Thankful...

As we wrapped our head around the journey of moving, there were several tasks that needed to be completed.  One was getting our New York home ready for sale.  We needed to complete several ‘fixes’ on our home.  Some of the tasks have been in queue for several years as we placed them on the ‘back burner’ while we ran the business.  The queue was no longer an option, so I created a whiteboard that sat in the living room.  The whiteboard would mock us as I crossed an item off and then I would add two more to the end.  The list seemed to grow as the days left to fix everything shrunk.  It didn’t take long to become overwhelmed by the massive set of tasks.

Then it happened…

Help started coming from all corners of our church…

First, one woman came and sat with me as I started the packing/painting process.  She picked up a brush and stood by me and painted walls and packed boxes.  She stayed with me holding my ladder as I climbed to the top and reached the hard spots outside.  She came back every day with a smile and encouragement as we packed room by room until almost all rooms were done!  She never gave up on me or my overwhelming tasks.

Another woman stayed on the phone with me as I painted the trim of a room alone.  She kept me company and talked with me for TWO HOURS as I painted with the smallest brush avoiding the wall and only catching the molding.  We talked about EVERYTHING!  It was hilarious and uplifting all at the same time.  The Next thing I knew, I was done and I had beautiful memories of our conversation…

What a blessing!

Another couple came over and helped us trim ALL the bushes and trees!

Another couple came over and helped us stain our deck!

AND they volunteered to take one of our vehicles to Florida to save us from driving two down or paying a large sum of money to a company to transport it.  I have another story about THAT I will share later!

Another couple brought us soup…

Two men from the men’s group came and helped my husband paint!

Then there was someone special I have to mention who didn’t go to our church.  He worked with us and when we turned the key on the business, refused to go home.  This man stayed by Carl’s side from that day until the day we pulled away from our home in NY.  He helped with all the fixes, helped clean out the barn, mowed the ten acres of lawn, and never stopped until everything was done.  He refused to take any money or a paycheck from the day we turned the key on the business.  He did it without any fanfare or any expectation.  We will always be grateful for him and pray for him everyday. 

There were so many people…

There were so many helpers…

I can’t leave out the MANY, MANY prayers we were covered in during this time as well…  So many people from our church prayed with us and over us those seven weeks while we did the fixes/packing.  We couldn’t have done it without the covering of prayer…

Thank you seemed so hollow compared to what was given…

We are so humbled by everything.

We are so grateful…

I wanted to share this and thought it was the perfect time to do so today…

I am thankful for so much.  The above is just a small example of God’s Glory…

Thank you Lord!

Love you guys!

I thank my God every time I remember you. 

Philippians 1:3

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Faith over fear in change...

 

Eight years ago, today.  We put all our eggs into one basket.  Yes, it occurred on April 1^st, but it wasn’t an April Fool’s joke though there were those who believed it was.  We were told by family members that we were making a bad financial decision.  However, we had prayed and knew God called us to make this change.  In the end, God wins.  I am glad He did.

To be honest, everything on the outside eight years ago looked like a dumpster fire.  

I took a huge pay cut and left the corporate world to help my husband in his HVAC business.  We were giving up my health insurance and steady income that helped pay all our expenses.  Who does that?

When my husband and I prayed over this decision, we weren’t sure where God was leading us or the business.  Eight years later, we have experienced the highs and lows of working together and running the company.  We started out of the gate growing and changing processed like crazy.  God blessed our decision.  We started to see why God moved me into the business.  I had financial and project management skills while Carl had 30 plus years’ experience in HVAC.  He could fix anything, and I could organize it.  The business thrived. 

The first year or so was the hardest because Carl was used to running HIS business.  He wasn’t used to relinquishing control of the daily activities.  I was used to coming in and just doing my job.  I didn’t expect a push-back.  We are both Type-A personalities so… there was a bit of a struggle when we went paperless with the new software.  The changes we implemented were positive, but change is hard, for everyone.

We thought we knew where God was leading us, then things would change.  We had everything in order, and things would change.  We hired extra help to ramp up the business when it grew, and then things would change.   Covid hit, and things would change.

Do you see a pattern here? 

Change.

No matter what we did, God allowed the changes to build us and lead us to where we are today.  We are stronger together as a couple.  We are stronger in the Lord.  All due to the changes He allowed.

We just had to take that ‘leap of faith’. 

What does the future hold for my husband and myself?  Only God knows.  He has our business and future in HIS capable hands, and we trust him.  The only constant we can count on is… 

Change.

So, we trust HIM and pray as we move forward each day.

