Uncategorized

The clearing

courage, Faith, Prayer, rest, Trust, Uncategorized, wonder
Hope and Believing

Hope and Believing

Hopefully, full of hope. And Blessed by my believing.

Blessings, unanswered prayers, all the longings of my heart.

Are cherished by a Sovereign and attentive Father who gently, yet persistently desires my trust.

Patiently, watchfully waiting for my trust.

Trust in His best, His time.

Yesterday, I was blessed with clarity.

An unexpected gift in the routine of my day.

A new understanding of Hope…more than a forced emotion I try to convince my doubtful heart and mind to believe in.

Nothing good comes by force. One of my favorite “notes to self”.

Sometimes I force myself to glean understanding from God’s word.

Compulsory reading of scripture, habitual even.

Moving into my day with empty devotion, empty heart.

It’s the times though that we are moved by a word in a new way and we are changed.

We remember. We cherish the clearing.

Hope.

Hope does disappoint. It is planted in our hearts from God.

Romans 5:5

And then a favorite song, heard in a new way on yesterday’s walk.

A song on repeat in my car, my mind…a  solo by me in our choir.

One stanza…just a line.

I listened and in the clearing, I heard.

God hears my imploring, sees my doubts, knows my anxious, analytical heart.

God is concerned with my calamity.

He longs for me to know this. To be changed by this knowing.

And simply, Believe.

“And all the while, you hear each desperate plea and long that we’d have faith to believe.”

Laura Story,  Blessings

The Beautiful After

courage, Faith, Trust, Uncategorized, Vulnerability, wonder
Fascinated with the fallen - Hunting Island, SC

Fascinated with the fallen – Hunting Island, SC

Massive branches, limbs, fronds border the shore.

Beautiful in their damaged and broken state.

Yet, strong and impressive in their beauty.

Luring us, to walk amongst the destruction.

To pose for photos next to nature’s enormous debris.

Standing proudly, smiling prominently as if an honor to be alongside.

The beautiful aftermath.

Storms cannot destroy grandeur.

Cannot diminish courage.

Will not silence or obscure the power of the telling.

The brave sharing of troubles that  came.

Of strength that was tested.

Strongly different, altered, broken, but not destroyed.

Softened, perhaps and surrendered by the grace of storm.

Conquerors, enduring hopeful survivors with fascinating stories.

My story, my song…sharing the beautiful afters.

 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God, through Jesus. We gained this access through faith. So, we can stand and rejoice in the glory of God. We can rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering teaches us to persevere, which gives us character and character reminds us to rely on hope. 

Hope does not disappoint us.  Hope is God’s love poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.  Romans 5: 1-5

Hope gets us through to the Beautiful After.

 

 

of great significance and value

courage, Faith, family, Prayer, Teaching, Trust, Uncategorized, wonder

 

Press on - knees down, heads up

Press on – knees down, heads up

I’m not superstitious and don’t believe in luck or ritual.

Yet, when I glance down to find a penny on heads, I feel favor.

A shiny, but weathered coin, yet stoic forward facing.

Lincoln’s profile reminds of my father.

Strong jaw, contemplative eyes.

Favoring and reminding me of his heart, good and honest, although worn, battered and beaten by life.

A penny on heads early this morning in the chaos of the laundry room, I pick it up and smile, slipping it into the pocket of my robe.

Of great significance to me

A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense.  Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables. Proverbs 24:3-4

Common sense, a strong and honest heart, my father’s legacy.

Life beckons me to move courageously.

Quietly and confidently

With great significance

I am worthy and valued.

My fathers, both of them have told me so.

life unfolding and making sense

courage, Faith, Prayer, Teaching, Trust, Uncategorized, Vulnerability
Confident of seeing the good God has for me

Confident of seeing the good God has for me

 

Life unfolds in a way that makes sense now.

God’s word not archaic or foreign anymore…not far away words from a far away time.

Paths cross. Brave and blessed believers now grace my path in ways that make absolute sense.

Because of God.

Only because of God.

Words in the form of praise or plea are sweetly stored and recalled at right time, right place.

Scripture, ancient Biblical struggles and victories are relevant, relatable.

Sometimes,  recited as reminders by the right person.

How can it be that God would orchestrate my day so intentionally?

