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Godly Goals | What Does It Mean to Work For the Lord

Feb 5, 2020 | Bible Reading, Blog, Devotional, God's Will, The Art of Faith | 0 Comments

Welcome to the last post in the godly goals series–it’s all about what it mans to work for the Lord. I’ve had such a sweet time digging into what the Bible has to say about goals and working toward them. In case you’ve missed a post–I’ve linked them all here:

The previous posts will explain the premise of this series. Today we’ll just dive in. The last “goal-y” word we are going to examine is “Labor/Work.” When we think about goal setting it’s hard not to think about work. These words will help us see what it looks like to work for the Lord.

Ergon

Ergon: business, employment, that which any one is occupied

We’ll start our discussion of doing work for the Lord with a straightforward word. Ergon directly correlates to our modern understanding of “job.” When it comes to goals–our career ambitions (keep last week’s discussion of ambition in mind) tend to be near the top of the list. This is especially true when I speak with young adults leaving high school, or in the throws of deciding “what to do” with their life.

While I cannot give tell you what type of career you should pursue. I can point you to Scripture. Throughout the Bible, God tells us what His will looks like and what He wants us to focus on. He doesn’t tell us specifically to be a nurse or a designer, but He does tell us to love Him, cultivate peace, love each other and tell others about the Salvation Jesus offers. If you are running after godly goals, you are pursing God’s work–no matter what your 9-5 might be.

In addition to describing jobs/tasks, Ergon can also mean deeds that we work at and “works” of art. This word is used well over 100 times throughout the New Testament. For this study, we are looking specifically at how ergon is used to describe jobs/tasks. (If you are interested in its other uses, follow this link to see the concordance page with all of its uses.)

The Work of the Lord

Many of the verses below reference “the work of the Lord.” This primarily refers to the work God has for all believers. There are many references to this type of work that can give us specifics–but Jesus summed it up with the Great Commission.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Matthew 28:19-20

Our godly goals should ultimately align with Jesus’ commission to us. No matter what we are working at, everything should point back to Jesus, the Christ, our Savior. As you work for the Lord your day-to-day work may look different than mine. Together as members of the “body of Christ” we are all working toward this common goal.

Ergon in Scripture

Now that we’ve got an understanding of the word, let’s see how ergon is used in the Bible and what it teaches us about our duty to work for the Lord. The word translated from “ergon” is in bold in the verses.

God is glorified when we complete the tasks He gives us. Some God-given works are able to be completed. (Be sure to understand this verse in context as the speaker is Jesus Himself. See the full chapter here.)

I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.

John 17:4

Godly work can be collaborative. When carrying out godly goals and work, we should us discretion about partnerships.

Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.

Acts 15:37-38

We should be all-in when pursuing godly work. When we work at godly goals, our labor is not in vain.

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:58

Many can work be doing the work of the Lord. It may look different for each individual.

When Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am.

1 Corinthians 16:1

Kopiaō

Kopiaō: to labour with wearisome effort, to toil

Kopiaō occurs in the New Testament 28 times. Whereas ergon refers to something more akin to employment or a job, kopiaō speaks of the effort and toll working can take on us.

Kopiaō describes the utter fatigue labor can bring onto us. It’s usually used in the realm of physical exhaustion–being spent after an outpouring of effort.

Kopiaō is something I relate to every day as I drag myself out of bed and work on our remodel while also being a stay-at-home-mom to a toddler. I get it. You probably do too. The work of our daily lives is exhausting. God understands. Let’s see what Scripture can teach us about this kind of labor. The word translated from kopiao is in bold.

God knows work is tiresome. He understands our limits. And most of all He knows that labor of all kinds (whether after godly goals or worldly goals) leaves us exhausted. When understanding labor, it’s vital to believe Jesus offers us true rest.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Matthew 11:28

This kind of effort should be used to supply our own needs and those who cannot work in this manner themselves.

I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

Acts 20:33

Kopiaō is not about physical strength. Women are not discounnted from earnest, hard work.

Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.

Romans 16:12

One goal of our work is to supply for our needs and share the excess of our labor with others.

Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

Ephesians 4:28

Hard work should be acknowledged. Who is working hard for you? Notice them and encourage them in their efforts.

Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you.

1 Thessalonians 5:12

Energeō

Energeō: to be operative, be at work, put forth power

Does the word energeō look familiar? It shares a root with our modern, English word for energy. It’s a no-brainer that pursuing godly goals will require us to put forth energy. However, when I looked in to the words I’d be covering for today’s final post in this series–I was surprised to see who is putting forth energy in Scripture.

Unlike ergon (a job) and kopiaō (tiresome effort), energeō is typically reserved to describe the work of God or another un-mortal force. God cannot grow weary–therefore kopiaō will never describe him. Let’s look at a couple verses to remind ourselves that pursuing godly goals is not a lonely walk. God is alongside us, pouring out effort in the things that truly matter most.

God is at work in our gifts.

[After a discussion on spiritual giftings.]…There are different kinds of working [literally activity/effort], but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

1 Corinthians 12:6

God works in our belief.

So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?

Galatians 3:5

God’s work is seen in Christ’s resurrection.

…the mighty strength He exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,

Ephesians 1:20

God’s power is at work within believers.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21

Conclusion

Thanks for joining me and please tell me your thoughts on this series–or shoot me ideas of other topics you’d like to see here on the blog. What are you godly goals? I’m praying that you are fining lots of joy as you align your personal goals with God’s heart.

Getting A North Dakota Speeding Ticket | Minot Monday

Feb 3, 2020 | Blog, Minot, The Art of Living | 0 Comments

Minot Monday is made possible through a partnership with BeLOCAL Minot. A guide to living like a local. You should totally check them out for tips/tricks on loving life in Minot. All thoughts, opinions and anecdotes below are mine alone.

Several years ago when we lived in Minot the first time around, I remember watching a story on the local news about speeding fines. The point was that the state of North Dakota was collecting far less income from speeding tickets than other states. At that point, Derek and I both laughed out loud and commented on the fact that North Dakota speeding tickets are basically just “pretend-toy-tickets” anyway. In this edition of Minot Monday, we are talking about the silly, unbelievable world of the North Dakota speeding ticket.

I’ll preface everything else I’m going to say by reiterating the fact that I love life in North Dakota. However, my love for the state only stems from the truth that this place is totally unique among the rest of our nation. North Dakota moves at a different speed. Trends hit us late (sometimes years late), things are slow to change, and good-golly there are just so many odd nuances about life in North Dakota that make it utterly fascinating.

It’s just a weird, wonderful place. I often describe it as life inside a mashup of a mockumentary and Hallmark movie. But I’m getting off topic.

The point of today’s Minot Monday is North Dakota speeding tickets. (I should take a second and give another warning. I do not condone breaking the law. Not even speeding. This article is not an endorsement to break the law in any manner.)

