Perseverance Requires Grace

James 1:4
Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Yes! I would love to run a marathon! It is on my bucket list!

That was me a couple of years ago.  I did not run, unless someone was chasing me or the ice cream truck passed me. However, I always wanted to run a marathon and I had 10 months to figure it out because I signed up!

I am going to let you into my world for a moment. At that time in my life, I was a cute, little piece of chunkiness at 250 lbs. Many people, including my doctor, always referred to me as proportionally fat. I am not so sure that was a compliment, but they assured me it was. 

Either way, shopping for running shoes and clothing did not come easy. Most athletic stores thought a size 8 was XL! I have to give some props to my most favorite stores in this area though. They both had wonderful staff who didn’t even blink when I said I was going to run a marathon.  They congratulated me and offered me all sorts of advice. 

My favorite was this little guy (I am sure my shadow weighed more than him) who was a runner. He had ran several marathons. Knowing that I wasn’t the typically shaped runner, he recommended I buy mens’ running shoes because they would handle my more robust frame. He tried to say it so delicately. It was the cutest thing. Then he looked at me and told me to take it slow and give myself plenty of grace.

Grace…now there is a word that I would have never thought of when training for anything athletic. I pictured my workouts more like having a Drill Sergeant on my shoulder calling me every name in the book and telling me I am not good enough and had to try harder. Grace?? Where does grace fit in?

Well, let me tell you Mr. Wisp of a Man was totally correct! You see I had to start out learning to walk 30 minutes without killing myself. I then learned to run for small burst here and there. Next, I learned to run for 30 minutes straight. Eventually, I ran farther and longer. Then I had to learn to run faster. I had to persevere. 

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Some days were hot, others cold. Rains came down along with sickness. Not to mention I had a few pulled muscles and lots of cramps! Any point along the way I could have said, “Nope! I am not good enough! I am too fat and no fat woman should never run!” I could have quit, but I didn’t. 

I offered my body and mind some grace. Sure, I would get up some days and say there was no way I was going to run that many miles. I wasn’t feeling well or the weather wasn’t cooperating. “No problem. I will run as much as I can today instead.” There were even days when I got so sick I couldn’t walk, let alone run. That was OK too. “I will rest up today and hit it hard tomorrow!”

Just like our walk with Christ, we aren’t going to be perfect all the time. We aren’t always going to live in a perfect world. Our days are not going to consist of rainbows and unicorns all the time. It is OK. We just have to persevere. We have to get up and walk again. We offer ourself a little grace and pick right back up and move on.

Before you know it, you will be throwing off everything that hinders you and the sin that so easily entangles and run with perseverance the race marked out for you (Hebrews 12:1).

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By the way, I ran that marathon, with my daughter, at 230 lbs. Unfortunately, it was an extremely cold day and half way through I succumbed to hypothermia. But you know what? I can say by the grace of God I ran a half marathon! YAY ME!

Copyright © 2018 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

Weekend Blessings

Colossians 3:17
Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.

TGIF! We have made it through another week of life.  I hope yours was blessed.  

As you look forward to your weekend, I pray your calendar is blank, open to all sorts of possibilities. Those are my favorite kind of weekends.

No matter how you spend this weekend, I would like to pray for you today.

God, I thank you that we are chosen, holy and dearly loved by you. As this weekend approaches I pray we will be blessed with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Help us to be there for one another and give out as much grace as you have given us. Over all these virtues we will put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Help us to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts, since as members of one body we are called to peace. Let the message of Christ dwell among us richly as we teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to YOU with gratitude in our hearts. 

And whatever we do, whether in word or deed, we will do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to YOU, God the Father through him.

Amen
(Colossians 3:12-17) 

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Copyright © 2018 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

Thank You for Traveling that Road

Philippians 1:6
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

No one’s life is all rainbows and unicorns. We all face painful moments that rock out entire world in a matter of seconds.

These moments will change you forever. So let them change you for the good.  Let them make you smarter, stronger, and grace filled. 

Through these times of trials and tribulations you just might be molding into the person God is preparing as the answer to someone’s prayer. Someone is going to need your wisdom, knowledge and most important empathy when they travel the road behind you.

