety and struggle to accomplish what others expect not what God wants.  While God has given you and me gifts and talents and purpose in life, we tend to get lost in society’s overwhelming expectations.  We become burdened with producing to meet other people’s standards.  It becomes grueling and tiresome without joy or peace.

Life loses its easygoing and peaceful feeling.  This world cannot give us peace because it is always demanding more, which increases our anxiety and fear.  Only Jesus gives peace and contentment.  When we focus on the love God has for us and release control to Him, we can begin to experience peace.  This is the first step.  Then we begin living more in the present moment and know God has the future.  We begin focusing just on what is in front of us and on our next step trusting God will lead us.  Next it is not focusing so much on doing but on being with God.  Our whole purpose in life is to glorify God which means to love God naturally, easily without demands or stipulations.  It is enjoying our Loving God and not placing demands and requirements back on God.  For me, peace comes when I focus on Jesus being my friend who walks with me in the joys and storms of life.  Jesus fills me with the peace of His Spirit when I keep my eyes on Him.  It is not about what is happening around me as what is going on within me.  My spirit is at peace in the presence of God’s love and grace.

This peaceful easy feeling is coming more and more to me as I step away from the intensity of the city life, the traffic, and the demands placed on me or perceived by me.  It is when I look up at the swaying trees in the breeze and trust God for my next step.  It is resting.  Truly resting my thoughts and view of life.  It is resting my vision.  What are you looking at each day?  The mess, the screen, the brokenness of life?  It is there and will always be there.  My eyes are looking at the simple creation of God all around me.  I am focusing more on God’s love for me.  Not on preforming but on standing on the foundation of God’s love.  This brings a peaceful easy feeling.

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You will find all my past blogs on my website – www.livinginthedifferent.com

Check out my new book – Live Different Moments.  Each chapter has an Annie story.  Annie will guide you in living into life.

My NEW book – Live Different Moments - Available on Amazon - 

Live Different Moments: Finding Contentment and Peace after Change and Loss: Sturtz, Elaine J. Clinger: 9798989125708: Amazon.com: Books

My Books – Living In The Different  and Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper – Available on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Living-Different-passages-through-sorrow/dp/0998310239/

https://www.amazon.com/Life-Lessons-Lone-Trooper-Legacy/dp/0998310255/

Afraid To Trust

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and He will make straight your paths.”  Proverbs 3:5-6

The deer crossed about twenty feet in front of me as I was running my new path and jumped into the bean field on the other side of the road.  The deer stopped and turned his head to look at me.  Our eyes met for an instant, and I felt such peace like my dearest friend was looking at me and still was with me.  The deer was not sure he could trust me and that I would not hurt him.  He was cautious but still lingered for a moment.  To me, the deer reminded me that wherever I go, God reveals Himself to me in nature.  God reminds me that He is all around me and provides the beauty of nature for my enjoyment.

As I looked at the stack of boxes in my new house, it seemed like a huge undertaking to unpack and create this house into my home.  But because of previous moves and experiences, I trusted that it would be completed in a timely manner, like less than a week.  I was not afraid to take a break and go for a bike ride and enjoy the sunshine or stop for a milkshake or stop for a visit with a neighbor or chat with a family member who dropped by to check on me.  Because I have moved many times, I trusted my ability to finish the task and begin living and enjoying my new space.

It has been completed in less than one week. There are no more boxes to unpack, and all the boxes have been taken to the recycling center.  Everything has its place, and I have no fear or dread of coming home because it is neat, clean, and organized.  I trusted myself because of previous experience and knowing that God blessed me with the ability to focus, organize, and complete projects.

Life has fears and things we dread to do and experience.  We are afraid to trust others because of past hurts.  We fear new experiences and situations because of no previous knowledge.  We fear messing it up or not knowing how to complete it.  We fear not having the energy or perseverance.  We are focused on ourselves and our own strength.  Over my lifetime, I have learned to trust God in all situations. Sometimes, I do not rely immediately on God, but eventually pull myself back to depending on Him.  God is the One who has the strength and cares about all the details of our lives.  Even when we move and need energy to keep going.

I do not need to understand everything, but I do need to trust God in everything.  I know God loves me and wants the best for me.  Sometimes it does not look like where I want to go, but I am learning to pray, “God, you got this.  I trust you.”

This move has led me to reflect on another aspect of being afraid to trust.  We are afraid to truly enjoy life and lean into the present moment.  Oh, we trust God with our salvation.  We trust that God is with us in the tough and painful times of life giving us comfort and support.  We even trust God to give us strength to endure the trials of life.  We still ask why, but we still trust.  But to trust that God wants us to enjoy His blessings and not worry about what may happen next?  We are afraid to release our worries and fears because that is our way of trying to control the situation.

