 Photo by Andrea Piacquadio at Pexels 1 Peter 5:7 ~ Surrender all your worries to Him because He cares for you. We planted Grass Heads in my classroom exactly one week ago. I did everything to the letter, and the instructions said expect growth in 5 - 7 days. Each day the kids checked their plants and every day remained the same ~ no change. I tried to appear the poster child for patience, but in my mind truth be told, I was freaking out a little bit. In my mind, I was worrying, thinking the worst. With no green thumb, I was stressed and fearful that these bad boys would NOT GROW AT ALL, never mind in 5 - 7 days. I didn't want to disappoint the students and I didn't want to look like I was completely clueless about growing grass. In hindsight, it seems like a very silly thing to worry about, but sadly, worrying about these little plants took up more of my time, then I care to admit. Well, today is the 7th day and ladies and gentlemen, WE HAVE GROWTH! Who knows? Today is Monday so we might have even had some growth on day 5 or 6, but I guess I will never know, because it was the weekend. Boy did it generate excitement and boy did I breathe a sigh of relief. Ridiculous I know in the grand scheme of things, but a big deal to the sweet little kids and me in Room 21. 
This little Science experiment really got me thinking about how sometimes we worry about the silliest things and waste so much time and energy fixating on the wrong things. In the big picture, even if these little Grass Heads didn't grow, there would still be something to be learned and life would certainly go on like it always does day after day. Understandably, the Grass Heads is a very small concern and there are so many much more serious concerns. Yet, it is easy to worry about both big and small things to such an extent that we can almost become sick about them. That is not what God wants for us. He wants us to trust Him with EVERYTHING, no matter how big or how small In the Bible it says He even sees the little sparrow fall from the nest. Our God sees it all and cares about it all. If it is a concern to us, it is a concern to Him. Period.  Photo by Pixabay at Pexels I heard a story about an argument between two older ladies. One felt that you should only take the big things to God in prayer, as He is FAR TOO BUSY to be bothered about your little concerns. The other quickly replied "I disagree. I take EVERYTHING to God in prayer, because quite frankly, EVERYTHING to God is a little thing. He is God after all." Drop. The. Mic. Lady number two clearly won that debate, hands down. So my friends, whatever you are faced with, whether it be a small issue or a life changing dilemma, please know that God is there for you. Don't wait and worry, but instead become a strong person of faith who waits and trusts God completely. Tuck that in your heart today ❤️and repeat this prayer below if you would like to ask for Jesus to help you trust Him more. Dear Jesus, Thank you that your word says that we are to surrender our worries to you. Thank you that you are deeply concerned with anything that concerns us. Please help us to realize how very capable you are. You got this! Move us from worry mode to trusting you completely. In Jesus's name, Amen Sending you a virtual hug, Dana
Tags: worry, trust God, big and little concerns, pray about everythingCopyright: © 2024 littlelessonslearnedbydana (Dana Romualdi)
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 James 1:5 ~ "But if any one of you lacks wisdom, he (or she) should ask God who gives to all, generously and ungrudgingly, and he (or she) will be given it." Decisions, decisions, decisions. How many of us ever get tired of making them? My hand would be the first to be raised, believe me. I am told that supposedly teachers make 1500 decisions in a day which ends up being four decisions per minute. What??? Perhaps that explains why I go into full on pajama-mode, completely exhausted after work, and have a hard time figuring out what to make for dinner! Wow! Recently, I read that there is legitimately something called "decision fatigue." When I read that I thought ~ Wait, that's actually a thing? Through a quick internet search decision fatigue is described as: simply being tired of making decisions. Really??? I can relate. The concept is that the more decisions a person has to make, the more weary he or she feels with that entire process. For this reason, people in this category tend to delay or put off decisions. The problem is you can only put off decisions, especially the important ones for so long. (https://onlinemba.wsu.edu/blog/decision-fatigue)  I had a little guy I taught one year that took great pride when completing assignments, to come and ask me consistently "What me do next?" It was hard not to giggle with his cookie monster-like lingo, but I sure had to give him credit for his initiative. I have felt like my student many times in my life especially when it comes to making big and important decisions. I am left thinking... What is my next move? What do I do next? What me do next? (LOL) I have found that taking some time to reflect is a very healthy process, but I also have to remind myself that eventually a decision has to be made. Recently I have been attending something called Prayer School at my church. I have learned so much more about prayer and new ways to communicate with our Heavenly Father. One thing that really resonated with me was when wisdom was discussed. In the verse quoted above, it clearly indicates that when wisdom is needed, if someone asks God for it, it is a GUARANTEE. Not everything we request in prayer are we guaranteed to receive, but with wisdom we are. Isn't that a powerful truth to comprehend? I sure thought it was.  Photo by MART PRODUCTION at Pexels If you are presently struggling with decision making, I implore you to invite God into the process. There is only so much we as human beings can figure out on our own. Some decisions have a lot riding on them and can literally affect the entire course of our futures. Requesting help to get these decisions "right" is not only wise but very necessary. Taking some time, taking it to the Father, and talking to people you trust about big decisions will set you on the path to wise decision making. The great thing about having God on your decision making team, also provides you with an added bonus of peace in the end. It doesn't get much better than that my friend. Tuck that in your heart today ❤️and repeat this prayer below if you would like to ask for wisdom from Jesus in both your big and little decisions. Dear Jesus, Thank you that your word says that if I need wisdom, you are more than willing to freely give it to me. Thank you that you are concerned with the big and little aspects of my life and the decisions around them. Please grant me your wisdom to make the best, healthiest and most appropriate decisions for both myself and my family. May these decisions honour You and serve to advance your kingdom. In Jesus's name, Amen Sending you a virtual hug, Dana P.S. Do your best and let God do the rest!