Our North Dakota Speeding Ticket

I’ve never been issued a North Dakota speeding ticket. I do, however vividly remember the day Derek came home with a speeding ticket after work. When he told me he’d gotten a ticket, my heart sank. Tickets are expensive. This would suck the “fun money” right out of that month’s budget.

But wait! This isn’t a speeding ticket in Florida, Oklahoma, Indiana or Louisiana (the other places we’ve lived.) This was a North Dakota speeding ticket. No need to cancel plans! No need to fret!

Why?

Because at that time tickets amounted to $1 per mph you were exceeding the speed limit. Derek’s infraction didn’t even cost us $15!

Yes, you’re reading that right. If you aren’t living in North Dakota, you can just add this to the list of things you envy about us. It’s just one more reason life in the Legendary North is so sweet.

Remember where this article started? The news story about low revenue from speeding tickets–now can you see why it was so silly?

North Dakota Speeding Ticket Changes

Before you throw all caution to the wind (and remember, this is not an article encouraging you to speed), let’s look at how the speeding ticket fines have changed since we’ve lived out of state and moved back.

Like my search for landfill/waste management answers in last week’s post, this proved to be trickier than it should have been. As of publishing this post, I still don’t have a link to a 2020 list of speeding fines. While fines have increased, they are still laughably low. Derek’s same infraction would have cost us nearly $160 back in our home state of Indiana.

Something else that makes North Dakota so great is how genuinely shocked locals are when they realize a $10 speeding ticket isn’t the norm. I love everything about living here. (Well…not the wind chill. But the summers and the people make up for it.)

Absolute Speed Limits

Speed limits are posted, but here is a group of “absolute speed limits” in North Dakota in case you’re wondering. It’s good information to have tucked away in your brain.

North Dakota Speeding Ticket Costs

The most recent information I can find indicates that North Dakota has added a $30 fine for breaking the speeding law. Drivers will pay that plus a fine for their speed. Fines for speed look like this:

1-5mph over the limit=$5
5-15mph over the limit=$1/mph exceeding the limit
16-20mph over the limit=Fine of $15 plus $2 for each mile per hour in excess of 15 miles per hour that the driver exceeds the limit.
21 -25 miles per hour over the limit=Fine of $25 plus $3 for each mile per hour in excess of 20 miles per hour that the driver exceeds the limit.
Beyond that, rates continue to go up. See the full scale here.

In this case going 10mph over the limit would result in a $40 fine.

Highway Speeding Ticket Costs

For offenses on highways where the speed limit is above 55mph things are a little different. I believe the most recent fine scale to be $5 for every mph exceeding the limit. For example:

5mph over=$25
15 mph over=$75
25 mph over=$125

It’s all very weird and quaint, right? For the most accurate information check with local law enforcement or the clerk’s office. Or you can ask a local with a heavy foot. For more on North Dakota speeding tickets see the funny story here, the Bismarck Trib article comparing our rates to surrounding states, or this OpEd piece from the Grand Forks Herald calling for a raise in speeding fines.

And now that you are fully armed with a little extra knowledge of North Dakota roads this just might be the perfect time to take a road trip. BeLOCAL has a list of day/weekend trip ideas right here. Happy driving!

What The Bible Says About Ambition | Guarding Against Selfish Ambition

Jan 29, 2020 | Bible History, Bible Reading, Blog, Context, Devotional, God's Character, God's Promises, God's Will, The Art of Faith | 0 Comments

If you’ve been around the last few weeks, you know we are in the middle of a series about godly goals. If you’ve missed a post, here are all of them:

About the Series

First, a quick recap. In short, I’m a goal-oriented person who is historically bad at goal setting. I’ve placed by value in the hands of my goals and spent many New Year’s “goal seasons” burnt out, feeling like a failure. Last year I ditched traditional goal-setting to simply focus on grace. Both, God’s grace toward me, and learning to extend more grace toward myself and others.

This year I wanted to explore what the Bible has to say about goals and working toward them. I made a list of “goal-ish” words and studied what Scripture has to say about each one. This was a personal study, but I came away with too many notes and geekery not to share. The words on my list were: Goal, Strive, Ambition, Aim, Intend, and Labor. Today we’ll look at “Ambition”. Next week will be our last post in the series.

Ambition

I love it when my Bible geeking surprises me. When I looked into the word ambition I was surprised by what I found. The Bible makes it clear what a godly goal looks like, that we should be moving forward in faith, growing to maturity in Christ and setting Christ centered goals. However, when I looked at what the Bible says about ambition I found more warning than offensive instruction.

The heart of this series is meant to help us (me) align our goals more closely with God’s heart. The old cliche is very true, life IS short. Our days on this side of eternity are a gift–we need to steward them well. I don’t know about you, but I want to spend my days working at things that matter. I’ve spend too many Januaries setting goals that worked me to the bone, but didn’t matter at all. Let’s leave that pattern for good.

A good first step is examining ambition, both what the dictionary and the Bible says about ambition.

The English definition of “ambition.”

am·bi·tion | amˈbiSH(ə)n

an earnest desire for some type of achievement or distinction, as power, honor, fame, or wealth, and the willingness to strive for its attainment
a strong desire to do or to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work.
desire and determination to achieve success.

Ambition is Heart Oriented

Can you see that ambition is a little more heart-oriented than a goal? A goal/aim is passive. It’s an object. An ambition is desire. Ambition is personal, often dependent on our own labor.

In every translation of Scripture, “ambition” is usually used in tandem with “selfish.” As in, “selfish ambition.” (Some translations do use the word “ambition” in place of goal, ie 1 Thes 4:1q and Rom 15:20–both discussed in this post.)

Because I truly do believe that Scripture is God-breathed, I believe all the words in the Bible are placed with meaning.

So why does the Bible typically speak of ambition in terms of selfishness? Let’s see what we can learn.

What the Bible Says About Ambition

The word most commonly translated into occurrences of the English word “ambition” is actually a Greek word denoting selfish-ambition.

eritheia: a desire to put one’s self forward; self-seeking pursuit of political office by unfair means

Eritheia has a political background. Outside of the Bible it was used to describe unfair power grabs and seeking to place oneself in a high-ranking position. Keep this and the definition in mind as you read the following verses that use eritheia in them.

For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition (eritheia), slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.

2 Corinthians 12:20

Do nothing out of selfish ambition (eritheia) or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Philippians 2:3-4

For where you have envy and selfish ambition (eritheia), there you find disorder and every evil practice.

James 3:16

Selfish Ambition

I don’t want you to walk away from this post discouraged, or thinking that ambition is negative. Ambition is not negative. Remember, there are verses that translate “philotimeomai” (to strive, goal, aspire) into “ambition.”