We are afraid to trust God in the good.  It is almost like we do not deserve to enjoy life when we see what is happening in our world.  We may not feel like we have done enough to deserve the joy.  We forget that God gave us life to live abundantly and fully in His presence.  It is trusting that God loves us so much that He gives blessings and joys.  Not all of life is hard and painful.  There is good when we look for it and stay focused on the moments. 

When we have experienced loss, we may think we cannot laugh and enjoy the good moments because we are grieving and miss our loved one.  Remember joy and sorrow mingle together.  Our loved ones are enjoying Heaven and being in the Presence of Jesus.  Trust God to give you good and enjoy those moments.  Find joy today.  Laugh today. 

Trust that God loves you so much that God gives you blessings and joy, too!

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You will find all my past blogs on my website – www.livinginthedifferent.com

Check out my new book – Live Different Moments.  Each chapter has an Annie story.  Annie will guide you in living into life.

My NEW book – Live Different Moments - Available on Amazon -

Live Different Moments: Finding Contentment and Peace after Change and Loss: Sturtz, Elaine J. Clinger: 9798989125708: Amazon.com: Books

My Books – Living In The Different  and Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper – Available on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Living-Different-passages-through-sorrow/dp/0998310239/

https://www.amazon.com/Life-Lessons-Lone-Trooper-Legacy/dp/0998310255/

Still Needed Forward

“Looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on…through Christ Jesus, who is calling us.” Philippians 3:13-14 (LB)

I crossed the county line and took a deep breath and sighed.  I felt lighter as I released the past thirty years of ministry.  I was driving into a new season of life.  I prayed, “Thank you, God, for using me to share Jesus and to walk the journey of life for a period of time with those you placed in front of me.”

Seasons of life.  We all experience them.  Some are short.  Some are adventurous.  Some are tragic.  Some are learning times.  Some seem never to end.  Through all the seasons, God walks with us and many times carries us through them.  I have been in a variety of ministries for the past thirty-five years but lived in the same area of the city.  I have officiated at baptisms, weddings, funerals, made thousands of visits, counseled hundreds of people, and enjoyed meals with friends and extended family and people who became family.  Life has been good, challenging, sad, amazing, overwhelming, active, and everything in between.

God used me as His servant.  I had a purpose and followed God’s plan.  Life did not always turn out as I had hoped or planned.  But I knew God was still with me. No matter what season of life we are in or going through, God is with us and still uses us and needs us for His Kingdom work.  Change is difficult but that is how God created us – to change with the seasons.

I am slowing down the pace of my life while still remaining active in the ministry God calls me.  I am tired of traffic, the city life, and the busyness that is praised by society.  I want to still serve God and enjoy God’s creation and the people around me. We never retire from God or being used by God.

Life can become overwhelming and busy without meaning and purpose. You follow what others expect and what society deems as important while missing out on the enjoyment and blessings God has for us.  Life will always involve hard stuff and seasons of hurt, pain, and loss.  Healing and hope usually comes in the quiet and peaceful moments that the fast pace of life denies us.  There is still good in this world that comes gently if we slow down and breath in the presence of God’s Holy Spirit.

I just moved into a small area of town and live on a cul-de-sac.  There are currently eight houses on my street.  I have already met four of my neighbors on the street and the two that live directly behind me.  Everyone has been friendly.  We do not have any appliances yet, so I am using a cooler as my refrigerator.  One neighbor whom I have known for twenty-four hours is giving me ice each day and letting me keep food in her garage freezer.  We just met but already they are helping us.  We are sharing God’s love and compassion with each other.

I am grateful God has called me to step closer to my biological family and enjoy this season of life with them.  I tried this move a few years ago, but I was not ready to let go and release the busy lifestyle of the city and the memories associated with it.  Now I am ready for the quiet and peaceful life while still serving God.  I will continue my counseling ministry but mainly virtually.  I will enjoy moments with nieces and nephews and siblings and explore parts of the state I have not experienced.

No matter the season of life, you and I are still needed and have a daily purpose in life.  It may look different than the last season which is good.  It was meant to be different.  It is releasing control to God and letting God lead.  God wants you and me to enjoy the beauty of nature He created and slow down.  Get off the merry-go-round of expectations of society and others and find the peace that only God can give.  As I was writing these words, I looked out the window and eight squirrels were racing around the trees in my backyard.  What a joy to watch!

I am looking forward to walking with Jesus in this season of life.  I look forward to being with those God places on my path.  I cherish the memories that will always be a within me and that are a permanent part of my foundation.