A quick stop at Food Lion midday, normally at the end day.

A familiar face turns from her work and smiling says ” How are you?”

The conversation turns to Jesus and I’m enlightened and amazed as she says, “Let’s walk up here.”

I listen as she excited tells me about how much God loves me.

Tucked away in the corner of the produce section

“God is unfolding His glorious plan for your life and the closer you get to him, on your knees, in His word…the clearer you will see.”

“You are worthy and you are valued. You are precious in God’s eyes.” She continued.

“You are distracted and worried. God sees that.  He sees you standing strong in the midst of the chaos, like the wheat amongst chaff.”

Is it odd to talk about Jesus in the produce section with the Food Lion manager who stops by with donations?

Even more odd to listen as she speaks from God’s word of how the wheat would be separated from the worthless chaff?

That the wheat will stand strong and firm as the worthless chaff falls away?

Being wheat was something I knew I wanted to be to God. Years ago read of wheat and chaff and knew then I want to be wheat.

Not chaff, not worthless.

Valued by God, worthy. Standing strong.

So, it was not odd at all that for this time …God is Sovereign over us, after all…all of us.

“Praise Jesus, she says, Lisa…you are wheat!”

And we hugged, long and sweet and real.

My prayer has been for clarity

For God to make me more observant.

To pay attention to those who know Him, counselors so to speak.

And I have.

Thank you God for teaching me to notice, to listen, to embrace.

 

 

 

A Quoteworthy friend – there for them always

Children, courage, Faith, Motherhood, Uncategorized, Vulnerability
Timeless, little brother, big sister

Timeless, little brother, big sister

Is there a price tag on the value of seeing smiles on the faces of our children?

I can’t fathom the worth.

Nor can a very good and wise friend who loved his little boy and loves his adult son with no limits, no accounting of financial investment or sacrifice.

My friend is true and kind and quoteworthy.

His words are timely and were seen through all of sudden tear-filled eyes.

I love my children. He loves his son. No record of Debt, unconditionally, honored to give, a demonstration of love.

On a Saturday morning, I check my email and a wisdom-filled friend takes time from his Saturday to say:

“It’s not just money.  Everything you give a child unconditionally, every ounce of support, assures him or her that you love them. And when they are 32 years old, and you tell them that even though you don’t know all that is going on in their lives at that moment, 
you are there for them always……you can get a text back saying, “I knew that all along.”

Kind words from a friend are like honey. Proverbs 16:24

 

 

Blessed – a faithful promise

courage, Faith, Prayer, rest, Trust, Uncategorized, Vulnerability

 

Believing God

Believing God

I am seeing life from a different perspective lately.

It wasn’t a sudden realization of a new mindset or just a new, clear understanding of something I’d heard all my life, but never embraced.

Last year, I filled a trendy mason jar with slips of paper, intentional recordings of  “good things” in 2014.

I ceremoniuosly opened the jar on January 1st, letting the little, wrinkly folded slips spill out onto my desk.

And I read each of the ” good things”…the blessings.

A trip with daughter.

A positive e-mail for my son.

A friend who understands me, a day of making an obedient choice.

I noticed, I’m afraid, that my attempt to be grateful was really just an exercise, an assignment, a self-imposed and empty chore.

Unfortunately, I felt no more blessed than before and I found myself striving just to figure out something to slip into the little jar.

And so, my word for 2015, “Blessed”

Not blessed because I can recall a couple of things that went my way or blessed because of something or someone or some break in a period of delay. Blessed, not because circumstances went the direction I wanted. Blessed as in God in His gracious mercy has unending favor for me.

Blessed, in that God says so.

Blessed, because I am loved and cherished by God.

Blessed, because God is good and has good for me, uniquely me.

Blessed, simply blessed and not just favored, but highly favored.

Blessed and excitedly anticipating God’s good.

I do have a new jar.

But,  my little slips of paper, curly Q script,  still pretty to look at will have sayings of  “loved by God”, “held by God”, “protected by God”, “Blessed by God”, “Surrendered to God” or “Confidently waiting”.

Because God is so much bigger than just my circumstances!

Remembering and recalling the little things along the way still, but not with a dutiful tone.