Right now you may not see the end of the tunnel, but I know the LORD can. He is right next to you every step breathing life into your present and future. He is shining HIS light in the darkest places. Hold on tight. 

He is NOT going to leave you or forsake you. His grip is very tight and He will not drop you. No uncertainty, no broken dreams, and NO FEAR can keep you from Him.

Kick, scream, cry, throw a tantrum if you must. But then straighten your crown, remind Satan just who you are and keep moving.

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Copyright © 2018 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

You Are Guac!

Psalms 139:13-14
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

I recently read a story about a speaker who stepped out on stage and pulled a $100 bill out of his pocket.  He asked the audience, “Who would like to have this $100 bill?” Hands shot up all over.

He then took the bill and crumpled it up, threw it on the ground, stomped on it and got it all dirty and nasty.  Once again, he asked the audience, “Who would like to have this $100 bill?” Again, the same hands shot up all over the place.

The speaker when on to explain this is why God still wants you! It doesn’t matter how beat up, tore up, dirty or crumpled you are, He still sees your worth! Just like no matter what is done to that $100 bill, nothing changes its worth. Nothing will ever change our worth to God!

If someone hasn’t told you today, you should know you are fearfully and WONDERFULLY made and God makes WONDERFUL things. I guarantee in God’s eyes you are the guacamole NOT the salsa!

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Copyright © 2018 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

The Wrong Side of the Bed

Colossians 4:5-6 
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Boy did I wake up on the wrong side of the bed!

I actually considered crawling back in and getting out on the other side…hahaha!

My poor husband. I was neither wise in my actions, nor were my words seasoned or full of grace. As a matter of fact, I felt so badly that I arranged to have lunch with him to refresh our day. I am happy to report that it did.

We all have those days. Maybe something went wrong to throw your day off. Maybe you didn’t sleep well or woke up sick. It doesn’t matter what started it. It is how you finish it.

I know taking words back is like putting toothpaste back in the tube. If like me, you let things get out of control before you could get a hold of them, then make up for it. I know this isn’t always possible, but try. 

Whenever possible, be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone (Colossians 4:5-6). But when it is not and the damage is done please remember foolish people laugh at making things right when they sin. But honest people try to do the right thing (Proverbs 14:9, NIRV).

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Copyright © 2018 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

Matthew 11:30 Friend

Matthew 11:30
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could all be Matthew 11:30 friends? I think if we followed the commandments we would be just that!

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ. (Gal 6:2)

This is my command love one another. (John 15:17)

And let us consider how we may, spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up on meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Heb 10:24-25)

If we spent more time loving each other instead of gossiping

If we spent more time walking next to each other instead of tearing each other down.

If we turned to encourage instead of turning to criticize.

As Christians, we are to reflect Jesus. Jesus described himself as a Matthew 11:30 friend. Isn’t it about time we try our hand at it too?

You want the pain to cease
Extend the yoke of peace
We may not agree
But believe you me
What a lighter burden it will be!

 

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Copyright © 2018 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

Grace and Love

1 Corinthians 13:4
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud

I realized I forgot to blog on Friday. Actually, I had a lot on my mind. I had a migraine on my mind.

My doctor had me give up coffee and tea. Cold Turkey! Can you say major withdrawal? I had severe migraines, flu-like symptoms and oh yes, I was cranky! I am not sure I have apologized to everyone enough.

I am so lucky my family and friends were able to exhibit some 1 Corinthians 13 love. I sure needed their grace and understanding.

Aren’t you glad God gives us gace and love? How good are you at extending that same grace and love to those around you? Do you give grace and love to only those you believe deserve it?

News Flash!

That is not grace or love!

God does not dole out grace to only those he finds worthy. Thank Goodness! I am sure I would not be one of those worthy people.

Next time someone has you at your wit’s end, remember to fall back! Thank God! He has never left you without grace or love. So don’t give up on this person either. I am guessing you could both use some grace and love. I know I could!