I hope you look forward.  Be thankful and grateful for what God has brought you through and how God has worked through you.  God still needs you in this current season of life.  Trust Him.  Slow down and enjoy the life around you.

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You will find all my past blogs on my website – www.livinginthedifferent.com

Check out my new book – Live Different Moments.  Each chapter has an Annie story.  Annie will guide you in living into life.

My NEW book – Live Different Moments - Available on Amazon -

Live Different Moments: Finding Contentment and Peace after Change and Loss: Sturtz, Elaine J. Clinger: 9798989125708: Amazon.com: Books

My Books – Living In The Different  and Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper – Available on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Living-Different-passages-through-sorrow/dp/0998310239/

https://www.amazon.com/Life-Lessons-Lone-Trooper-Legacy/dp/0998310255/

Living In Joy Not On Repeat

“You will teach me how to live a holy life.  Being with you will fill me with joy, at your right hand I will find pleasure forever.”  Psalm 16:11

Each morning, I wash a load of clothes that include my running gear.  I like to wear clean and fresh clothes when I run.  I do not like to leave the smelly and sweaty running gear in my house.  Wash. Rinse. Repeat.  We each have a routine in some form each day.  It may be a morning schedule that keeps you on task especially as the new school year begins.  It may be a work routine or a workout regimen.  Sometimes even our relationship with God becomes a routine – worship, prayer, and devotions.  Rinse and Repeat.

Routines are good and helpful because they keep us focused and on schedule.  They assist in making sure everything necessary gets completed.  But sometimes they become joyless, monotonous, and lead to just going through the motions of life.  We lose the joy of life and just wash, rinse and repeat.  We lose sight of the purpose of life and get lost in the dailyness of what the world tells us is important.  Life seems to be moving and just taking us along without much thought or focus on our part.  We get lost in the doing – the chores, the tasks, keeping up with the basics and attending the events that are required.  We want to be aware and knowledgeable of what is happening around us.  Though this can lead to becoming overwhelmed and feeling that we are not doing enough.  Some days may feel like you are going in circles or you are in the washer – wash, rinse, repeat.

So, how do we live into the joy of life and not on the merry-go-round of repetition without meaning?  I believe Psalm 16:11 is a foundational guide for this change and journey.  We learn through God’s Word that we are to live a holy life.  Holy means set apart.  To be set apart is to not be like everyone or everything around us.  When we get lost in society, the media, the behaviors and addictions of this world, we lose focus.  Anxiety and fear take control, and we are always worrying and being afraid. 

God sets us apart and teaches you and me, He is in control.  The weight of life is not on our shoulders.  God will carry our burdens if we will release them to God and surrender daily to Him.  It is not our responsibility to fix every person.  Really, it is not your responsibility! God will give you strength for each day.  To rely on God is to be in relationship with the One who loves us the most and is always listening and always present.

God promises to fill you and me with joy once we are set apart and focused on His presence and His power within us.  Notice that the joy is not what we create but what God gives us and fills us.  So, what is this joy?  It does not come from the world and outward circumstances.  It comes from within us.  Joy is an inner contentment that has nothing to do with our situation and what is happening around us.  It is an inner peace that does not let worry, fear, and anxiety be in control or even have a voice.  Living in joy is living in the presence of God.  It is when we find pleasure which is fulfillment, contentment, and daily purpose in being with God. 

Joy is being aware of God with you, within you, and all around you.  It is when you breathe in the fresh air of God’s Spirit and release the worries and pressures this world creates within us. 

I find joy when God becomes my priority, and I look at the things of this world and relationships through the lens of God’s love and grace.  I stop just surviving and completing tasks, to actually living life and experiencing God’s presence and peace in everything.  It sure changes my perspective and releases me from worry and fear.  God’s joy is my strength.

Joy awaits you.  An inner peace and contentment in which you worry less and trust God more.  A joy that is deep within you no matter what is going on around you because your focus is on God’s love, grace, and peace, not on the worry, fear and anxiety that the world is creating all around you.  Rinse off the negativity and worry, and live in the cleansing joy of God’s Spirit.

********************

You will find all my past blogs on my website – www.livinginthedifferent.com

Check out my new book – Live Different Moments.  Each chapter has an Annie story.  Annie will guide you in living into life.