Instead, as we examine our goals–the things we are striving toward and setting our eyes upon–we must intentionally ward off eritheia, selfish ambition. What do can learn about selfish ambition from the verses above? Here is my list from my study notes. By all means, this is not everything we can learn from these passages, nor are these the only right answers. (And remember to read the verses in context.)

Paul had godly goals for the church in Corinth–selfish ambition is among the things that could derail those goals. (See examples of godly goals here and here.) (2 Cor 12:20)
Selfish ambition is companion to other undesirable/selfish qualities. (2 Cor 12:20)
We should not pursue our godly goals from a heart posture of selfish ambition. (Phil 2:3)
Humility and genuine interest/care/concern for others is the opposite and antidote of selfish ambition. (Phil 2:3)
Selfish ambition breeds disorder and other bad, hurtful practices. (Jas 3:16)

Guarding Against Selfish Ambition

As we seek to create godly goals, we must guard against selfish ambition. As we’ve learned so far in this series, godly goals are not self seeking. They are peace-driven, church-edifying, God-glorifying. If our goals are truly aligned with God’s heart and what His Word tells us to strive for, we will not operate out of selfish ambition.

It’s also important to remember the character of God when considering our goals. God is all-knowing, all-powerful. He knows us fully and loves us fully. God’s primary concern is not our accomplishments, it’s our heart. (1 Sam 16:7) The God of the Bible will never berate you for not being enough.

Here is the truth. You are perfectly enough when you take your not-enoughness and let Christ complete you with His grace.

Friends, the amount of water you drink, money you make, miles you log at the gym–they are all inconsequential when compared to your heart posture. If your heart is out of alignment, you can do all the things, loose the weight, get the job, etc, etc, etc and still feel like it’s not enough. If your ambition is selfish, there will always be a gnawing emptiness in your belly.

God sees and cares about our heart.

One of my favorite verses is Psalm 37:4.

“Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.”
Psalm 37:4

Can you see that this is a self-fulfilling prophecy? When the Lord is our delight our heart’s deepest ambitions/desires will be met. If our goals are godly and in line with what the Bible tells us is worth setting our eyes on and striving toward, He will be our desire. And God never withholds Himself from those who seek Him.

Your Challenge

Your challenge this week is to prayerfully assess your goals. Check back in. What are you working toward? How are you striving? Why are those the things you’ve chosen to focus on? What is your heart posture? What is your motive? If you uncover selfish ambition (I’ve uncovered more than my fair share in my own heart), ask God to help you realign that goal with His heart.

Next week we’ll wrap up the series by looking at “labor.” Thanks for stopping in. Join me on Facebook or Instagram for more fun. I’d love to get to know you!

The Minot Landfill | Minot Monday

Jan 27, 2020 | Blog, Minot, The Art of Living | 0 Comments

A guide to the Minot Landfill and waste disposal

Today’s Minot Monday, all about the Minot Landfill and Waste Management is made possible through a partnership with BeLOCAL Minot. BeLOCAL is a publication and guide to living like a local. All content and opinions in this post are my own.

Today might not be the most exciting Minot Monday post ever to grace the blog–but it’s going to be useful. Today, I’m talking about trash. Specifically the Minot landfill. A lot can be said about the trash situation here. Locals don’t think about it, but when you move in it can be a little jarring. Because I’m your friend, I don’t mind sitting down to write a post completely dedicated to how you can dispose of your garbage. Let’s go.

As I said, I’ll be focusing mainly on the Minot landfill today. But I’ll touch on a couple other issues first.

I’ve lived in a lot of places. If I were to do a side by side comparison of waste management from all of those places–Minot would not come in first place. Don’t get me wrong. You know I love Minot. I’m the town’s biggest cheerleader. So everything I say from this point on is simply to help you navigate life here. Not negative, just fact.

Curbside Trash Pick Up

Minot offers curbside garbage pick up in the city. It’s pretty standard. Where we live the truck comes twice each week–which means our bin is never full or overflowing. I’ve had a hard time finding a list of what is acceptable to put in the dumpster. After much searching I dug this up from the City website. This PDF includes a complete list of what you can and cannot put in the trash bin at the curb.

If you’ve got large items, you can add them to your curbside lot, but additional fees apply. (See here.) To arrange a pick up of a large item (furniture, appliances, etc–this does not include building materials) you’ll need to call Public Works (701-857-4140) and schedule a pick up. BeLOCAL has a quick guide to all important “city” phone numbers here.

Yard Waste

One specific rule is that yard waste (think leaves, grass, etc) cannot be placed into your curbside dumpster. This can go to the Minot landfill (we’ll chat more about that in a minute) or one of the yard waste collection sites. Again, I’ll link up this PDF, because it can be hard to find on the City’s website. (Spoiler, if you look under collection locations…you won’t find it.)

There are special yard waste collection sites (see a map here) open until the end of November. After that, yard waste must be taken to the landfill. Unlike other debris–the Minot landfill accepts yard waste at no cost. AKA, for free.

Christmas Trees and Free Mulch

After Christmas two of the yard waste sites reopen to collect Christmas trees. You can drop your tree off at Oak Park or the 16th Ave/16th St SW location. Trees are taken to the Minot landfill and turned into mulch. Then something super cool happens–that mulch is available FOR FREE to residents!

Spring and Fall Clean Up

Twice a year (in October and May) a giant clean up week happens. During Fall and Spring Clean up, you can put basically anything out at the curb for pickup. An-y-thing. Things that don’t fit in your bin, things that normally aren’t picked up by waste crews. It’s pretty much all fair game. It’s free and convenient. You can see the FAQ here for all the details. (Again, you’re welcome. This information is really well hidden on the website.) Dates will be posted here once announced.

Hazardous Waste and Freebies

Now let’s talk hazardous waste. Hazardous waste is anything chemical/liquid that should not be put out with more “traditional” trash. The category includes things like paint, stain, pesticides, etc. The Minot landfill accepts hazardous waste spring through fall. And here is a little known fact: anything suitable for reuse is available, free of charge to anyone who wants it. There is more information on hazardous waste disposal here and here.

Recycling in Minot

Something Derek and I consistently struggle with is how to dispose of our recyclables. The city of Minot doesn’t offer a recycling program or recyclable pick up. There are several places in town where you can take recyclables–and all are a little different. (I plan to do a full post on recycling once I’ve done a little more research.) Here are all the places you can recycle and links to their information.

Kalix Recycling
Gerdau Recycling
Continental Metal Products
EcoATM (for phones and small electronics)
Best Buy (appliances and electronics of all kinds)
Plastic bags are collected at Market Place Foods or can be donated to any of the thrift stores in town.

The Minot Landfill

Now let’s talk about the Minot landfill. The landfill is on the outskirts of town, up a hill. If roads are snowy or icy it can be hard to get up the hill without four-wheel drive.

