GLEEFULLY His

I tip-toed out the front door of the house to take a phone call so I wouldn’t wake my napping teen in the family room. She’s recovering from surgery. I’d just caught a bowl-full of her vomit and reapplied ice packs to her incision sites. A moment in the sunshine, breeze, and green grass would serve as a welcome respite, regardless of the duration.

I spoke briefly with an irate plumber on the other end of the phone line, who was upset that my husband forgot to cancel the appointment to have them fix the water leak in the garage. While putting out that little fire, the general contractor (who is building a house next door for my parents to live in) texted with questions and to-dos and more facts and figures than my exhausted brain could untangle. My son texted his usual “can you pick me up” and “what’s for supper” in the midst of it all.

I hung up with the plumbers. Then I remembered the giant tarantula I’d just seen on the wall in the garage where the water is leaking. I looked down and took a long, slow, deep breath. And I noticed something moving. Right in front of me on the sidewalk, I watched two dung beetles skillfully and gleefully roll a deer turd right across my path. I burst into a fit of giggles and shook my head, thinking, “Well if that isn’t just the perfect picture of my life right now.”

Happy little poop bugs.

Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying my life is a turd. Sure, circumstances are difficult and stressful right now, but I recognize I’ve been blessed way beyond what I deserve. As one of my toddlers used to say, “I’m not complainin’. I’m just esplainin’!” What I am saying is I kind of relate to that happy little dung beetle and his partner-in-crime. That’s a stinky, sticky turd ball, but those two are making the most of it.

Work willingly at whatever you do,
as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

Colossians 3:23

Instead of asking, “Why me, God? Why is this my life?” Try asking instead the following question Lysa TerKeurst posted on Facebook yesterday: “What if this is happening because God loves me? I can’t see all there is to see. But He can. I can trust Him. I can trust Him. I can trust Him.”

I guess my point is this. At some point, we will all feel like a bug that’s rolling feces uphill; so, find the One who can help you roll it — and roll with it. It’s a lot easier to find purpose in the task and to accomplish it with a grateful heart when you work alongside your Creator and Savior.

GLEEFULLY His,

Nicki

NOT-SO-STUPIDLY His

It’s been a hard week. Situations arose involving finances, marriage, and parenting that left me feeling entirely clueless. And the still-recovering people-pleasing, over-achieving perfectionist in me does.not.like.feeling.dumb!

But that’s exactly where I found myself on multiple days this week: confused, stumped, not knowing which way to turn or how to proceed.

I stumbled across the social media post in the box below by She Rises. I cannot tell you how much it comforted and reassured me.

I turned to God. I’m still wrestling in prayer. To tell you the truth? I don’t have any answers yet.

But what do I have? Faith.

Faith that I’m not alone. Faith that God sees me and hears me and loves me. Faith that He is working all things together for my good. Faith that if I persist in seeking Him, He will hear my prayers and answer according to His will. Faith that He will never abandon nor forsake me. Faith that He can do the things I’m begging Him to do, and faith that He knows whether or not those things I’m asking for are even what’s best for me.

Faith that He is God. And I am not.

And I choose to be okay with that.

NOT-SO-STUPIDLY His,

Nicki

GROWINGLY HIS

Today’s blog is a lot different … it’s a PODCAST!

I recently sat down with Keri Wilt and recorded an episode for her “Well-Tended Life” Podcast. We had a lot of fun and focused on how we can grow through whatever we are going through.

I think you’ll enjoy listening. And I’m giving away a free book! Find my author accounts on facebook (Nicki Dechert Carlson, Author) and instagram (nicki_dechert_carlson_author) for details on how to enter!

Look for the Well-Tended Life Podcast on just about any podcast platform you use. Direct links are below.

LISTEN with IPhone: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-well-tended-life/id1518884906

LISTEN without IPhone:https://thewelltendedlifepodcast.buzzsprout.com/644737

Don’t forget to check my social media accounts at noon Wednesday for that giveaway information!

Growingly His,

Nicki

TIMELESSLY His

Life is a series of hellos and goodbyes, beginnings and endings. That statement has never felt truer than now, as I close out the year 2022 and open the year 2023.

For me, 2022 was a year of both slow and sudden change. A year of bittersweet endings and expected beginnings. A year of traumatic loss and surprising rebirth. Mourning and celebrating. A year of confusion, turmoil, twisted emotions, gut-wracking sobs, anger and frustration, pleading, and broken hearts strewn about like shattered fragments of glass. And yet, there was also blessing. Gratitude. The warm embraces of family and a few friends that carried us to the cross where we lay crumpled in a messy heap of surrender.