My NEW book – Live Different Moments - Available on Amazon -

Live Different Moments: Finding Contentment and Peace after Change and Loss: Sturtz, Elaine J. Clinger: 9798989125708: Amazon.com: Books

My Books – Living In The Different  and Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper – Available on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Living-Different-passages-through-sorrow/dp/0998310239/

https://www.amazon.com/Life-Lessons-Lone-Trooper-Legacy/dp/0998310255/

Trust The Plan

“I know what I am planning for you,” says the Lord.  “I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future.”  Jeremiah 29:11

The hawk flew low across the parking lot in front of me and landed on a branch in a tree.  It had missed whatever animal it had swooped down to grab.  Earlier in the week, I watched the hawk sit on the wire high above the lot and just survey its territory.  A hawk always makes me smile now because it is a reminder of my husband, Dave who had a fascination with hawks.  It is also God’s way of sending me a message that his spirit is with me.  The hawk reminds me of my foundation of love that will always be with me everywhere I go.

Usually, I see a hawk just sitting on a fence or wire, but lately I have been seeing more hawks soaring through the air.  I interpret this as God’s way of speaking to me that it is time to keep moving forward.  It is time to be active and move, and God is telling me that He will be with me.

I am currently packing my possessions and planning for my next move.  Yes, I am moving to a new location.  In a few days I will be leaving an area that has represented my ministry for the past thirty plus years.  I have been blessed with many opportunities to share God’s love and grace with others.  It has been a privilege to walk with people in their joys, sorrows, and everyday life.  I give thanks to God for using me to share the love and compassion of Jesus with so many people.  I will continue to be in ministry the rest of my life but in different ways.  My counseling ministry will continue but mainly virtually.

As I prepared to pack, I made a plan where to start, what possessions to pack first and what needed to be boxed last and unpacked first.  I also have been planning where the furniture and items I own will be placed in my new space.  Yes, I make plans, but I know that no amount of planning and ideas will replace the actual seeing the possessions in the new space and finding their permanent location through trial and error.

Some of us are planners.  We have planner calendars and set goals and make lists of things to accomplish within a certain time frame.  Plans and goals are necessary to help us function in daily life and keep us focused.  But what happens when plans do not turn out like we expected?  How do we handle disappointments, unexpected situations, and complications?  You cannot foresee every possible issue in a plan.  Sometimes it feels like God has plans to hurt us and cause us pain.  Life is unfair, but I do not believe God plans to harm or hurt us.  Choices and consequences of other people’s choices cause hurt and pain and the brokenness of this sinful world.

Through my process of letting go of this familiar location of my life, I have come to accept that there are seasons of life and change is good.  We may have a plan or vision for our future, and sometimes in our planning though, we limit God’s blessings that He has for us.  We are looking at our own plans with our limited strength, vision, ability, and resources, and do not count on God’s power and strength and unlimited resources.  Everything is God’s.

In Jeremiah 29:11, God speaks to us saying, “I will give you hope and a good future.”  Do you believe this promise?  You may have lost hope when life changed, or your hope died with your loved one or another type of loss.  Therefore, it is difficult to see good in the future.  You had plans and now they will never happen.  It is true that they will not occur as you had planned.  Life will be different, and God will work in this different to bring blessings into your life.

It is letting go of our finite, tunnel vision plans and trusting God’s infinite and unlimited plans.  God will only reveal to us one step at a time.  It may not even make sense to you, but it is still trusting God.  Oh, we can play it safe and stay where we are and just exist in the familiar life.  But I believe God has a bigger plan to bless us with abundant life.  And it has nothing to do with wealth, possessions, power, or position.  God wants us to live life to the fullest.  To receive His peace that will bring contentment no matter what is around us.  A good future is God’s promise.  It is God’s promises to be with us each moment.  Life is good because God is good.  A good future and hope is trusting God and living in the present with God.

So, now I make a plan everyday to live more fully into life.  I plan to be aware of God’s presence with me each moment.  To trust God with my future and not worry about finances, possessions, what the future will look like, and even how everything will get from one house to the next.  I am just taking one step at a time and living in the hope of Jesus.

God wants to give you hope and a good future.  Trust the plan.

********************

You will find all my past blogs on my website – www.livinginthedifferent.com

Check out my new book – Live Different Moments.  Each chapter has an Annie story.  Annie will guide you in living into life.

My NEW book – Live Different Moments - Available on Amazon -

Live Different Moments: Finding Contentment and Peace after Change and Loss: Sturtz, Elaine J. Clinger: 9798989125708: Amazon.com: Books

My Books – Living In The Different  and Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper – Available on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Living-Different-passages-through-sorrow/dp/0998310239/

https://www.amazon.com/Life-Lessons-Lone-Trooper-Legacy/dp/0998310255/

Don't Be Afraid

“So don’t worry, because I am with you.  Don’t be afraid, because I am your God.  I will make you strong and will help you; I will support you with my right hand that saves you.”  Isaiah 41:10

I was just finishing my last lap on my morning run, and I heard a noise of breaking branches in the wooded area beside the street where I was running.  Out jumped a fawn who almost stepped on my foot!  I jumped and screamed, and the small deer darted across the street into another wooded area.  We scared each other, and after settling my heart down, I smiled and thanked God for the gift of His creation and the closeness of the deer.  But it took awhile to release the adrenaline the scare created in me.  The little deer was so afraid it just ran.