Here is to 8 more years of change, or whatever NEW adventures God has for us!

Love you guys!

'Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. '

Proverbs 3:5-6

https://www.bible.com/bible/111/PRO.3.5-6

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Don't fall for the decoy.

 

I have learned many lessons from our newest puppy.  One of the latest lessons is not falling for the decoys.

Let me explain.

Gabriel, our newest puppy, likes to get into EVERYTHING!  All things are his toys.  Just ask him!  He is so excited to get into anything.

Shoes. When he was a little puppy, Gabriel would ‘borrow’ a lone shoe and take it around the house for a ‘walk’.  We would spend extra time getting ready as we played hide and seek with all of our shoes…daily.

Papers in the garbage.  We are forced to always keep the waste basket at ¾ full.  Any papers left in the view of his peering eyes are subject to Gabriel fun.  He LOVES to shred papers.

Toilet paper on the roll.  He walks into the bathroom, pulls the roll quietly and walks into the other room as it follows him along.  It is almost humorous… almost. 

Rocks and leaves. He brings them in from the outside and hides them around the house to play with them later. We are the lucky ones to find them for him, like Legos.   

And the latest is the shower squeegee. Yes, even the squeegee doesn’t even stand a chance. 

Gabriel sneaks into the shower and grabs the squeegee like a ninja puppy.  Then he heads into the bedroom to snack on the long rubber edge that cleans the shower door.  I realized which side he was snacking on when I tried to clean the shower door and streaked the door like a bad window washer. 

SQEEEEEEEEKKKKK!  Ew.

So, we decided to double down and beat Gabriel at his game.  We purchased a second squeegee that we could hang up in the shower.  We kept the old one in the same place on the floor next to the door.  This way, he was a happy puppy, and we had a clean shower door. 

However, old habits die hard.  Let me explain.  I would finish my shower and grab the old squeegee on the floor by habit and suddenly realize it was the wrong one when I saw the streaks in the door. 

SQEEEEEEEEKKKKK!  Ew.

 

OOPS…I grabbed the decoy.

Finally, I would grab the new one hanging on the wall and clean up my mess and laugh.  I fell for the decoy…

How many times do we do the same thing?

Not pay attention to things around us and kick into automatic mode and grab the ‘old squeegee’ or things that are not helpful in our lives?

I get caught up in the daily grind and forget to grab my bible or pray when I am stressed sometimes.  Instead, I grab the remote or I vent to the wrong person.  

Decoy squeegee.

Instead of calling a sister to pray for me, I close the door and get inside my own head.

Decoy squeegee.

Instead of taking a drive when I am stressed, I open the fridge and grab that snack that is not healthy for me.

Decoy squeegee.

I do it all the time.  But you know what?  We have an AWESOME God who reminds me daily that I can start over again.  Even when I grab the wrong squeegee daily.  He quietly reminds me.  I then repent and turn back to Him. 

What Grace I experienced then!  What Joy I experienced then!

Today is a new day. 

2025 is a new year.

Don’t get caught up in all the old squeegees.

Don’t get caught up in unforgiveness.  Especially unforgiving yourself.  Forgive, move on.  God did.  You need to also. 

Let’s tackle 2025 together!  New squeegees!

Love you guys!

                                                       Copyright © 2022 Peggy A. Priest. All Rights Reserved.

Wisdom and lemon meringue...

 

Can I share a story my son shared with me?

First - let me share a story from 1979. Just a couple years ago...

I was a very determined teenager who wanted the newest gadgets but was often short on funds to meet my goal.  I learned at an early age how to be creative.  I started working when I was only a pre-teen. I would take babysitting jobs while we lived in Japan. I also taught the Japanese students English for a little extra money.  I did whatever I could to have a little money and buy that new shiny gadget I saw or another rock for my pet rock collection.  Yep, I had a pet rock collection.  It was the 70s.  You will have to look that one up.

The summer of 1979 I discovered a concert was coming into town the following year.  I had NEVER been to a live concert and wanted to go SOOO bad, however I didn’t have concert money.  Well, that particular summer the Navy had their annual picnic which included games and multiple prizes.  Most of the prizes were not exciting for a teenager but one caught my attention.  2 Tickets to either a football game OR to the CONCERT I wanted to see!  KANSAS! 

I was SO EXCITED! 

The game was a pie eating contest.

I like to eat!

The pie was lemon meringue.

Meh, lemon wasn’t my favorite, but I could figure this out…

All contestants were allowed. Men, women, even kids.

I was 14 years old and determined I would win.