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Copyright © 2018 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

SHMILY

Song of Solomon 6:1
I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine

My hubby turns 50 today! The past year has been so awesome! He has seen his granddaughter turned two, a grandson was born, and we found out another grandchild is on the way. Don’t get me wrong, we had some downs too, like losing our beloved Annie. However, through it all, we have made one thing constant. We stuck together.

On his card, I wrote one simple message SHMILY. I wish I could take credit for it. However, the idea actually came from our first year of marriage while we were reading a devotion by Dr. James Dobson. He and his wife always play this game. They hide SHMILY on little things around the house. SHMILY stands for see how much I love you! Since reading that Todd and I have also played the same game.

You never know where SHMILY might end up, or when it might show up. Sometimes it is a simple text message just to make the other person smile. Sometimes it’s written on a card. Sometimes it even makes its way onto the bathroom mirror. Where or whenever it shows up, it always means the same thing. I’m thinking about you. I love you and I want you to know just how much I love you.

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Copyright © 2018 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

Yet I Rejoice!

Habakkuk 3:18
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.

I want to begin by apologizing for not blogging last week.  It was a rather difficult week for me.  For those of you who know me or have read my story, you know I am accompanied by a service dog.  Meshach is my current service dog.  He is actually my second service dog.

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Annie was my first.  We met when she was just six weeks old and were a service dog team for 8 years before I had to retire her because she was going blind.

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This past week she had a stroke.  We believed she was going to come out of it fine because she got up the next day as if nothing had happened.  By Monday evening though, it was a very different story.  She began to have seizures.  She was no longer able to get up and move around.  By midnight we knew we were going to have to make a hard decision the next day.

Tuesday morning I had to say goodbye to a dog that had saved my life so many times. I held her until her very last breath. She was surrounded by family and friends and made as comfortable as possible.

It has been a week since I came home and found her totally disorientated. It has been a long hard road, but I can now say her name and smile.  I can remember all the funny things she did and laugh again.

Tomorrow will probably be rough because it will be one week since I said good-bye.  The day the veterinarian calls to let me know I can pick up her ashes will be another.  However, through this whole situation, the verse in Habakkuk has kept ringing in my ears. “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” Every time I would begin to cry and get upset, I just kept repeating this verse.  I won’t lie and tell you it made me smile right away, but it did make me breathe.  It made me realize I would go on and I would smile again.

I can’t say for sure that our pets will meet us again in heaven, but I sure hope so.  One of my friends put it to me this way.  “Love is in heaven and Annie was pure love!”177633D3-9FCC-420C-9BF3-BE8BEC789B3A

Copyright © 2018 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.

He Trusts You!

1 Timothy 1:12
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service.

What is your service?  Do you work outside of the home? Is your service to your family in your home?  Do you do both? What about church? Friends? Strangers?

God’s service is not confined to the four walls we call church.  Nor, is only given to pastors, missionaries, and bible scholars.  God has a service for everyone.

Here is something else you may not know. His service for you may always be changing. I mean daily!

I have heard that little voice before encouraging me to call someone, pray for someone, let the person go in front of me or even offer a helping hand.  These little nudges come quite unexpectedly out of nowhere.  I have even found myself in the place where God has asked me to give up my last couple of dollars to someone when I needed it. These are all calls to service.

Have you ever thought of it the way Paul so eloquently put it in 1 Timothy 1:12?  God considered you trustworthy and appointed you to His service.  Did you catch that?  God considered you TRUSTWORTHY! He is trusting you to follow his instruction.  He called YOU!

Not your pastor.

Not your Sunday School Teacher.

Not your small group leader.

Not the missionary or evangelist

Not even the little old lady down the street who knows every verse in the bible by heart and quotes it in every one of her prayers.

No, he trusted and called on YOU to perform this great service.  No matter how small you may think the task is, in God’s plan, it is HUGE! And he has trusted you with it. The God of the Universe! The maker of all things has trusted you enough to ask you to do him a favor and perform this service.

So, the next time you hear that small voice answer with a “YES SIR! Right away sir! And thank you, sir, for trusting me with this task.”

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Copyright © 2018 Tabetha Frick All Rights Reserved.