Two mornings later, the doe – I assume the momma of the fawn – was about twenty feet in front of me in the parking lot where I ran.  She was just strolling across the lot.  I spoke to her, “Good morning, buddy.”  She turned and looked at me and just slowly walked into the grass and tree area around the lot.  She was not afraid of me nor was I afraid of her.  I think she was used to seeing me.

It was two encounters with deer and two different reactions.  One was unexpected which scared both of us, and the other I had preparation.  We had seen each other at a distance, and we have had previous encounters on my morning runs.  I felt safe.  It was just like nature knew me and I knew nature, and all was fine. 

I believe God can speak through His creation and give to us insights for our lives in relation to fear.  When something unexpected happens, we react usually with some type of fear.  Our bodies may jump or freeze from being startled by the fear.  The fright may cause us to become numb or tense.  We may fear being harmed physically or hurt; therefore, we go into a protective mode.  We may react with a fight mentality and jump in trying to figure out what is going on.  Sometimes, we just run away as fast as we can and ignore that anything happened.  This is what the fawn did.  This behavior can influence future situations that cause the same emotional feeling.  Fear can control us and prevent us from living and enjoying life in the present.  Fears can be healthy to make us aware of dangerous situations, too.

When we encounter something different in life like a deer on our path, we can slow down our thoughts and recognize that fear does not need to be in control.  Yes, this world is filled with situations that create fear.  It is a scary place.  Our thoughts can also create stories that heighten the fear factor.  Worry feeds the fear.  Not all situations that at first heighten our fear reaction are really fearful.

Unexpected situations will happen in life – like a deer running in front of you.  Who are you depending on to hold you up through it and give you strength and help you through the unexpected?  Fear and worry will not give you any help or strength.  They just make it more intense.  God promises to give us strength and help us and support us with His right hand.  His right hand is His constant presence.  But before God does anything, God speaks to us, “Don’t be afraid.”  God wants us to know He already has us and the situation, so don’t worry.  That may seem impossible for you to believe or experience since you may worry about everything.  Worry and being afraid and anxious seems as natural to you as breathing.

I am learning that worry and anxiety come when I take my focus off God’s Presence and rely on my own strength.  I am not allowing God to help me and be my person and give me constant strength.  I am allowing fear and worry to be in control, not God. Yes, this world is filled with scary and harmful things, but sometimes we react and internalize things that are just a natural part of life – like an innocent fawn running across your path.

When I get afraid and worry, I remember Jesus’ words to His Disciples – “Don’t be afraid.”  Throughout scripture, this is God’s word or the word of his messengers to holy encounters, “Do not be afraid.”  This is a reminder to me and hopefully to you, God knows we will be afraid and anxious, and God comes to us in the midst of the worry and fear.  God wants us to trust Him and put our focus not on the fear but upon Him.  It is not living in the fear but living in the presence of God.  God’s got you!

Do not be afraid!

********************

You will find all my past blogs on my website – www.livinginthedifferent.com

Check out my new book – Live Different Moments.  Each chapter has an Annie story.  Annie will guide you in living into life.

My NEW book – Live Different Moments - Available on Amazon -

Live Different Moments: Finding Contentment and Peace after Change and Loss: Sturtz, Elaine J. Clinger: 9798989125708: Amazon.com: Books

My Books – Living In The Different  and Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper – Available on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Life-Lessons-Lone-Trooper-Legacy/dp/0998310255/

Love You Back

“Nothing above us, nothing below us, nor anything else in the whole world will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 8:39

When I was appointed to my first church as the Associate Minister, I was single and only twenty-three years old.  A wonderful couple, Dwight and Dawn, welcomed me into their family, and I “adopted” them as my church parents while serving the Church.  The relationship has lasted all these years.  Dawn took the journey to Heaven last year, and I have continued to share monthly meals with Dwight.  When we say goodbye, we hug each other.  I always say, “I love you,” and Dwight always responds, “Love you back.”  The love is mutual.  It has always been and will always be.

 When life changes, and the one we love is gone, we miss being loved back.  We miss our person, and the one we have chosen to love unconditionally and forever.  We still love them, but we cannot feel them loving us back.  That is a true description of loneliness.  It is having all the love inside us, but nobody to give it to fully.  We desire to be loved back and share a mutual sacrificial love.

