Overthinking

    It's one of my least favourite characteristics that make up who I am. Someone made a critical comment about my appearance a week ago, and I have been thinking about it ever since. They weren't trying to be rude or hurt my feelings. They were just being honest and blunt.

    At first, I didn't let it get to me. But then I talked to hubby about it and started processing it. I spent most of the next week obsessing over it and considering changing part of my personality to "fix this flaw."

    Finally, I looked at hubby last night and asked him if I was overthinking it. Without hesitation, he said yes. It was a relief to hear him say that because it helped me to move on from it.

    Today, I was at it again. I have an upcoming purchase to make and was overthinking how to make it all work. There is a very simple solution to it all, but first, I need to waste a whole lot of time and energy overthinking it.

    At one point, I wanted to make some adjustments to how and what I eat. I wanted to get rid of some of the junk and replace it with healthier food items.

    I spend way too much time overthinking way too many topics and items. And if you add tiredness to the mix, it's a whole other situation where I usually end up having a meltdown and cry. I also spent time overthinking the length of this post and whether or not it was going to be long enough. There is no right length of course. But, that's what happens in my brain when I overthink. I panic and have anxiety over everything.

    I wanted to share this story with you because I think it's funny how I spent so much time overthinking what someone said to me and that I overthink a lot of stuff. I suspect that those of you who overthink as well are sitting on your couch or wherever you are, raising your hands and saying, "Me too!" I hope this gives you a chuckle and puts a smile on your face, friend.

God Bless

~Hannah

I wrote this journal entry before my "My Gut-Wrenching Honest Prayer post. But I didn't get a chance to type it up last week.

My late grandparents cottage.

My Gut-Wrenching Honest Prayer.

     Lord, please forgive me for my bad attitude, pride, lack of self-control, and control issues.

    It has been quite the week. Season really, but also a particularly rough week. I allow my circumstances to dictate my mood so often that it has led me to have a bad attitude.

    Father, I've spent the last week thinking that I can't do anything about all these sin issues that I am struggling with. The enemy convinced me that the only thing in me was my human/sinful nature. And that only You can fix me. Which is true in part. Then You reminded me in this week's devo with hubby that I can be a part of the change and that I have a hand in this. You reminded me that I need to exercise self-control and that it will be a start for working through these issues.

    It's going to be a long road to work through all these issues, but I know You are faithful. You will never leave me nor forsake me.

    You reminded me of my free will the other day through our devotional and that also helped to remind me that I do have some control and can exercise correct control there. Control over my thoughts and actions.

    Thank you, Lord, for dying on the cross for me and my sins. Thank you to my hubby who is faithfully walking beside me as I navigate these issues. Amen.

    From our devotional on April 24th. "When it comes to the subject of self-control, many of us would like to dodge the issue. Maybe we would like to think there is a way to put our minds, will and emotions under God's "remote control." Instead of having to take responsibility for our actions and decisions, we think it would be easier for God to simply control us. However, God has a more creative plan in mind. He designed us with limited free will. This means we have the ability to choose right over wrong and self-control over emotional responses." From the book, The Daily Way. By Michael Youssef, Ph.D. That night's devotional hit me between the eyes.

    The next night's devotional added to the previous night's lesson very nicely. "A person who has an undisciplined spirit or no self-control is like a city without walls. He or she is open to enemy attack at any given moment. When we fail to exercise a spirit of self-control, the wild animals of jealousy, rage, frustration, gossip, false witness, and more can enter our lives easily and unopposed. The lack of self-control is Satan's way of preparing us for destruction."

    My gut-wrenching, honest prayer this morning to the Lord. Hubby and I talked last night and this morning, and he forgave me for my sins this week. But I hadn't asked God to forgive me yet or forgive myself. While doing laundry this morning, I wrote out my prayer in my journal, and God lifted the heavy weight of shame off my shoulders. I'm not off the hook by any means. Now, I have to walk out what I believe and am learning. But with God and my hubby beside me, I can do it.