To drop items off at the landfill there is a minimum $10 fee. The landfill used to accept items for free from residents (with proof in the form of a city water bill). However, they’ve no longer do that.

Upon entry, your vehicle is weighed. Then, you are given a number and instructions on where to drop off your waste. After you finish, you are weighed again and pay the fee on your way out.

Before making my first trip to the landfill (first since moving back to Minot) I tried to find a schedule of fees online. I was initially unsuccessful–so after dropping items off I snapped this photo from the payment window for future reference.

The Minot landfill offers lots more than what is easily found on the website, so I hope this helps you navigate the system. Remember to meet up with me on Instagram or Facebook stories to see this week’s event round up. Every Monday I share my picks for fun events going on in town. I’d love to connect with you!

Striving Toward Christ Centered Goals | What The Bible Says About Striving

Jan 22, 2020 | Bible Reading, Blog, Context, Devotional, God's Will, Prayer, The Art of Faith | 0 Comments

Today’s post contains Part III of a series on godly goal setting. In this post, I’m focusing on the word “strive.” We’ll continue looking at what Christ centered goals look like and how to pursue them. Together, we’ll continue to learn what Scripture has to say about goals and what we should be working toward. This series is not meant to set goals for you–only to help us all closer align our ambitions with Jesus.

If you missed the earlier posts you can find them at the links below.

As I explain in Part I–I began this study as a way to personally explore Christ centered goals for my own life. I made a list of “goal-y” words and researched how they are used in the Bible. It was a long process of cross referencing and using interlinear resources. The information I discovered was too sweet not to share. So here we are.

Strive

Today we’ll be looking at the word “strive.” When I made a list of goal-related words I wanted to look into, strive was second on my list (only after the word “goal.) When I think about goal setting, the word “work” doesn’t come to my mind as readily as “strive.”

Examining Scripture makes it clear: Striving has a richer meaning than simply “working.” It’s physical, mental, emotional. Striving is seeking with the intention to find. To strive is to pursue something with the cunning of a hunter intent on prey. Striving is athletic, relational and intercessional.

The Bible has a lot to say about what is worthy of such effort. To get to the things that are really worth pursuing, we need a striver’s mindset.

While doing my word studies I found five Greek words (I focused on the New Testament) the correlate to our English word “strive.” There may be more, but this is a good sampling. Some of these words translate directly to the English word, “strive.” Others use “strive” as a descriptor in their definition, or as a synonym. I’ll go through each and reiterate conclusions at the end. Sound good? Let’s get started.

To Earnestly Endeavor

Diōkō

Diōkō: to seek after eagerly, earnestly endeavor to acquire; to run swiftly in order to catch a person or thing, to run after

Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive (diōkō) to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. 1 Thessalonians 5:15

Diōkō is a word much like our English interpretation of “pursue.” Most often in Scripture, we see it translated in a negative way, to mean “persecute.” But in 1 Thess and elsewhere it’s used in the context of striving.

Overall, this word shows us how to pursue Christ centered goals. We must work eagerly and expectantly. As one pursuing something with the goal of capturing it. But how exactly do we strive? What should we strive for? Let’s look at other uses of the word. As you read these verses, keep the definition in mind. Replace the word in the sentence with “strive” or “eagerly pursue.”

Follow (diōkō) the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. (1 Cor 14:1)

I press on (diōkō) toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Phil 3:14)

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue (diōkō) righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. (1 Tim 6:11)

Make every effort (diōkō) to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. (Heb 12:14)

They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue (diōkō) it. (1 Peter 3:11)

To Take Pains, Labor

Askeō

Askeō : to take pains, labor, strive

So I strive (askeō) always to keep my conscience clear before God and man. Acts 24:16

Askeō indicates trying. Something we are working toward. In some translations of this verse it says, “So I do my best…” Working toward a clear conscience before God and others is a godly, Christ centered goal.

To Seek After

Zēteō

Zēteō: to seek after, seek for, aim at, strive after

This word is most often translated to “seek.” However, when thinking about how we are to strive after Christ centered goals, it’s important to read the “striving” into the “seeking.” This is not aimless looking around, hoping to stumble onto the right path. Zēteō means we are putting our energy and efforts into our seeking.

Don’t strive (zēteō) for what you should eat and what you should drink, and don’t be anxious. Luke 12:29

Zēteō is used more than 100 times throughout the New Testament. Here are a few other verses that shed light on how we can apply zēteō to striving after Christ centered goals. Remember to read the verse with this enriched definition in mind.

But seek (zēteō) first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. (Matt 6:33)

By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek (zēteō) not to please myself but him who sent me. (Jn 5:30)

Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking (zēteō) my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. (1 Cor 10:32-33)

It [love] does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking (zēteō), it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. (1 Cor 13:5)

So also you — since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek (zēteō) to excel in building up the church. (1 Cor 14:12)

Striving Together

Synagōnizomai

Synagōnizomai: to strive together with one, to help one in striving

Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to strive (synagōnizomai) together with me in fervent prayers to God on my behalf. Romans 15:30

Synagōnizomai specifically speaks of striving together. Godly goals do not all need to be accomplished independently. When looking at the things God calls us to strive toward, it’s important to also recognize He doesn’t call us to do it alone.

Strenuous Zeal

Agōnizomai

Agōnizomai: to endeavour with strenuous zeal, strive: to obtain something

For this reason we labor and strive (agōnizomai), because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. 1 Timothy 4:10

Agōnizomai has athletic connotations. It’s often used to describe a fight, contending, or a contest. It’s interesting to apply this type of striving toward godly goals. Here are a couple other verses that use this word for “strive.” Keep in mind the physical, strenuous definition of the word used here.

We proclaim him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. I labor for this, striving (agōnizomai) with his strength that works powerfully in me. (Col 1:28-29)

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. He is always wrestling (agōnizomai) for you in his prayers, so that you can stand mature and fully assured in everything God wills. (Col 4:12)

Striving for Christ Centered Goals: Application Examples

Here are things I jotted down in my study notes about striving toward godly goals–and the things worth striving. I encourage you to make your own list.