I preemptively went to my father and said, “If I win, I want the concert tickets.” He said, “If you win, take the football tickets, and I will pay for your concert ticket.” I agreed to his compromise. 

He thought nothing more of the transaction believing his daughter was outnumbered against grown men.

I bellied up to the table and with my hands behind my back stood toe to toe with men twice my size.  I didn’t care.  I was on a mission.

When the contest started I dived into my pie, refusing to look at my competition.  I thought to myself, no matter what I am going to give it my ALL.

I did.

I won that day. 

There was not a lick of lemon left in that dish.  I jumped up and ran to the judges to collect my prize in front of a group of very astonished grown men.  The smile on my face was so big!  There was no holding me back!

Then I went behind the stage and … well let’s say I returned the pie to its natural state.

Kansas toured Japan for the first time in Japan January of 1980.  I was at that historic concert.  I also haven’t had lemon meringue pie since the summer of 1979.  Two historic moments.

Side note: I just found out one of the bandmembers became a born-again Christian in 1980 and the lyrics of their next three albums reflected his beliefs.  God was working in their lives! 

Now back to my son’s story.

I have told that story many times over the years, but I didn’t realize any of my kids had internalized it.  I was speaking to Joey recently and he mentioned his walk with the Lord has been a journey of hills and valleys.  Often, his journey was fighting with the Lord as he fought for his will instead of God’s way.

I can relate.  I have done the same thing many times over the years.

He also said a person will not be ready to step into their journey with God until they get the world out of their system.  He spoke from experience.  He knew that without giving up everything that he ‘thought’ he wanted, then there would be no room for what God had for him.  What he thought he wanted was plain garbage.  God had so much more for him.  He said going back to what he thought he wanted was like a dog going back to its vomit, or me going back to my lemon meringue pie behind the stage.

I had to laugh at that statement!

He remembered the lemon meringue pie story!  And WHAT a word picture!

A dog going back to its vomit – Proverbs 26:11

Getting sick and tired enough.

You have to get sick and tired enough of your old life before you decide that God’s way is so much better.  That is what my son was saying.

He is right.

I knew that, but what a word picture!

And what a memory!

And what wisdom from my son!

So, when you think your kids are not hearing your silly stories, they are.

And, they are using them in context by His revelation.

How awesome is our God?

Love you guys!

 

'As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly. '

Proverbs 26:11

 

Here are 100 Bible Verses on Wisdom:

https://www.openbible.info/topics/wisdom

 

And for a bit of humor… here is a link on Pet Rocks…

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pet_Rock

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Thankful for you!

 

I wanted to take a quick moment this week and say...

I am thankful for you!

There are so many things you could be doing right now.  You have a lot going on this week.  You chose to read this message.  I am thankful for that.

I write to encourage and bring the love of Jesus to everyone.

I wanted to start a ministry of Hope.

His Hope.  His Joy.

You have helped me do so by reading my ramblings here and passing them along to a friend or two.  And for that, I am thankful.

When my kids were small we used to do a prayer/gratitude journal during homeschooling days.  Some days I go back to those journals and just read the things we were thankful for. 

This blog is an extension of my thankful journal.

I can go back and see all the things God has done these past three years when I started this journey. 

How awesome is our God that we can go back and remember the Great things He has done!

Love You Guys!

Here is a link with a few Bible Verses about Thanksgiving: 

https://www.concordia.edu/blog/17-bible-verses-about-thanksgiving.html

Here is a song by Brandon Lake to get you in the grateful mood: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQdfs5S6jyA

                                                      Copyright © 2022 Peggy A. Priest. All Rights Reserved.

2024 Thoughts...

 

What if 2024 was your last year?  What would you do differently?

I am sure you have heard the question – “If this was your last day on earth, what would you change?”  I thought about that question a few times over the years.  Each time my answers became more focused. 

I would spend a small amount of time making sure my affairs were in order.  But then I would change my plans for the day.  My focus would be on my husband and those closest to me.  I would pick up the phone and start calling those important to me.  I would then reach out to a neighbor or a family member in need.  I wouldn’t care about the small stuff around the house.  Petty arguments wouldn’t seem so important with only 24 hours left to live.  I would not think about the time - but pack in as much love as I could in those hours before I left this earth.  I would want to spend the last moments with my husband and my God in sweet communion.  Would it be perfect?  No, it probably wouldn’t but it would be with my God and my man and that’s all that would matter.

We might ponder that question above for a while when we hear it, but eventually the daily grind comes into focus and then we would just walk away.  Work, life, stress, gets in the way and next thing you know we lose our true focus – Jesus.

