Managing Difficulty

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Romans 8:37 GW
The one who loves us gives us an overwhelming victory in all these difficulties.

Accept it. Accept difficulty. Accept what’s on your plate and what’s ahead. It’s easy to run away from difficulty and to get stressed and upset when you’re facing hard times. But God equips you mentally and physically to handle difficult situations. Listen to Him. When you’re swamped with problems and high-pitched emotions, it’s time to recalibrate. God has given you great insight; don’t keep it waiting.
When you ignore or run away from your problems, you only make them worse. Instead, be quiet, accept what you’re facing, and give space to the Holy Spirit. Then you can understand the power that’s in you. It’s not you who can manage the difficult situations; it’s God in you. When you accept the difficulty and stop fighting it, you’ll feel a sense of relief. The first step is to accept the difficulty, though you may not completely understand it. From the place of acceptance, you can work out with the Lord your next steps. Accepting difficulty doesn’t negate the pain, but it strengthens you to be free from the strongholds of panic, anxiety, or uncertainty about what to do. Trust God.

Heavenly Father,
I accept the difficulty I’m facing. It’s so easy to become accustomed to seeing things negatively and not changing or growing spiritually. Help me stop putting up a struggle every time problems come at me. Show me how to accept them and give you space to lead me through them. I can’t hear you when I’m upset. Grant me peace in my soul to accept difficulty as it comes. I trust you, my Lord. Help me trust you more.

Rainforest Falls VBS

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Colorful Quetzals

Quetzals are known for being impressively colorful!

Jungle Jokes:

Why did Tango wear a watch? He wanted to see time fly!!!😂

What does Tango like to eat after dinner? A tasty tweet! 😂

Why did Tango show up at 5:00 for a 6:00 party? He’s an early bird!!😂

Abiding in the Kitchen – A short devotional from Esther Press

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John 15:5 "I am the vine: you are the branches..."
Since my daughters were little, they have loved being in the kitchen with me. Whether it is a box mix or cookies from scratch, they want to be a part of it all. I treasure those moments, but they are not always the easiest way. It is slower. It requires patience. It means pausing to teach, to guide, to invite them in. It is often much easier to do it alone. Yet easier does not mean better. In those ordinary moments, I catch a glimpse of the heart of Jesus. He did not rush past His disciples in the name of efficiency. He walked with them. He lingered. He taught along the way. Every moment carried intention. Even in His planned times of rest, He revealed the rhythm of abiding with the Father. He chose presence. How often do we choose differently? With sincere and even beautiful intentions, we serve. We love our families, step into ministry, and care for those around us. Yet somewhere along the way, we can begin to move ahead of Him. We work for Him, but not always with Him. We busy our hands, while our hearts slowly drift from His presence. And every time I do this, I come up empty. Not because the work is wrong, but because I have stepped outside of the source. When I rely on my own strength, wisdom, and understanding, I feel the strain. Jesus gently reminds us why. A branch cannot produce fruit on its own. It must remain connected to the vine. Life flows from Him. Fruit is formed through abiding. Even our best efforts, when separated from Him, fall short of what He longs to do through us. But when we slow down and turn our attention back to Him, everything shifts. The Holy Spirit leads. He redirects. He breathes life into what we place in His hands. What once felt heavy becomes light because we are no longer carrying it alone. Like inviting my daughters into the kitchen, what feels less efficient often holds a deeper purpose beyond teaching. There is connection. There is joy. There is love being formed in the middle of the process. This is the invitation of Jesus. Not performance, but presence. Not striving, but abiding. Not doing for Him, but walking with Him. Remember, He created you as a human being, not a human doing. Take time to be with Jesus before you attempt to do things for Him. Before you step into your next act of service, pause. Listen. Ask Him what He desires and how He wants to meet you there. 
Abide before you act. 
Prayer: Jesus, thank You for inviting me into life with You. Forgive me for the times I have rushed ahead and relied on myself. Draw my heart back to Your presence. Teach me to abide, to listen, and to follow Your Spirit so that my life bears fruit that reflects You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.