Doing what’s right is a godly goal. (1 Th 5:15)
I should strive to do good for others (1 Th 5:15)
Christ centered striving is intentional and requires effort. (Phil 3:14
Righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness are godly goals. (1 Tim 6:11)
I should pursue to cultivate those attributes in my life. (1 Tim 6:11)
Living in peace is a godly goal. I should strive for peace. (Hb 12:14, 1 Pe 3:11)
Godly goals pursue love (multiple verses)
Peace with others is worth striving for (multiple verses)
Repentance and confession is a godly goal. (Acts 24:16)
A clear conscience is worth striving toward. (Acts 24:16)
Material things are not a godly goal; this is not what I should be striving for. (Luke 12:29)
God’s kingdom is something to seek/strive toward. (Matt 6:33)
Do not strive to please myself, but God; pleasing God is a godly goal–worth striving toward. (John 5:30)
Godly goals seek the good of others and are not self-serving. (1 Cor 10:33)
Love is a godly goal; it is not selfish (1 Cor 13:5)
Building up the Church is a godly goal. (1 Cor 14:12)
We are called to strive together. (Rom 15:30)
I can strive in prayer, alongside others. (Rom 15:30)
My hope in Jesus gives me the strength to strive forward toward godly goals, even when it is laborious. (1 Tim 4:10, Col 1:29)
Helping one another to maturity in Christ is a godly goal. (Col 1:29)
I can strive toward godly goals in prayer. (Col 4:12)

Final Thoughts

One of my over arching observations about striving–in the context of godly goals is that it is often cooperative and relational. We are called to strive alongside others. We are called to strive for the good of others–not toward our own happiness or material desires. In some ways that is convicting. In other ways, it’s freeing to understand that the goals God wants me to set my eyes upon are simple. He’s not commanding me to build a company, remodel my house, work out, or even drink more water. He is calling us to strive toward love, peace, prayer, repentance.

Consider the goals you may have set for yourself with the onset of the New Year. Do they align with the godly goals we looked at last week, or what we’ve learned about striving this week?

**Always take caution when thinking about goals. God does want us striving toward maturity in faith and a heart aligned with His. However, our Salvation, justification before God and sanctification are not reliant on goal setting. Those things were all accomplished for us by Jesus on the cross. All we have to do to obtain those things is to rest in His grace.**

Setting Godly Goals | What the Bible Says About Goals

Jan 16, 2020 | Bible History, Bible Reading, Blog, Context, Devotional, God's Character, God's Will, The Art of Faith | 0 Comments

This post is part of a series on godly goals. Together we’ll be exploring what the Bible has to say about goals and the things we work toward. Here are other posts in this series:

Last week I told you a bit about my struggles with goal setting. In the past I’ve been guilty of setting the wrong kind of goals and putting too much stock in my goals to uphold and define my identity. Today, we’ll continue our discussion on setting godly goals. I spent a lot of time searching and discovering what the Bible has to say about setting godly goals. Now, I’m excited to start sharing what I found.

In true Bible geek fashion, I spent a full week pouring over texts to discover all I could about setting godly goals. I started with a quickly brainstormed list of “goaly” words–goal, strive, aim, ambition, intend and labor. At the conclusion, I was left with lots of insight, better goals, peace in my heart and a lengthy outline of Hebrew and Greek words along with their various uses.

Exploring Godly Goals as a Series

I didn’t set out to publish what I learned. However, the things I found are things I wish I would have known years ago. If you have ever felt burned out, burdened or devalued because you can’t live up to the goals you set for yourself–this series is for you. First, be sure to put goals in their proper place (see part I), then step into the peace-making, joy-breeding space of godly goals.

First, be sure to put goals in their proper place (see part I), then step into the peace-making, joy-breeding space of godly goals.

To be totally honest with you (something you can always count on me to do), once I decided to write a series on goals, I intended to share all my findings in one long post. But after writing and rewriting several times it was clear we are meant to take this one slow. I’ll be sharing what I learned about each word that I studied over the coming weeks. Today, we’ll look at what I discovered about the word “Goal.”

At first, I was apprehensive about splitting this into a longer series. There is so much pressure to assess and create goals at the beginning of the year–cementing them in place by January 30. Then we turn on auto pilot. We pursue the goals we set for ourselves or let them go to the wayside. It can seem that our only two options are to achieve what we desired on January 1st, or beat ourselves up for being a failure. (Those are the options I’ve yo-yo-ed between in the past.)

Commit to Realigning Your Goals Regularly

Any life coach or “goal expert” (of which I am not) will tell you that a goal is more likely to be reached if you continue to revisit it. Friends, godly goals are worth pursuing. They are worthy of cultivation.

Let’s start this year by making our goals, but continue over the next weeks to reassess. Join me in discovering more about the kind of goals God has for you. Week by week examine the things you are striving for and use what we’ll learn together to realign them fully with our wonderful God.

What is a Goal?

Before we start, let’s grab a definition for the word “goal” to make sure we are all on the same page.

Goal: the end toward which effort is directed
Merriam-Webster, see entry here.

Running a quick Google search on “goal setting” will yield lots of tips. Most of these are on creating an action plan that will move you from where you are at this very moment to the desired “end toward which your effort is directed.”

In last week’s post I told you that I’ve spent many years setting the wrong kind of goals and that my goals lacked grace. On top of that, I bound my ability to complete goals to my identity and self-worth. Last January I took a new, more graceful approach to goal-setting. At year’s end for the first time in many years I was at peace, even joyful. Content with where I’d been and ready to step forward.

This year, I want to keep my goal-setting on this healthy trajectory. I want to understand what Scripture says about goals. In my study I discovered two Greek words that are used in Scripture for the English word “goal” as we typically use it. Philotimeomai and skopos. Let’s look at verses that use these words and apply them to our goal setting.

Skopos: the distant mark looked at, the goal or end one has in view

But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal (skopos) to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:13b-14

Philotimeomai: to be ambitious, to strive earnestly, to make one’s aim

So we make it our goal (philotimeomai)to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.

2 Corinthians 5:9

And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,and to make it your ambition (philotimeomai) to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you,so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

1 Thessalonians 4:10-12

My ambition (philotimeomai) is to preach the gospel where Christ has not been named, so that I will not build on someone else’s foundation…

Romans 15:20

Application for setting godly goals.

Now that we’ve seen how these words are used, it’s time to apply them. Remember, we want to be doers of the Word, not just hearers. (James 1:22-25) Let’s take a look at what we can learn about goals by examining these verses. (I’ve quoted singular verses here, but remember to always read the Bible within its intended context.)

Here are application examples straight from my notebook. This is not an exhaustive list. How can you apply skopos and philotimeomai to your goal setting?

Godly goals look forward and do not dwell on the past. (Phil 3:14)
Moving toward godly goals requires effort. (Phil 3:14)
Pleasing God is a good, godly goal. (2 Cor 5:9)
Aiming to live a quiet (literally peaceful, intentional–not running “hither and tither”) life is a godly goal. (1 Thess 4:11)
Working toward a quiet life, doesn’t mean an unproductive life. Paul tells his readers to be productive, by working with their hands. (1 Thess 4:11)
The godly goal of a quiet (again, literally peaceful, intentional) life will yield respect and independence. (1 Thess 4:12)
Spreading the Gospel is a godly goal. (Rom 15:20)

Thanks for being here and learning with me. Take some time this week to pray about godly goals. I’ll be back next week to discuss the word “strive.” Together we’ll discover what the Bible has to say about working toward a goal–how to strive and what is worthy of striving toward.