Today I am asking you to take this question a step further. 

Again, what if 2024 was your last year?  What would you do differently?

This could be your year God has been speaking to your heart to step out and finally do what He has called you to.

365 days.

That is the time we have.

We are not guaranteed a day longer than God has planned for us.

You are here for a reason.

You are here on this earth for a purpose.

What is your purpose?

What have you been sitting on that God has called you to do?  What if He is just waiting for your willingness to answer His call?  Someone is waiting for you!  God doesn’t need us to do His will.  He doesn’t need us to do His purpose.  However, we can receive the blessing by being obedient to His calling and be a part of His Plan.

How are you using your 365 days?

Pray for opportunities this year!

Get Ready!

Buckle Up!

God Has A Plan for You!

Will you join me?

 

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord , “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

 

Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

 

                                            Copyright © 2022 Peggy A. Priest. All Rights Reserved.

My Husband's Super Powers...

 

I woke up in the middle of the night and suddenly realized I had discovered my husband’s superpowers!

Okay, stay with me for a minute.

For those who know me and my husband, you may be thinking you know some of his ‘superpowers’ already, and you might be right.  He is quite the talented man with many gifts.  However, I discovered yet one more of those gifts last night in a crisis.

These past few weeks have been a little stressful for our home.  Burning the candle at both ends would be an understatement.  Clinging to our God and the prayers of those around us has brought us through it all.  We are completely grateful for those who stand in the gap!

So back to my story!

Christmas is normally an event that starts mid-year with an excel spreadsheet and a game plan for me.  However, this year there was no game plan.  In fact, there was no plan.  There was no spreadsheet.  There was only a mad rush to the post office.

This week I was scurrying around the house like an elf on Christmas Eve attempting to get all the cards completed, gifts purchased and staged to be wrapped, then mailed out in time for Christmas.  Time was not my friend this year. 

Last night after a long day at work my husband came home and asked what he could do to help.  I grabbed him and escorted him into the bedroom.  What happened next was not what he expected or planned.

He walked into the bedroom to what could only be explained as a landmine of gifts and boxes stacked all over the bed with my laptop in the middle.  I was in the final stages of wrapping.  Each box had its set of gifts to be wrapped in a section ready to go.  Wrapping paper was poised with tape and scissors in que.  Cards, pens, name tags, and confetti ready to go. 

Yes, confetti for the cards.  Another story for another time.

I asked Carl to assist with the wrapping process so I could get the boxes mailed out in the morning. Without hesitation or complaint, my husband asked me about the process and then proceeded to request tools for his task.  His own scissors and tape.  I agreed but thought it would be easier if we shared.  “How fast would this be?” I thought.  Meh, either way I would do whatever it took to get the job done.

I handed him the first box to wrap and started to organize my space to wrap as well.  Before I could get my personal space set up - Carl handed me his wrapped gift.

WHAT?

I took the gift and proceeded to hand him another to wrap while I put the tag on the wrapped gift and organized the box it would go into.  Before I had a chance to complete my task he handed me the second gift, wrapped.

Seriously?

Now I was starting to get curious. 

I handed him another gift and just watched this time.

In stealth-like fashion, Carl picked up the box, turned it around a few times, cut up a piece of new wrapping paper like it was butter and immediately wrapped the gift like he was at Macy’s wrapping center.  Not only did he wrap it, but it was better than I would have done.

I decided to test him.

I handed him a mug - without a box.  Okay, sir, wrap this!

He did! And he put a bow on the top.

I didn’t have time to wrap even one.  I couldn’t keep up with his wrapping.

So, I decided not to fight the system.

I handed him each gift one by one and organized the boxes.

Systematically he wrapped each gift like a ninja as I barely had time to write the names on the tags and place them carefully in the correct boxes to be mailed.  The next thing I knew, all five boxes were completed and sealed ready to go.  What a BLESSING!

And all these years I have been doing this by myself.  And not well at that because I am not a wrapper...

Carl normally doesn’t have time to assist with this process, but this year has been different.  The business has been slower.  My normally executed plans were thrown in the water with all the pitfalls that came our way this year.  But I would have never discovered my husband’s hidden superpower if all of these things hadn’t occurred.

My husband has never experienced what I do each year for the family.  He just hears about the infamous ‘boxes’ that must be sent out in time for Christmas.  He has never seen the process or been a part of the action.  This year he was.  It was a blessing for him as well.

And now you know his superpowers too…

And next year is going to be different… 😊

 

Galatians 6:2

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

 

Matthew 18:20

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

                                           Copyright © 2022 Peggy A. Priest. All Rights Reserved.