Tags: decision making, decisions, decision fatigue, wisdom, prayer, Godly wisdomCopyright: © 2024 littlelessonslearnedbydana (Dana Romualdi)
 Photo by Andrea Piacquadio at Pexels Who here likes to wait? Chances are that none of us would raise our hand on that one. Why? The reason is that waiting for things, especially important things is just plain hard. Where it gets especially hard is when you are waiting for a big dream, a special prayer request or a deep heart's desire to come to fruition. Having to wait with no answers or resolution in sight can be so painful and heartbreaking.  Photo by Polina Tankilevitch at Pexels I remember so vividly when my husband Phil and I wanted to start a family, I mistakenly assumed that when we were ready the babies would just magically appear. This was so not the case. I was unaware that I had a progesterone imbalance at that time and it sadly caused me to miscarry twice. We had our nursery ready but it remained silent and empty. We kept trying, and waiting and trying and waiting, yet only heartbreak and emptiness filled the pages of our journey to parenting. Everywhere I looked, there were pregnant women, babies, and baby showers. Commercials for diapers would cause me to tear up. I remember one evening sitting in our nursery crying with Phil and saying "What if having children is not part of our story? I can't even go there!" My husband refused to even entertain this and together we cried and prayed for a baby - again. Well I am happy to share that being childless was not in the cards for me. Today I am the proud mom of two amazing kids, Tyler and Shannon. Everytime I look into their eyes I feel God's grace reflecting back at me. They are an answer to my prayers in the flesh. I am blessed beyond measure. I don't know your story. I have waited many times on God for important things I needed and desired in my life and have felt the frustration and heartache in the waiting times. God has a heavenly timeline for each of us that often does not align with ours. This is where trust come in. God has our best interest at heart and in Psalms 37:4 it says ~ Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. If you are waiting on God, I understand. My heart goes out to you. I have been there. I am here for you. I will stand in prayer and agreement with you. Please reach out. It would be my honour to lift your requests to our Heavenly Father. Your requests are important. God doesn't let his kids down. He just often has a bigger, better plan that for now we can't see. Trust Him. Tuck that in your heart each day. ❤️ Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you that even when we are waiting, you are right there with us. You see our struggles and challenges and you are working to assist us, yet it often takes time. Help us to be patient with the process and learn to trust you more. In Jesus' name, Amen Sending you a virtual hug, Dana
Tags: waiting, waiting on God, patience, hard times, God's timing, answered prayers, faithCopyright: © 2024 littlelessonslearnedbydana (Dana Romualdi)
 Photo by Ben White on Unsplash Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could be carefree like when we were little kids? My students make it their personal mission every day to get one of the three blue chairs we have in the classroom. It seems because these chairs are different than the other burgundy chairs, they are deemed somehow "magical" or more special. One little guy this week even called himself "the chosen one" when he happened to luck out and get a blue chair for the day. Funny what we prioritized or worried about back then, seems so trivial now. Stress is relative they say, yet somehow as adults we long for the "good old days" when life just seemed well, a whole lot simpler. It is easy to feel overwhelmed on a daily basis. This is why the Bible clearer instructs us to seek help to carry our burdens. In 1 Peter 5:7 ESV it says to "Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." This is good news because the heaviness that you feel ... that weight in your chest that makes it hard to breathe... does not have to be handled alone. You can share it! Cast your anxieties on him Photo by Luis Quintero on Unsplash Why do we try to go it alone when it is clearly not necessary or part of God's plan for us? Think of your worries or stress like a very heavy backpack. You will never feel relief by ignoring it, denying it, covering it up or believing the lie that dealing with that heaviness is just the way it is going to be for you, forever and ever AMEN! You only truly get relief from that heavy burden when you lay. it. down. Where you lay it down though, is key. Putting it at the foot of your bed, or at the front door only to be picked up again and again, makes no sense. Instead, I encourage you to lay it at the foot of the cross. Jesus took all our anxiety, stress, needs and brokenness upon himself when he died for us on the cross. He has it all handled and he will help us manage and solve our problems when we partner with him. He cares for you God's love is beyond anything we can imagine. No love on earth can even remotely compare. He loves us with an agape love, which is unconditional. There is NOTHING you could do that would cause God to love you any less. He is ALWAYS ready and willing to welcome you with open arms. You are loved. You are chosen. You are valued. If you are full of anxiety or have a heavy burden, come to Jesus. He will help you and love you with a love beyond your comprehension. Tuck that in your heart today. Dear Heavenly Father, We thank you that your word instructs us to cast all our cares on you. You have big shoulders, and you can handle it. Help us to trust you and fully comprehend how wide, how long, how high and how deep, your love truly is for us. In Jesus' name, Amen Sending you a virtual hug, Dana