Minot Monday | 12 Ideas To Get You Out of the House This Winter

Jan 13, 2020 | Blog, Minot, The Art of Living | 0 Comments

Minot Monday is made possible by a partnership with BeLOCAL Minot. Today I’m sharing 12 ideas of things to do in Minot during winter, be sure to check BeLOCAL for more ideas. All opinions shared here are my own.

Last week I looked ahead at the 10-day forecast just before going to bed. I’m not even joking, when I saw that Wednesday’s high would be -12˚F I couldn’t get to sleep. See, I have an almost-two-year-old–and if we don’t get out of the house for a while ever day, things turn ugly by dinner time. And who can blame him? I don’t like being cooped up either. But when the temperatures are so low, it can be hard to summon the gumption to leave the house. That’s why today for Minot Monday I’m sharing 12 Ideas of things to do in Minot during winter.

MSU Dome

Things to do during winter in Minot — image via

Sometimes I just crave a walk. The Dome at MSU is open to the public for walking and running 7am-9pm (times may change, and there is no public access during home sporting events.) The walking track is on the 3rd floor (no public access on 1st and 2nd floors.)

This is one of my favorite way things to do in Minot during winter because it’s FREE and the hours are wide enough that I can always fit a trip to the dome in my schedule. I like to meet with friends for a walk instead of meeting for food. And kids are welcome! You can bring a stroller, kids can run ahead, I’ve even seen Strider bikes on the track. Just be respectful of other users and apply common sense.

Join A League

In the past, accountability has been key for getting me out of the house during the coldest winter months. Join a league and you’ll have the accountability you need to show up–and leave the house. (And if you don’t want to participate, sign your kid up! You’ll still get out of the house, so its a win-win.)

Minot might not be a sports mecca, but there are still plenty of things to get involved in. Minot offers hockey leagues, swimming, figure skating , bowling leagues, trap/skeet leagues, martial arts, curling teams, square dancing, gymnastics, dance/ballet, and traditional sports leagues (think basketball, volleyball and tennis). The best part is that lots of these leagues and clubs have adult and kid options! See the sports leagues section of BeLOCAL for full listings.

Go Ice Skating

Going to Maysa Arena to skate is another of my personal favorite things to do in Minot during winter. Skating fees are low (especially if you bring your own skates) and it’s nice and quiet during the day. I think skating is a nice change of pace from walking or running, especially since it’s got a “wintery” vibe to it.

Be a Sports Fan

If playing sports isn’t your thing, become a fan. There are lots of events happening at Maysa (hockey and figure skating) and at MSU. Check their schedules for times.

Margie’s Art Glass Studio

Before I had a toddler in tow, going to Margie’s was one of my favorite winter pass times. At Margie’s you can get a cup of coffee, pick a ceramic piece to paint and take your sweet time making a masterpiece. Unlike lots of other ceramic studios, Margie’s doesn’t have a studio fee–and you can come back and paint your piece over multiple days (so there’s no need to rush your project.)

As I’ve mentioned before, they also offer classes if that’s more your style.

Take a Class

Speaking of classes…winter is the perfect time to hone a new skill. In a previous Minot Monday post I created a directory of places in town that offer craft/art classes of all kinds.

Instead of binge watching trashy TV you could be learning to paint, throw pottery, hand-letter, work with succulents, or the time-honored tradition of rosemaling.

Rent a Board Game

If you’re up for learning something new, why not learn a new board game? Did you know the Minot Public Library opened a board game library at the end of 2019? Yep, they did.

You can go over to the library and borrow a game to enjoy with friends back home, or play at the library. Or…you can join them for one of their hosted game nights.

Enjoy the Arts

During the bitter cold months in Minot there are still plenty of opportunities to get out and see a concert or show. The Brass Band, Symphony, Mouse River Players (civic theater), and vocal groups continue to perform all winter long.

Kids’ Zones

If you are strictly looking to let your little ones run off some energy, there are three major play spaces you should check out:

Tots on the Turf–At Maysa Arena Monday and Friday 9am-12pm
Minot Fun Zone–At the City Auditorium, Tuesday-Thursday, 9am-12pm
Gymagic Play Dates–Open gym for littles. Monday 11am-12pm (ages 6 and under); Friday 11am-12pm (ages 6 and under); Friday 7:30-8:30pm (up to age 14); Saturday 12-1pm (up to age 14)

The Mall

Before you scroll on, hear me out. I know mall culture isn’t what it was back in the 80s and 90s…but the mall is a great place to go to get out of the house during winter. Dakota Square is usually pretty slow during the day, so it’s a perfect place to go take a walk (yes, I’m suggesting mall walking) or let your littles walk/run ahead of you.

If you are looking for specific activities, there is a play space for kids (it does get crowded on weekends and after “work” hours) and a nice, large train table for open play at Barnes and Noble.

Coffee

Christmas in Minot — Minot’s small coffee shops are the best place to taste the season. Minot’s Daily Bread’s counter looks festive and warm even on the coldest days.

Did you really think I’d put together a winter list and not mention coffee? If you did, you obviously don’t know me. Minot has so many sweet local coffee shops. When you are looking for things to do in Minot during winter you can start with a hot beverage. Trust me, the wind chill doesn’t look so intimidating when you are on the inside of an adorable shop, looking out.

Volunteer

Instead of complaining about the weather, get out and help the community. No matter what you like to do, there is a place for you to help out. Like I said in the Christmas post–Minot has soup kitchens that serve meals every week day. I know for certain our Men’s Winter Refuge is always in need of people to collect socks and boots. I’m sure the kids’ play spaces are open for volunteers, too. If you like animals–volunteer with the shelter (I’ve done it, it’s fun!) Help out at the Y, the library, or the hospital.

And if you have an idea of how to make Minot a better place to live, winter is a great time to connect with others and get an idea off the ground. One of my favorite things about Minot is that the town is receptive to ideas that make our community even more enjoyable. If you want to make an impact, you can.

I hope this gives you some good ideas of things to do in Minot during winter! What gets you out of the house when the windchill is subzero? Don’t forget to meet me on Instagram–I do a weekly round up of upcoming events in town every Monday. See you there!

Identity and Goals | Exploring Christian Goal Setting

Jan 10, 2020 | Bible Reading, Blog, Devotional, God's Character, God's Promises, God's Will, Uncategorized | 0 Comments

As we come into the New Year, I know lots of us are thinking about goal setting. Some may already be frustrated by goals that already don’t seem to be panning out. Today, I’m talking about Christian goal setting. I’m sharing what I’ve learned from years of setting the wrong kinds of goals and how I recovered from the hurt of unmet goals and failures.