What I learned from fasting

 

I know this is a strange topic after Thanksgiving and going into the Christmas season but hang with me for a minute.  In less than 30 days we are looking at a new year, 2024.  Time is flying by faster than we can watch the second hand on a clock.  And as I have aged, I notice the seasons are like a quick movie at the theater.  Wasn’t it just Spring?  Didn’t we just turn the calendar over to 2023?  How is it going to be 2024 so soon?

So maybe it is time, no pun intended, to sit for a moment and take stock of 2023 and see where God wants us in 2024.

Hence, one of my reasons to fast.

Everyone looks at fasting differently.  Some fast for a meal.  Some for a day.  Some for a week or more.  There are many examples in scripture of those who fasted and how God granted supernatural revelation through that practice.  Whichever way you choose to fast, research scripture, pray, and let God’s Spirit lead you each step of the way.  Take fasting seriously and with reverence.  It can be an extraordinary time with Holy God.   You don’t miss out on the blessing.

I fasted for different reasons over the years.  Often to get closer to my God and seek HIS will in a situation.  I recently walked into fasting with a list of requests.  I knew it was time, and there were so many reasons I needed this moment with my Lord.  I asked a friend to pray as I stepped into the moment.  I took my list of concerns to the Throne and closed the door behind me.  I wanted answers.  I wanted clarity.  I wanted time alone.

I fasted each day until dinner.

The first day I didn’t know what to expect.  I just came to my God and said here I am with my list.  After a bit I realized my list wasn’t as important as HIS will.  He listened to me and my fancy list as any father would.  Then He just quietly guided me to HIS will. 

That first day He gave me one simple task.  Nothing earth shattering.  Just one task.  Not an overwhelming task.  In fact, it was so menial that I can barely remember it right now.  All I remember is that I said, “Ok Lord, that is easy I can do that.” And I did it. And I didn’t stress about all the other things on my list.  I just went to bed that night knowing He had them in HIS hands.   

Each day it became easier to hear HIS will.

Each day I would see an answer.  Not to what I asked for, but what I needed.

Each day was a new blessing.

Each day was a new answer.

I came out of fasting different than I walked into it.  I expected to have my list checked off and neatly completed.  Instead, I was changed, once again, to HIS will.  My focus was realigned. My heart was tuned to HIS.  My list was now HIS.  We were now on the same page.  What a concept?

Breaking the fast.

What surprised me the most was my feelings of sadness by the thoughts of breaking my fast.  I didn’t expect those feelings.  Honestly, I expected more feelings of excitement to get back into my normal eating schedule but what happened was the eating desires had dulled and were pushed back by my overwhelming desire to spend more time with my Lord.  The sad feeling was like getting ready to leave an amazing vacation and getting ready to go back to work.  There was work involved in fasting and praying, don’t get me wrong, but there was a sweetness and closeness that spending time with my heavenly Father couldn’t compare to any banquet.

What my heavenly Father left me with before I broke my fast was – “I am always here” “You can come to me anytime just like this” “You don’t need to fast to be this close to Me” “You just need to step away from the distractions.”

Distractions…

Another blog for another time… 😊

Merry Christmas!

 

Click here for some bible verses about fasting:

https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/bible-verses-about-fasting/#:~:text=Matthew%206%3A16%2D18&text=17%20But%20when%20you%20fast,in%20secret%2C%20will%20reward%20you.

                                           Copyright © 2022 Peggy A. Priest. All Rights Reserved.

Thankful for You!

This month I wanted to give back and share how thankful I am…

For You.

Yes, You.

Each day, week, or month I post on social media or here I am blessed by Your words of encouragement and positive feedback.  Your heaven-sent blessings are always timely.  Never underestimate God’s timing.  What most people don’t realize is that I post to remind myself of God’s goodness and to cling to His Word daily as I struggle to get through this crazy world, we live in.  Your words of encouragement are a source of daily blessings.

Knowing my words help others in the process is a bonus blessing for me!

So, once again, I come and say I am grateful for you!  You fill my cup every time I put pen to paper.  You bless me day and night when I open my social media account.  When times are difficult, your encouraging words keep me going, keep me writing.

Thank you, my friend, for always being here.

Because of you, I write these short holy echoes.

You can’t outgive God.  Go out and encourage someone today! 

Happy Thanksgiving!  

 

1 Thessalonians 5:11  

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Hebrews 10:25  

not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Proverbs 27:17  

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

                                                           Copyright © 2022 Peggy A. Priest. All Rights Reserved.