 In our friendships and family relationships, we form a connection because of being born into the family unit or because we have chosen to share life together.  I have a cousin who is also my dear friend and every time we see each other we hug tightly and say, “I love you.”  It is a friendship that gives back the same love that is given.

 But not every relationship has an equal sharing of love nor is it designed to have it.  Though, there needs to be an equal acceptance and respect for each other as human beings, as children of God, and who you are in this season or stage of life.  This gives dignity and self-respect which are aspects of love. 

 So, what happens when people in your life do not give you back the love you give to them?  Do you resent them, feel hurt, unloved, unwanted, angry or a host of other feelings and emotions?  Do you feel not enough and try to please them to get their love and approval?  You may feel manipulated and used because of your compassionate and caring heart that you are sharing with them.  You may be a person that craves and needs the validation of others to feel loved and have worth.  Your person who gave it to you may now be in Heaven or may be focused on someone else when you need them.  This may create within you a feeling of emptiness and jealousy.  You want to be loved back.

 Relationships have so many different feelings and emotions.  God created us to be in relationship with others.  God created humanity to love Him and to love one another.  God is love, and God loves the world.  God gives to us His love, grace, and forgiveness.  God desire for us to accept His love and grace and to love Him back.  Oh, we cannot out love God because God is love.  There is no place we can go that God is not there and nothing separates us from God’s love.

 God always loves you no matter how you feel about yourself.  No matter what you have done.  No matter how lonely and lost you may feel.  God wants us to recognize He is always with us even in the darkest times of life.  Even when we feel unlovable.  God loves us.  When we are aware of God’s presence and invite Him into the moments of our lives, we are loving God back.

 God will always love us back.  His grace and mercy is His love.  In the tragedies and bad stuff of life, we do not understand the “why” of the situation.  We ask, “Why, God, did you allow this to happen?”  We still need to love God through it and ask for God’s help through the situation.  God loves us back by walking with us through the sorrows and sadness of life giving us His peace and comfort.

 God is loving you even when life is hard and painful.  God does not take us out of the situation, but His love sustains us in it.  God loves you.  Love God back by being aware of His presence in every aspect of your life.  Love you back!

********************

You will find all my past blogs on my website – www.livinginthedifferent.com

Check out my new book – Live Different Moments.  Each chapter has an Annie story.  Annie will guide you in living into life.

My NEW book – Live Different Moments - Available on Amazon -

Live Different Moments: Finding Contentment and Peace after Change and Loss: Sturtz, Elaine J. Clinger: 9798989125708: Amazon.com: Books

My Books – Living In The Different  and Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper – Available on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Life-Lessons-Lone-Trooper-Legacy/dp/0998310255/

I'll Be There

“I command you to be strong and brave.  Don’t be afraid because the Lord your God will be with you everywhere you go.”   Joshua 1:9

“So where are you going now?” He asked me when I told him I was moving again.  “You are always going somewhere.”  I enjoy adventures, taking trips, going on a vacation from the daily routine, and trying new experiences.  It is being active.  I do not like the word busy because of its negative aspects of being overwhelmed and too busy to enjoy life to the fullest.  I have also been active in moving my place of residence many times.  This will be my seventh address change in the past ten years.  Just pencil it in your address book, please.

Packing and moving is a great way to also downsize, donate, and share your earthly possessions now.  When I pick up each item, I ask myself, “Do I really need or like this?”  “Is it worth packing?”  This is truly a benefit of moving.  It is amazing how much unnecessary stuff we own.  I just take a picture of unneeded items and send the picture to my family’s Facebook page.  Usually someone needs or wants the item.  So everywhere I go, I take less stuff and create more room for memories and adventures.

A change of address brings feelings of excitement for the adventures ahead, but it also brings some anxious feelings of change and creating a new life and new routine.  Life will be different.  Remember, different is not bad, it is just different.  It is focusing on one moment at a time and not looking too far into the future.

The constant in each move is that everywhere I go, God goes with me.  God goes before me to prepare the way.  God walks with me in the changes.  And God sustains me in my life and new experiences.  I trust that God goes with me wherever I go because that is part of my foundational belief in God.  God is everywhere and God is present with me.

So if God goes with me everywhere I go physically, does God go with me in my head, my emotions, and all my relationships?  God is with me even when I do not recognize God’s presence.  You and I can go down some dark holes in our minds causing fear, anxiety, loneliness, and a deep sadness.  I believe Jesus is there with us to pull us out of these holes of despair, hurt, and pain.  There is no place we can go in our pain and hurt of life that Jesus is not beside us with His love and compassion.  All we need to do is look up and cry out, “Help me, Jesus.”