This post is the first in a series. Here are others you might like:

Christian Goal Setting: First, A Confession

You know I am committed to being transparent and authentic here. So I won’t sugar coat this next confession: I am a bad goal setter. I know how to set goals. In my mind I have plenty of head-knowledge about setting appropriate goals and taking the right steps to work toward them. I’ve written about goals and offered council to others about goals.

But at the end of the day, I rarely take my own advice. Thus, I–Amy Allender–am a very bad goal setter.

I set the wrong goals for myself. My approach to the goals is wrought with missteps. Then at the end of the calendar year, when it’s time for assessment, I feel defeated, deflated, devalued and plenty of other “de” words. I have spent many years looking back in reflection and the thought that overshadows all the sweet memories and accomplishments is that “I’ve failed.”

All along I thought I was pursuing Christian goal setting, because I was a Christian…setting goals. But I was mistaken.

There have been many New Year’s seasons in which I’ve dreamed up what I wished and hoped the next New Year would look like–only to be disappointed when the ideal in my mind doesn’t match the reality. This isn’t always my fault. Many things get in the way: moves, jobs, unexpected loss, new opportunities, separation, stress, illness, etc. But that doesn’t change the fact that I’ve spent many a January feeling another year older, believing I’ve failed because the December 31 me didn’t look the way the January 1 me had envisioned.

Giving Goals Too Much Impact

Last year I pretty much ditched resolutions and New Year goal setting all together. Instead, I focused only on grace. Something that had been missing from my New Year assessment for many years. I spent January trying out a few new patterns and habits–like a test-drive month. I kept a few, I threw the rest aside. And I committed to being graceful to myself as my ideals, goals and ideas shifted, changed, were completed or abandoned.

What I learned is that without trying or being conscious of it, I was allowing my goals (met or unmet) to impact the amount of value I perceived myself to have. My goals didn’t have all the power–but they had some. The truth is, our goals (met or unmet) have nothing to do with our value. Every person is made in God’s image and therefore is invaluable. Only God can supply a safe and sturdy surface for my identity and value to lay upon. Anything else is too fragile and too prone to sink holes.

Exploring Godly Goals

I’ve learned that true Christian goal setting (setting godly goals) looks much different that simply setting secular goals.

After spending all of 2019 focusing on being graceful toward myself when it comes to goals and “success,” I ended the year joyful and content.

This year I want to keep moving in this positive trajectory. After a year off of traditional goal setting I started to wonder what God has to say about goals. How did key Biblical figures work toward goals? Did they have goals? What kind of goals should I be setting? Should I set goals at all?

In short, “What does Christian goal setting look like?”

I’ve spent the beginning of the new year looking deeply into what the Bible has to say about Christian goal setting and godly goals. In true Bible-geek form, I could barely put my Bible down when it was time to stop. I made notes, cross referenced, dug through the concordance and hit the thesaurus. I discovered that the Bible has a lot to say about goals. I’ll be sharing all my findings on that next week in a follow up post.

Christian Goal Setting: Put Goals in Their Proper Place

Before we can appreciate what Scripture says about godly goal setting, we need to put goals into their proper place.

Remember how I told you I used to struggle with feeling like an old failure on December 31? For me, that was a sure sign that I was giving goals more stock in my identity and value than they deserved. Before you set goals or intentions, make sure these truths truly manifest in your heart.

Goals are works.

Goals are works. Our works can accompany our faith. They can be an outward sign of our faith, but works are a separate entity from Salvation or justification before God. Christ saves us from the true death we all deserve. Christ alone justifies us as worthy and right before God. (There are many verses pertaining to this–below is just one example.)

…know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.
Galatians 2:16

We are created in God’s image.

Every single person who has ever been born or ever will be born is made in God’s image. “Made in God’s image” is part of our identity. Our intention should not be to look like Sally-who-lives-next-door (another mortal also made in God’s image)–but to look more like Christ, our Savior.

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:26-27

We are fully adopted and seen as children of God.

If you understand that misdeeds and imperfection separate you from the one and only, perfect God of all the universe and creation–and believe that Jesus (God’s son, fully man yet fully God) bridged that gap by atoning for those misdeeds to fully reconcile you back to God–you are “saved.” Saved from true death. Saved from a life lived apart from the God who made you. You are seen as fully right before God, fully adopted as His child. Just as earthly parents love their children (adopted or biological) God loves His children.

As adopted children, God gives us an identity. He offers us a name, a place to belong, a purpose, and an inheritance.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 1:3-14

God sees our hearts.

God knows us. There is nothing we can hide from Him. He created us and understands us in intimate ways we will never fully understand. God’s ideal for our lives is that we look more like him and less like the world. Scripture warns against working in selfish ambition. Godly goals will never be self serving. Before you set new goals, pray to align your heart with God. Ask Him to reveal any selfish motives behind your intentions.

But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
James 3:14-16

Next week I’ll be back with part II of this discussion, fully ready to show you all that I’ve learned about Christian goal setting and godly goals. Some of it just might surprise you. Until then, I’d love if you joined me over on Instagram. Thanks for being here!

Want more on godly goals? Check out the rest of the series!

Part II Setting Godly Goals
Part III Striving Toward Christ Centered Goals

Minot Monday | Flying From Minot

Jan 6, 2020 | Blog, Minot, Uncategorized | 0 Comments

Minot Monday is made possible by BeLOCAL Minot. Their publication helps you live like a local and love every minute of it.

flying from Minot — The smug face of a traveler who is fascinated by North Dakota airports.

Happy Minot Monday! Lots of us have been traveling for the holidays. Now that we are settling back into a regular routine, isn’t it time to think about spring travel plans? It’s no secret that I love living life in Practically Canada, however travel from Minot can be tricky. Whether that’s because you have a hard time finding a flight, or accepting the hours you’ll need to spend in the car…or you are simply shocked by the oddity that is North Dakota airports–I’ve got you covered. Today’s Minot Monday covers everything you need to know about flying out of Minot for your next big trip. (Future Minto Monday posts will cover car travel and train travel.)

Last time we lived in Minot I had friends ask me all the time how I convinced people to come visit. Most people hear the words “North Dakota” and immediately decide that they don’t want to live here, let alone visit. Before you can convince them to come for a visit they’re already talking about the winters being too cold and the fact that there’s nothing to do. (I hear these excuses even in the summer when it’s anything but cold and definitely not boring.) Come to think of it, maybe I should write a Minot Monday post about convincing friends to come visit.

The clincher for me is never convincing people they should come for a visit–it’s working out the logistics of how to get someone here. The same is true on the flip side. Planning trips out of Minot can be equally challenging. Flying from Minot is rarely direct and often pricey. But don’t let that stop you. Flying from Minot is also filled with sitcom (or Gilmore Girls-esque) terminals and characters. There’s no perfect formula, but I’m happy to share the good, bad and quirky that I’ve discovered when it comes to travel from Minot.