    I share all this because that's what my blog is all about. I write about my struggles and remind both you and myself that neither of us is alone in our struggles. God is with us. I also believe that more than ever God is calling me to share these particular struggles with you. I expect it to keep me humble and accountable.

    I pray this post encourages you that you are not alone in your struggles and that we all fall short of the glory of God. But we serve The God of mercy and grace and of second chances.

Happy Sunday, friend.

God Bless

~Hannah

Testing mom's blood at my sister Rae's Family and Friends Day at school.

Prayer Life Refresh

    The other day I was scrolling through Instagram and found a video of a stay-at-home wife/mother cleaning/tidying her home. In the voice-over audio, she was talking about her prayer/cleaning routine.

    Instead of viewing housework as simply a chore to be completed. She viewed it as an opportunity to pray over her family. As she picked up her son's socks, she specifically prayed over that child. If she picked up something of her husband's she prayed for their marriage, etc.

    I love the idea and decided to implement it into my life. I'm also adding it to every element of my life and not just tidying my home. While at work I will pray over the car parts that I am priming, sanding or buffing. Praying over the vehicles that those parts will go on and the families that will drive those vehicles. And other areas in my daily life. Like walking Blessing, doing groceries, and everything else in between. I believe what the Bible says about praying continually and I do my best but sometimes, I forget. "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV So it's time to hit the reset button.

    Praying over people, places and things as I go about my day. Because prayer is important it helps us connect to our Father in Heaven, and because it reminds us of His power and majesty.

    God doesn't need us to pray to work in the people and situations that I will be praying over. He doesn't need our help. But He wants to have a relationship with us and show us how prayer changes lives and situations.

    Sometimes our routines can get stale and need a refresh. Whether, that's your morning routine, commute to work, food choices and even your prayer life. I think my prayer life needs a refresh and God in all His wisdom has shown me just what to do.

I pray this blesses and encourages you in your prayer life today, friend.

God Bless

~Hannah

Lake Ramsey, Sudbury, Ontario.

God Provides

    A few weeks ago, hubby did an oil change on our car and with the help of his father and brother discovered that we needed a new tie rod. After work, he picked me up and told me. We scheduled the repair, and I headed to my evening dishwasher job.

    Once at work, I checked the schedule for the following week. I see that I have an additional shift for that week. The girl who works Tuesday and Wednesday now has my Monday shift, and I have her Tuesday and Wednesday shifts. I smile to myself and see God's hand at work.

    After work, I came home and told hubby about my new shifts. And that we can use that money for our upcoming car repair. We had other ideas of how we would pay for the repair, but this method sounded better.

    Hubby is also the first to jump and get extra hours at work when needed.

    So, over the next two weeks, I worked a few extra shifts at the restaurant that in theory would cover the car repair. Hubby picked me up from the restaurant one evening after fixing the car with his dad and told me what our bill would be for the parts to fix our car. We had both separately been expecting a bigger number and were excited to see that it would be half of what we expected. My extra shifts more than covered the bill.

    Last night I saw that the schedule was posted at the restaurant. I saw that I am returning to my normal schedule next week. Monday night.

    Again, I smiled to myself and thought of how God was providing. You see, not only was He providing for us financially, but He was also teaching me a lesson. I keep thinking to myself that I would like more shifts/should be able to handle more shifts. Hubby lovingly reminds me that I do not want more nor can I handle more. But I'm also very stubborn and don't always listen. So God in all His wisdom allowed me to see that I don't want extra shifts, nor can I handle them.

    So, God gave us a two-in-one deal. Gave me extra shifts to cover the bill and taught me that I don't want extra shifts. He is so good. He knows what is best for us and what we need and knows that sometimes we need to experience what it is we think we want for us to learn what God already knows.

    What is God teaching you, friend? I pray this post blesses and encourages you today.

God Bless

~Hannah

My parents and I attended my sisters "Family and Friends Day" at school a few weeks ago. Where they gave us a tour of her lab, took our blood and showed us how they test it. Once she graduates, she will be a Medical Laboratory assistant/technician.