I run each morning and have a running app on my phone to keep track of my mileage and pace.  It has a voice that tells me every five minutes my distance and time and then gives me a statement of encouragement.  One statement is “Wherever you go, I go.”  I believe that is what God says to you and me.  God promises to always be with us physically in all the places we live and go because God’s Spirit dwells within us, and God is everywhere in His creation.  God is also with us in every thought and feeling.  There is no fear or worry that God is not with us, and God wants to carry that burden for us.  God is with us no matter where we travel in this world and where we travel in our minds and hearts.  He never leaves us or forsakes us.  God always knows what we need even before we ask. God is the one we confide in and vent to who never shares our secrets.  God is the only one who can heal our brokenness and understand our tears.  So no matter where I go, God is with me.

Josh Turner has a song titled, “I’ll Be There.”  Part of the lyrics states –

I’ll be a heart mender, a prayer sender

A hoper and believer when it’s all up in the air

A strong and steady shoulder, I’ll be a secret holder

Anytime, anything, anywhere

I’ll be there. 

This is God’s promise to each one of us.  On our journey whether physically or emotionally, God will be there.  Take the step to trust God.  God will be there for you.

********************

You will find all my past blogs on my website – www.livinginthedifferent.com

Check out my new book – Live Different Moments.  Each chapter has an Annie story.  Annie will guide you in living into life.

My NEW book – Live Different Moments - Available on Amazon -

Live Different Moments: Finding Contentment and Peace after Change and Loss: Sturtz, Elaine J. Clinger: 9798989125708: Amazon.com: Books

My Books – Living In The Different  and Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper – Available on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Life-Lessons-Lone-Trooper-Legacy/dp/0998310255/

Remembering The Dance

“Suffering produces perseverance, and perseverance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us.”  Romans 5:3-4

Yes, they are always there, but it is living in hope.  It is living forward.  Judy lived in hope – the hope of her faith in Jesus is what sustained her in the disease.  The hope of Heaven kept her eyes focused on the presence of Jesus.  We do not dance alone in life.  Jesus gives us His Spirit – the Holy Spirit to guide us in the dance of life.  The Holy Spirit leads us, picks us up when we fall, and always encourages us to keep going.  The Holy Spirit gives us the rhythm for life.

I felt the need to visit the cemetery where Pastor Judy Shook is buried.  When I found the grave, a flood of memories filled my mind, and my heart felt a hug from heaven.  It had been 20 years since I stood beside her grave and committed her body to its final resting place.  The days had been many, but the feelings and connection were fresh and strong.

I knew Judy was singing and dancing in Heaven which filled me with joy.  But the journey to Heaven had been difficult for her.  Judy and I were on staff together at a large church.  I was the youth minister, and Judy was the minister of pastoral care.  We had a good working relationship.  Then Judy began having health issues with her walking and then her speech.  She was diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis).  Her only family was an elderly mother and a brother in Texas.  She had nobody to walk with her in this terminal journey.  God called me to walk beside her for the last fifteen months of her life and organize her care.  I did not do it alone.  I had an amazing group of true servants from the church who became the Body of Christ in action.  I shared this journey in my book – The Final Dance of Life – Our Journey With Judy.

The dance image came from Lee Ann Womack’s song, I Hope You Dance. Judy was given a CD of this song on her last birthday on earth, and it was the hope she held onto through the next months of her journey home.  Judy learned to “dance” in her disease.  That is, she learned to live in joyful expectation, not just exist in life.  She found ways to not focus on the disease, because she was more than the disease.  She enjoyed the moments with whomever was present.  Her eyes danced when her body stopped moving, and her joyful grin filled the room with hope.

Judy taught me and all who came in contact with her how to enjoy the dance of life.  To dance means to be active and not just exist in life.  To dance is to live life to the fullest and not just stand on the sidelines and stay in your fears.  It is not letting the limitations we have stop us from living.  It is being active in whatever way possible.  To dance is to find the good and positive aspects of life.  It is not allowing the negatives, the hurts, and the brokenness of life to be in control.

As I reflect on my time with Judy and what I learned from her through those fifteen months, I first give thanks to God for the privilege of serving.  I am so grateful to God for calling me and humbled to have been a part of this sacred time.  Through Judy, I experienced the intensity and the holiness of the journey of dying and grief.  She taught me patience and how to listen and not try to fix but just be present.  My journey with Judy was the foundation for my next calling and ministry in life – a Hospice chaplain and a Christian Counselor.

I believe God allows the paths of our lives to intersect with others because we need them to teach us, be our guide or signpost to direct us, or help us to develop our character.  We need each experience and person to help us down the path of life and to live life to its fullest.  That is, to truly dance.