Flying From Minot | A few anecdotes

My preferred method of travel from Minot is flying. The first time I arrived in Minot it was July 2012. I had flown from Shreveport, LA to Denver to Minneapolis to Minot. A slightly drugged Panda-cat was my carry on luggage. It took all day. And I do mean all day. I had never set foot in North Dakota, now I was about to live here.

When I got off the plane and exited the jet bridge I was totally taken aback. I was standing in the smallest commercial airport I’d ever seen. I was frazzled from the day and eager to get something to eat and see Derek (we’d been apart for about two months at this point.) Because I was so exhausted I noticed very little except the size of the building and that there were only about four gates, all totally visible in the rectangular room.

The Magical Minot Airport Experience

Later, as I took more flights out of Minot, I came to understand that travel from Minot was a truly unique situation. Although everyone in town warned of long security lines (sometimes I heard of them nearly out the door), security never took me longer than 15 minutes. I don’t think I ever waited behind more than five people.

As stated, the gates were all fully visible at once. Rows of seats filled the space, most travelers (including myself after living in Minot for a year or so) would run into someone they knew while waiting for a flight. Once, while waiting for a flight, an employee walked to the middle of the terminal, cleared her throat and said, “Excuse me.” She wasn’t shouting, or using the intercom–but the whole room quieted down.

“Somebody dropped their keys.” She held them up for all to see. “I’ll have them up here at the desk. Everybody, just check to make sure you’ve got yours.” A minute later a man walked up to the desk to claim his keys.

There’s something special there, right?

There was a small snack bar inside security. For as long as anyone could remember one of the items listed was a “Hot Dawg.”

Once, after claiming our luggage, I left my laptop bag in near the baggage carousel. I realized when I got home. Derek went back and to discover it was waiting behind the desk. “As soon as you walked out, someone brought it up. We figured you’d be back quickly,” the man working told him.

The “New” Minot Airport

Sadly, that tiny airport is gone now. It’s been replaced by a more modern model–but the feel of the experience is much the same. The “new” airport (as it’s still called in many local circles) is bigger and more spread out. While the “old” airport always felt busy because everyone waiting for a flight was seated close together, the “new” airport nearly always feels empty.

It’s clean. There are plenty of seats. The windows are beautiful. Again, if you are used to flying from a larger hub–security lines will floor you with their brevity. There is a snack bar…but don’t hold your breath. They no longer offer the Hot Dawg.

Flying From Minot

If you’d like to pursue air travel from Minot your best bet is to fly out of Minot (obviously) or Bismarck. The Bismarck airport is just shy of two hours away from Minot, but sometimes you can get a heck of a deal. (Since you’ll need to drive down, keep parking in mind. Don’t worry though–it maxes out at $40/week.)

The Bismarck airport is a lot like Minot’s. While traveling for the holidays we flew from Bismarck. It’s small, clean and friendly. Again, there is no music playing over the intercom. So you can sit in silence–or watch one of the living-room-sized TVs sprinkled around the terminal. Unlike large airports that might feel the need to micromanage what you watch, the TV remotes are left out in Bismarck for travelers to use and watch whatever they like. (I shared our real-time Bismarck airport experience on my Instagram and Facebook stories.)

Seriously, is North Dakota for real? This place is awesome. Flying from MOT (The Minot International Airport)

If you choose to fly from Minot or Bismarck here some tips and things to keep in mind.

Don’t pay for parking in Minot. Parking rates at MOT are $12/day or $72/week. The city of Minot is so small and well connected. A ride to the airport will take less than 15 minutes from most parts of town. Ask a friend or take a taxi/Lyft.
Be a flexible traveler. Flying from our small airports means rates tend to be high. The more flexible your dates, the better chance at getting a good deal. I like to use Kayak’s month view to find the best price.

Set an airfare alert. This goes hand in hand with being flexible. If you know where you’d like to go (like to your hometown to visit family) or where certain friends would fly out to come visit Minot–you can watch the rates and be alerted when they drop.
Remember to check alternate airports. Try to get creative with your flights. Be open to flying out of Bismarck instead of Minot–or flying in to an airport that might be a short drive from your final destination.
Be open to creative routes. Hacker fares that may require you to change airlines during your layover can save you big money flying out of small airports. This works especially well if you can pack light enough to only need a carry on.
Understand and accept you’ll be on a very small aircraft. The planes coming in and out of Minot (and Bismarck) are small. Accept that fact. You will not be able to bring a full-sized roller carry-on on board. They’ll gate check it for you (meaning you’ll leave it on the jet bridge and pick it up on the jet bridge upon landing.) Depending on the airline you may be charged an additional fee for a roller carry-on.

Airlines Serving Minot

Delta
United
Allegiant

Allegiant Direct Flights from Minot

Direct from Minot to Pheonix and Las Vegas are available through Allegiant Air. Fares are cheap, so this is a good way to escape the winter chill or meet up with family/friends who refuse to come all the way north (their loss.)

Airlines Serving Bismarck

Delta
United
American
Allegiant
Frontier

Allegiant Direct Flights from Bismarck

Daytona Beach. FL
Orlando, FL
Las Vegas, NV
Phoenix, AZ

I hope this helps–even a little. Here’s to a New Year full of fun travels and lots of visitors!

Minot Monday | Christmas in Minot

Dec 23, 2019 | Blog, Minot, The Art of Living | 0 Comments

Minot Monday is brought to you by BeLocal Minot. All thoughts, opinions and awesome word-smithing are my own.

Christmas in Minot is truly a special season. Today, for Minot Monday I’m doing something a little different. Instead of using lots of words and a list to tell you something about our sweet, special town–I’ve put together an image essay for you.

I’ve told you before, I hear lots of complaints about being forced to move to Minot. I hear lots of groaning about the windchill. But there is something down right magical about a small town Christmas. Like a hybrid of a Hallmark Christmas movie and a quirky NBC mockumentary, Christmas in Minot is not to be missed.

Christmas in Minot: a photo essay

I’ve gathered photos from the season here. But this collection isn’t complete. It’s missing the annual performance of Handel’s Messiah, where basically anyone in the community can join in the singing on stage–as long as you know the music. I missed the Christmas symphony concert. This year they had a bell choir and I heard it was breathtaking. There are no images from the lutefisk and meatball dinner, the Dickens Festival or pet photos with Santa at the mall. I missed the carol sing (where a friend warned me that saying “ass” in “What Child is This” can be taboo), the ballet and the many, many vendor markets.

I did ride a bus around town looking at lights with some friends. When asked how they got the bus she replied, “It’s a friend of a friend. I’ve never really met him. But he lets us use it. Seriously nice for a stranger.”

Christmas in Minot is much, much more than what I present here. But I gave it my best shot. I’ll try again next year. I hope this brings a little comfort to someone out there who may be nervous about relocating to Practically Canada.

It really is a great place.