My thoughts about this last year spill onto the page in broken sentences much like my broken self. Emotions too overwhelming for words try to leak out of my eyes and down to my typing fingertips. 2022 was simply too much for me.

And yet, I’m still here to welcome 2023.

In my darkest moments last year, I was held by the One who holds the entire universe. When I couldn’t, He could — and did. When my emotions betrayed my faith, and my body couldn’t rest, and my racing mind just simply would not shut up … the Holy Spirit tended to my wounds that human hands and efforts could not reach.

I mourned so very many things last year — loved ones, friendships, dreams, and ideas. I am laying them to rest back there, in 2022. It is time to move forward. Not without them, but with a new understanding of them. Time will reveal the lessons that the hard work of 2022 has taught me. I don’t want the hardships to harden me. For now, I look ahead and welcome new days and new opportunities to experience God’s love and grace, and to share it with others. My mantra for 2023 is simple: keep your heart open. If that resonates with you like it does with me, I hope you’ll join me on this journey.

TIMELESSLY His,
Nicki

PRESENTLY His

We really looked forward to this weekend … our first weekend in many weeks when there was nothing scheduled. Recently, we’d moved our oldest into a new apartment while she finishes college. We’d moved our middle child into her first dorm room at a different college. We’d gone to tennis tournaments while supporting our youngest child. We’d been deeply embroiled in grief and the business that surrounds a death in the immediate family. We’d been preparing for and enduring the growing pains and anxiety and busyness of going back to school, two out of three of which were new schools for our kids. We’d weathered bad news after more bad news after still more bad news. But this weekend, we looked optimistically toward an opportunity for rest.

But then a fresh crisis emerged. Friday afternoon, we learned that our precious first pet, our sweet lapdog Emily, has liver cancer and is dying. She doesn’t have months. If we’re lucky she has a couple of weeks. Most likely, she has days.

Calls were made and tears were shed and our newly-minted college freshman took the news the hardest. We agreed to meet her halfway in-between her college town and our hometown on Saturday, so she could spend some time loving on her dog, just in case it was her last chance to do so.

It was all too hard, though. The idea of traveling back to her dorm in an unfamiliar city with unfamiliar people she is living with and being alone in her room while others went out to have Saturday night fun just seemed impossible. So, she followed us home for the night. We talked. We cuddled. We watched funny shows on TV. We talked about our feelings and our God questions and our grief. We discussed the importance of finding God’s blessings in the midst of all this pain, and in His ability to bring good out of every situation. We held our sweet dog and petted her until she fell asleep.

That night we all slept, comfortable and safe in one another’s presence in our home. This morning we awoke to the Verse of the Day on our phones. It was the same verse we recited last night:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,

who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

After our sweet girl kissed her pup, mustered her courage, and headed back to school, I cried in my husband’s arms and lamented, saying, “I just wish life would get a little easier for all of us. When is this awful season going to end? It’s about to get even harder!”

And within the next 10 minutes in our home, my husband, my son, and I all discovered hearts from God all over our house. One after the next after the next. Our own little signs that God sees us and loves us. We were not just safe in one another’s presence last night … we were safe in His presence. We are always in His presence. Thank God we are not alone.

PRESENTLY His,

Nicki

BLESSEDLY His

I’m a super honest person. Lately, I’ve been struggling with feeling insincere when I casually run into people around town. I got downright nervous recently at the grocery store while waiting in line with my cart of items, anticipating the impending conversation. A typical, short greeting in a situation like this used to go something like “Hi! How are you?” To which I would reply, “I’m great! How are you?” And then we would carry on with casual conversation or other business. Similar encounters happen when running into friends in public places. I have to say though, these conversations are no longer working for me. They don’t ring true and leave me feeling icky.

You see, I’m not great. Hell, I’m not even good. If I were to answer honestly, I would say, “I’m having a hard time. I’m really sad. And I’m really tired. Grief is so hard. I’m overly-emotional and completely overwhelmed. I’m also a little anxious. And I’m really, really vulnerable, which makes me easily hurt and then resentful, which I absolutely hate. I’m tired of crying. And I’m so ‘over’ bad news I could scream.”

Cue the young, stunned cashier at H.E.B. with her mouth gaping open, running towards her manager for help with the crazy lady in the checkout lane. Boundaries are important in our society. Even my friends and acquaintances would struggle to respond to that emotional outburst, regardless of its truth.