I believe God nudged me to visit Judy’s final earthly resting place to remind me of my foundation and to challenge me in this next season of life to dance.  Live life to the fullest even in the changes of life.  Be grateful for the experiences and allow them to be your foundation into the next season of life.

I hope you dance!

********************

You will find all my past blogs on my website – www.livinginthedifferent.com

Check out my new book – Live Different Moments.  Each chapter has an Annie story.  Annie will guide you in living into life.

My NEW book – Live Different Moments - Available on Amazon -

Live Different Moments: Finding Contentment and Peace after Change and Loss: Sturtz, Elaine J. Clinger: 9798989125708: Amazon.com: Books

My Books – Living In The Different  and Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper – Available on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Life-Lessons-Lone-Trooper-Legacy/dp/0998310255/

https://www.amazon.com/Living-Different-passages-through-sorrow/dp/0998310239/

Trusting In Hope

“Let us hold firmly to the hope that we have confessed, because we can trust God to do what he promised.”  Hebrews 10:23

It is amazing what God can teach you if you listen and focus on what is around you.  I was floating on a raft in a pool watching the clouds without a worry or thought in my head except for the shape and movement of the clouds.  Now that is a rarity for me and probably for each of you.  I was actually purposefully resting and enjoying time away from my normal routine.  When I stepped out of the pool and sat on the ledge with my feet in the water, Harper, my cousin’s Golden Retriever, immediately nestled beside me to be touched and have her belly rubbed.  All she wanted was to be loved.  She was hopeful and expectant and if you stopped, she nudged you to continue.

Oh, the simple pleasures of life – sunshine, water, clouds, touch, and the love of a dog. There was no outside pressure or responsibility.  God always teaches us through His creation whether it is in nature or in his animals.  Nature rests.  Dogs rest.  Dogs know how to relax and not let anything bother sleep time.  Nature rests in the seasons.  There are seasons of growth and the fruit of the growth.  There are seasons of rest and renewal.  We go through all the seasons in our aging process and in the changes of life, relationships, career, and spiritual growth.

I have found that time away from our routine of daily life is important to process and reflect on where we are currently in life and where God is leading us.  It is time to reflect on what we value and place as important in life.  Sometimes life just happens, and we keep going and doing without much thought.  We go through the motions and believe we are doing what is required and needed.  Life can become very routine, and we lose focus and purpose.  We do things because we think it is what God wants us to do and because we have always done it.

When life changes, we grieve the change whether from death, circumstances, or any type of loss.  Then we begin to look at the life we now have and wonder what life will be now.  We have hope that life moves forward.  We believe God is with us.  We trust God.  But do we trust God enough to rest and enjoy life?  That is right, to rest and enjoy life.  We trust God in the trials of life to be with us.  We trust God to be our Savior, Lord, and Heavenly Father.  But do we trust God enough to enjoy the life God has given to you and me?

As I rested by the pool, God reminded me that He did not need my help to run the world, to make sure the clouds moved in the correct direction, to check on the sun to make sure it would set on time, and not even help to keep me afloat on the water.  God could run the world and take care of his children while I rested.  I was not responsible for anyone else’s life or creation.  I was to enjoy the moment and focus on His love and care over me as His child.  My cousin’s dog, Harper, reminded me of the simple pleasures of life is what God wants me to enjoy and not worry about whether God can take care of everything.

Harper trusts my cousin, her owner, to always provide food, shelter, protection, and love.  Harper never worries about it.  So why do we worry so much that we do not rest in God’s protection and love?  Worry and anxiety really states that the hope that I confessed – God will always love me – is no longer true and I have to worry about the future.  Worry and hope do not exist together.

Trust means that I know God is in control and I can rest.  It does not mean I do nothing.  It means I wait on God to lead.  I rest in God’s love and presence.  I rest in His creation and nature.  I rest from worry and anxiety.  I rest in the hope that God will guide me in this new season of life.  I rest in not taking my old routine into the new season.  I trust God to take me one step at a time.

Rest in the trust and hope of Jesus.

********************

Check out my new book – Live Different Moments.  Each chapter has an Annie story.  Annie will guide you in living into life.

My NEW book – Live Different Moments - Available on Amazon -

Live Different Moments: Finding Contentment and Peace after Change and Loss: Sturtz, Elaine J. Clinger: 9798989125708: Amazon.com: Books

My Books – Living In The Different  and Life Lessons of a Lone Trooper – Available on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Life-Lessons-Lone-Trooper-Legacy/dp/0998310255/

https://www.amazon.com/Living-Different-passages-through-sorrow/dp/0998310239/