Category: Link-Ups

Kids/Parenting, Link-Ups

Future

Michelle

Today, I am linking up at Five Minute Friday. Every Friday, a community of writers and bloggers come together to write for five solid minutes on a prompt. No overthinking, no editing, no worrying about grammar — just write…

Today’s prompt is: FUTURE

And…GO!

Most days, when I think about the future, my breathing gets more rapid and shallower. My heart beats a little faster, and my brain goes into overdrive.

I begin to worry — have I prepared my kiddos well-enough for all that they will face? Do I have enough funds in reserve for ‘what-ifs’? Am I praying enough? Am I loving enough? Will my example prove to be a good one for these two humans that are more important to me than my own life?

Typically, I don’t stop there.

Recently, I made a decision to go back to school — again. I have my Bachelor’s degree. I also have an MBA. Now, I’m going to get my teaching certificate. Dude…am I crazy? I must be.

I begin thinking about the student loans I already have for my MBA, and I get a little anxious when I think about the possibility of taking out more loans.

How will I help my own kids when they begin their college tours if I’m still paying for my own student loans?

Sigh…you can see where my thoughts go when I think of the future — money…finances…budget…

Why does money cause me so much anxiety and stress? Am I alone in this? Surely not. Surely there are others who stress out about finances too.

I don’t necessarily need or want to be wealthy; I just want to be able to be comfortable without having to worry about meeting the needs of my family.

I am excited for the future of my children. I know they have bright and amazing things ahead of them. They are both so kind and smart.

STOP

Have a great weekend, friends!

His Word, Kids/Parenting, Link-Ups, Soul Relationships

Are You Doubting Your Dreams?

Michelle

If you’re anything like me, you have dreams…and you get all fired up about them, find the best ways to plan and achieve them…then begin to doubt them.

You begin to doubt whether you are ‘cut out’ to fulfill these dreams. You begin to question the dream itself. You begin to wonder if you can really do it.

Recently, I wrote about this at God-sized Dreams.

You can read more here: ‘A New Spirit.’

 

His Word, Kids/Parenting, Link-Ups

Reminders

Michelle

The kids and I recently had our spring break from school. We didn’t really DO much, but we did spend time together, which is always enjoyable.

While we were on spring break, the kids and I traveled south of Indy for a little mini-getaway. While driving, we passed a church.

The kids were happily engaged in their devices, which I don’t typically allow, because being in the vehicle is a great time to get them to talk to me. I have them captive 🙂 I made an exception for this trip, because I felt like we all needed a little time to ‘plug in’ and ‘zone out’.

I was lost in my thoughts — about school, about finances, about summer — when my gaze traveled to a church sign. It read, “Where God guides, He provides.”

So simple, yet so profound. And it’s not even the first time I’ve heard or seen the phrase.

But for some reason, it struck a chord in me just then. It was just what I needed to bring me back to reality.

This led me to think of another phrase, “God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.”

Friends, I am struggling these days with feeling ‘qualified’ to do anything God asks me to do.

I have been dealing with so much on my plate these days and I’m struggling to know what is the right thing to do; with knowing where God is leading and guiding me. I just have to have faith that God is in control. I need to be reminded of my life verse, Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

No matter how prepared I think I am for anything, nothing comes to me without first going through the loving hands of God.

Romans 8:28 reminds us, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” I can rest in this promise. Because I love God, I know that He will work everything out for good.

Does that mean I will only see good in my life? No.

But it does mean that, despite how I may feel about things, He will work it out for my good. It may not be comfortable. It may stretch me beyond what I feel I could be stretched, but it will be for my good in the end.

So, let’s think of it like this — He knows all of my days, my yesterdays, my today, and my tomorrows. He will take all of those and, despite the messes I make, turn them into a message. A good message. I only need to rest and trust.

 

His Word, Kids/Parenting, Link-Ups, Soul Relationships

A Time to be Born – My Story

Michelle
“If I told you my story, you would hear Hope that wouldn’t let go.
And if I told you my story, you would hear Love that never gave up.
And If I told you my story, you would hear Life, but it wasn’t mine.
If I should speak, then let it be of the grace that is greater than all my sin.
Of when justice was served and where mercy wins.
Of the kindness of Jesus that draws me in. Oh to tell you my story is to tell of Him.
This is my story, this is my song. Praising my Savior all the day long.”
~~ “My Story” by Big Daddy Weave ~~
My name is Michelle Nehrig and this is my story. I pray that you read these words and read of Him.
I came to Christ in August 2004. On December 29, 2004, my beautiful daughter was conceived. She was conceived out of wedlock, and, to many in the church, she was born in sin. But she was just what God used to reach me. In many ways, I was not prepared to be a single mother. In many other, more amazing ways, ways I knew nothing of at the time, God knew exactly what He was doing.
From the instant her father and I came together, I had a very strong suspicion that I was pregnant. I wouldn’t take an OTC pregnancy test until March of 2005 to have my suspicions confirmed. It was during that period of time that we buried my great-grandmother. I was not close to her growing up, as she lived in Minnesota, and we were in Indiana. But I firmly believe that it was because of her prayers that I’m here to write this story out for you today. I was her eldest great-grandchild, so I read at her funeral in Minnesota.
Continue reading at Uniquely Yours Ministries…
Book Reviews, Link-Ups

Return of the Continuums – Book Review

Michelle

I recently finished two books by Jennifer Brody: The Thirteenth Continuum and Return of the Continuums. These are the first two books in a trilogy by this author.

I was given a copy of Return of the Continuums (RC) in exchange for my honest review here. I knew that it was the second in a series of 3 books, so I had to purchase The Thirteenth Continuum (TC) in order to get the full story.

I enjoyed the TC very much. It was suspenseful and had a plot that kept me on the edge of my seat. I was anxious to start RC, the second book, once I finished the first one.

The author’s characters were full of depth and were well developed in RC. Although there were times I had trouble keeping up with the many characters and their roles, RC is an excellent follow up to TC. It is also engaging without stooping to the level of using sexual scenarios or bad language to ‘sell’ itself.

In the same vein as The Hunger Games series or The Giver, The Continuum Trilogy is a science fiction based story based in a dystopian society. If you enjoyed The Hunger Games, you will certainly enjoy The Continuum Trilogy of books.

While this is not a light, fluffy read, it will certainly keep you engaged and turning the pages.

I am looking forward to the next book in the trilogy and will definitely read it when it’s released.