What’s strange to me is that even though I myself am “not good,” God and I are good. We’re solid, in fact. My faith has not wavered. My face is still fixed on His.

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9

So, as I struggle with social etiquette that coincides with honesty and faith, I’ve decided on the following for the time being:

“Hi! How are you?”

“I’m blessed. How are you?”

Because despite my erratic emotions, God’s blessings are consistent. Despite my hurt, God is still good. Despite my feelings changing like shifting sand with every new wave of grief, His grace still stands firm.

I’m blessed. And how are you?

BLESSEDLY His,

Nicki

CONSISTENTLY His

I had to retire my favorite pair of tennis shoes. For a tennis player, it’s a big deal. You see, the repetitive stops and starts on hard-court tennis surfaces wear and tear the soles of a player’s shoes. And if you play frequently, just about the time you get a pair of tennis shoes really comfortable and broken-in, you start to notice your feet sliding on the court more. Gone is the tell-tale squeak as you quickly move around the court. So, you check the bottom of your shoes and there it is … a smooth surface worn so thin it will render a gaping hole at any moment.

I still like the old pair on the left better.

So, despite the fact that these shoes are just now feeling really nice to play in — no pinches or pulls or movement inhibition — I suddenly have to give them up for a super stiff new pair. Why? Because the old ones are no longer safe. Without proper traction, I could slip or slide on the court, injuring a muscle or turning a knee or ankle.

These shoes remind me of my life. Just when I feel like I’m hitting a pleasant stride, everything changes. Out with the familiar, in with the unknown. Whether it’s suffering like illness, or upheaval like moving, or expected but difficult change like children graduating and leaving home, nothing ever seems to stay the same. The only constant is change itself.

God is always pressing forward. Always pursuing us. He is never stagnant. So, if we are staying the same, we are by default choosing to move further away from Him. If we’re not seeking Jesus in our daily lives, we are actually seeking distance from Him. Where He leads, we must follow. Not doing so equates to disobedience.

I’d like to tell you that I embraced that new pair of tennis shoes, went out and played hard, never complained, and my feet felt great. But they didn’t. And I didn’t. My feet were aching after being thrust into their new environment. I moaned and groaned about it, too. However, I know my sneakers will adjust over time. A few more outings and they will begin to loosen up, and before I know it, I will refer to these new shoes as my old comfortable pair. And then I will have to start this process all over again.

My friends, we will adjust and loosen up with a little time, too. Don’t fight change, but look for where God is moving and join Him there. New environments may make us tense with anxiety or fear, but soon it will all begin to feel familiar and comfortable. And that’s when we know it’s time for God to stretch us with something new once again. Because it’s in the stretching where we grow in likeness to Him.

Consistently His,

Nicki

BUSILY and BLESSEDLY His

        I hear the tell-tale sound of a text alert from one of my children, so I pick up the phone sitting next to my lukewarm cup of coffee that I haven’t had time to drink this morning. “Mom,” it reads, “I think I’m sick. Should I get a COVID test? Do I go to the health center on campus?” Another text alert. “Mom, the tennis meet today has been canceled. Can you pick me up from school, then take me home, then bring me back to the courts for clinic? And can you call and make sure clinic is happening? What’s for supper? Can you pick me up after clinic, because Dad may still be in his mediation?” A third notification pings, reminding me it’s time for my business meeting. I sigh as I realize I’m still in my nightgown. A fourth ping. A funny meme from the child I haven’t yet heard from this morning. I’ll read that later. The phone begins to ring now with an incoming call, and I realize it’s from one of the kid’s schools. Now the doorbell is ringing and the dogs are going berserk.

My dog-child achieved this
while I was writing this blog post for you. Selah.

        All this happened in a mere five-minute period this morning! To say we’re in a busy season at Casa Carlson would be a gross understatement. It’s tennis season, STAAR testing season, AP/Dual credit/final exam season, preparing for college season, moving home from college for summer season, scholarship application season, confirmation season, high school graduation season, prom season, and the list goes on and on. My mother-in-law asked me just a few minutes ago, “What’s keeping you so busy?” The thought of listing for her the things I had done just today was enough to overwhelm me!

        For the record, all these “things” causing me to run around like a chicken with my head cut off are actually wonderful blessings. Also, for the record, I am tired. When life gets hectic, my brain overflows with an insane number of dates and details, and the calendar fills up so tightly I can’t possibly wedge another thing in — yet here come more surprise events, plans, and needs — how do I respond? How would you?