Copyright: © 2024 littlelessonslearnedbydana/ walkingintheword
 "Let's just pray" It is a phrase that I am very familiar with as all through my childhood, no matter how big or small the issue at hand, we took it to the Lord in prayer. My parents raised us with a deep faith in God and a strong belief in the power of prayer. Even as a adult when I would call my Mom crying or broken-hearted over things I was facing, she would listen wholeheartedly and as soon as appropriate, without fail would always say "Let's just pray." Today we are examining Philippians 4: 6 and 7. We will discuss what it says about prayer and the advice it gives about incorporating prayer into our daily lives. The NIV Bible phrases these verses this way: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Let's look a little closer at these verses together. Do Not Be Anxious About AnythingDo not be anxious about anything. Wow! Now that is a TALL order indeed. This is most likely because it seems there are more people suffering from anxiety these days than ever before. It is normal and common for us to worry about situations yet, if not kept in check our worries can easily escalate into anxiety. In our own humanness it is easy to get nervous about our concerns, but when we learn the practice of channeling our stress into heartfelt prayers, carrying our burdens becomes a shared experience, not a solo act. It is so much easier to feel peaceful when the load is shared. Pray About Every Situation Photo by Tara Winstead In this verse we are told to pray about EVERYTHING! I remember hearing of a debate between two elderly women, named Hazel and Edna. The heated debate was about what to pray and what NOT to pray about. Hazel shared with Edna a huge list of everyday things, as well as some more serious needs that she committed to prayer each and every day. Edna responded with immediate disapproval in regard to what she deemed the "minor issues" on Hazel's prayer list. Edna said in a condescending tone "Hazel, you don't pray about little things! God is way too busy to care about those! You only pray about BIG things!" With a twinkle in her eye, Hazel cleverly clapped back "Sorry Edna, but you are wrong there! Don't you know the God we serve? Everything is a little thing to Him?" Way to go Hazel! She is right. If it matters to us, it matters to God, so bring all your needs to the foot of the cross. Nothing is a BIG thing to him! He can do anything. The Bible says actually that he can do more than we could ask or even think, and all requests are important to our heavenly father. Present Your Requests With ThanksgivingWhen you pray, consider it handed over to God and thank him in advance for what he is about to do in you, for you and through you, in regard to your requests. When my daughter Shannon was very young, I asked her to pray about a tricky situation our family was facing. In her sweet little voice, she prayed a touching little prayer over the situation. Right after she closed with an enthusiastic AMEN, I proceeded to tell her AGAIN how worried I was about the issue. Shannon promptly cut me right off mid-sentence and said, "Now Mommy, we JUST prayed about that, now stop worrying!" Wow! Wise words from a little one. She sure told me. The Peace of God Will Guard Your Hearts and Minds Photo by Andrea Piacquadio When we take our struggles to God in prayer, we have now taken the issue from trying to handle it in the "natural realm" to instead harnessing the unlimited power of the "supernatural realm." Prayer changes things. There is peace in knowing that God now has it in his very capable hands. There is such a sense of relief that comes when we invite God to take control of our situation as we can then experience what the Bible says is called "the peace that passes all understanding." It is to our benefit to incorporate prayer into our everyday routines for so many reasons. If you are not familiar with how prayer works, or don't know how to start, you are not alone. Many have felt that way. Do not worry about formalities. Just speak from your heart. God is your friend, so talk to him the way you would a trusted confidant. I encourage you to harness the power of prayer in your life. Develop a daily prayer routine. It is a proactive and positive way to address your issues with the best Problem Solver out there! It will change your life. I guarantee it! Tuck that in your heart today!
Tags: prayer, prayer time, Why should I pray? Philipians 4:6-7, pray for me. pray for you, the power of prayer, pray about it, let's just pray, prayer changes thingsCopyright: © 2024 littlelessonslearnedbydana/ walkingintheword
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