        Well first, remember that cup of coffee? I warm that precious bit of bliss back up. I’m not even kidding. But second, I try to shift my perspective from “I have to” into “I get to.” So much of the busyness I could complain about is actually a direct answer to my heartfelt prayers. I must remember to offer active prayers of praise and thanksgiving. I have a healthy, active marriage and family. This season may be all-encompassing, but it’s just that: a season. And like all seasons, it will change. And when it does, I will miss this one in all its chaotic glory.

        I never want to take my role as a parent for granted. As Mother’s Day nears and the end of another school year approaches, I want to stop in the middle of the hustle and bustle and embrace the joy of watching firsthand as my children grow and move from one phase of life to another. I want to soak up every moment of learning, accomplishment, creativity, and even struggle. So many people I know would give their own lives for this privilege, so I don’t want to complain about it.

        One of my favorite familiar sayings is, “The things you take for granted, someone else is praying for.” That statement hits me in the feels every time. The world’s perspective says I should focus on self-care, and that all this “living of Life” amounts to stress and nothing more. But God’s perspective says, “Look at the lavish way I am pouring out my love for you. I am pouring out more blessings than you can hold.”

        Whatever season you find yourself in right now, I encourage you to stop and seek God’s perspective in the midst of it. Change your mindset from “I have to” into “I get to”. And recognize God’s love and blessings all around you.

Busily and Blessedly His,

Nicki

UNQUESTIONABLY His

               Who are you? And who am I?

               Famous philosopher Aristotle reportedly said, “We are what we repeatedly do.” Although I do agree that our habits and activities characterize us, I do not believe they are the essence of our actual being. If Aristotle were entirely correct, I would be coffee.

               If we want to truly know who we are, we must look to the One who created us. The Bible tells us God created all things and called them “good.” When He created humans, however, He called them “very good.” We are a reflection of God and His nature. So, if you question who you are, remember whose you are. Look into the face of your Daddy to learn more about yourself. You are the beloved child of Father God. You are the intimate, creative handiwork of the God of the Universe. You hold within you the same Almighty-God-power that brought Jesus back to life. And don’t ever forget, you are worth the gruesome, painful, suffering and death on a cross of your sibling brother, Jesus.

               Identity crises don’t exist when we cling to the truth of who we truly are. We are God’s. Everything else is just details.

UNQUESTIONABLY His,

Nicki

POTENTIALLY His

“The Little Coffee Bean that Could”

I looked out the window with groggy eyes and heard the familiar “whoosh” of the remaining water filtering through the coffee maker. I pulled the filter out and noticed a lone, whole coffee bean sitting precariously on top of the black, soggy mess of coffee grounds. It reminded me that the delicious, steaming, liquid goodness I was soon to drink was once just potential, held within the confines of this tiny, hard-shelled bean. We all know what those little beans must go through before they render that wonderful coffee elixir: planting, watering, weathering storms, harvesting, transporting, manufacturing, inspecting, packaging, and more transporting. After all this, we bring the beans into our homes, put them through a metal grinder, and pour boiling water on top of their remains. Sounds rather violent, does it not?

            That small, whole coffee bean I found this morning serves as a perfect reminder of the link between suffering and potential. Jesus, too, had to endure violent suffering before He could reach His full potential and purpose. Just for a moment, try to imagine Jesus without the torment of the cross. He taught, He healed, He befriended, He led, He challenged—all wonderful, important, life-changing activities. But if there were no cross—no piercing cries of agony, no spectacle of unjust torture, no pleas for forgiveness for His crucifiers, no humble obedience to God’s will for Him—He would never have met His full potential of world-changing salvation. Would Jesus be well-known and revered? Probably so, as a great man of God. But would He be the promised Messiah, the savior of mankind? No, He would not.

            Without the cross, there’s no mind-bending display of God’s power and authority over death. Without the cross, there’s no ultimate and final sacrifice allowing us to commune with God while still living in our filthy human bodies. Without the cross, there’s no redemption, forgiveness, and salvation offered to every person on earth for all time. Without the cross, there’s no Easter. No resurrection.

            Sometimes, there’s no way around suffering. Sometimes we must endure the bean grinder and the boiling water so God can release something magnificent lying dormant inside us—our full potential in Him.

POTENTIALLY His,

Nicki

nickicarlson.com

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