But embracing, owning, believing without reservation and regardless of my circumstances….I am blessed by God and in His eyes, His bless-ed child.

Looking in the mirror at random and seeing “Blessed” in the blue of my eyes, the curve of my slight smile.

Blessed and bravely following  Him, humbly, without fear, pursuing my Blessings, His faithful promises.

 God will make this happen, for He who promised is faithful. I Thessalonians 5:24

 

 

mirrors and windshields

Uncategorized
Good to know

Good to know

I write notes and letters to my children. Silly, love you’s or worrisome and difficult…

A few lines or a few pages…tucked under the door or wiper blade

Scripture, random in time and topic, sent daily via text.

Our fridge is covered in motivational mantra.

Notes and reminders are the norm, prompting everything good, everything hopeful.

Lessons taught, lessons learned.

I see, brushing teeth, removing contacts…love you.

And I feel, ” Sleep good, my good mother. You are good.”

 

Finding my key

Faith, Uncategorized
Blessings

Blessings

I was happy to make it to choir practice on Sunday.

I find my key by sitting next to a soprano because I still can’t be sure if I’m alto or soprano. So, I ease closer to the soprano with a beautiful, clear tone and find my key.

Next Sunday, I get the chance to sing a song that my voice finds it’s “sweet spot” in.  I love the song and the story behind it.

“Blessings”, written by Laura Story, as she and her husband navigated unexpected, serious medical crisis and recovery.

It’s an emotional song with verses I could carry off…not really as a vocal performance; but, simply a rhythmic sharing of lyrics imploring us to trust God’s plan.

His best in midst of trying times, of despair, disappointment, disillusionment

On the drive home I replayed the track over and over.

Practicing, embracing the words,  seeking to relate more significantly…preparing to convey its message next Sunday.

I thought of saying no to the request to sing because of a rough spot, two little lines that go from low to high.

My voice is a radio/shower/blend in voice.

Quiet and subtle. Not powerful.

I have to find my key, I kept practicing the couple of lines that jump from one to another key…a high one.

I sang the words…flat first, then screechy, strained.

Okay try again.

Maybe, I thought, if I just really and truly understood the meaning of the words?

Maybe I’m not “feeling it”.  Maybe I’m trying too hard. Maybe it’s not real to me.

So, I prayed “Lord, make this song real to me. Help, me to hear the message, the blessing, the key for me.”

And I just listened, heard.

And then, I sang in my key, from my heart.

Because, I understood.

“What if my greatest disappointments, or the aching of this life, is a revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy?”

Laura Story

“Blessings”

Every yearning, every expectation, each and every pretty little plan that has not come to fruition…has distressed, disappointed.

A return to salvation.

In returning and rest is your salvation. In quiet confidence is your strength.  Isaiah 30:15

Nothing of this world or in this world is capable of the thirst-quenching satisfaction of a closer walk, a consistent walk.

Dissatisfied?  That’s God’s intent, His design. His reminder that this world can’t satisfy.

Draw near, Stay near…find rest for your soul and the key for your song.

 

2014 in review – learning by doing what you believe you can

courage, Faith, family, Trust, Uncategorized, Vulnerability
Walking in the clouds

Walking in the clouds

Last night, my friend Ray Visotski read about my waning confidence and advised simply,  “Just keep writing.”  A second comment came from David Kanigan, a resounding  three letters,  “Yes.” And so, I will.

This morning, I am thinking of my most recent Children’s sermon in which I challenged a handful of boys and girls to tell me something they were afraid to do.  One little boy described his zip line experiences …staring across a cable from a little perch, wanting to let go, but afraid.  He was happy to share how good it felt to take a chance, to be confident, his sweet face beaming as he recalled the challenge.

He believed he could accomplish what the guide told him he could.

I asked the children if they realized how afraid Mary was when she was told she would be Jesus’ mother.  I shared with them her doubts, fears, disbelief.

I told them of her encounter with Elizabeth who shared with her the one powerful truth that grounded her and led her on.

Blessed is the one who believes what the Lord has said will be accomplished. Luke 1:25

I am thinking this morning of this truth. Having just returned from a trip to the mountains on which my sister’s family and ours challenged ourselves on a hike, walked through waterfalls, ate good food, laughed and loved…All under the planning of my brother-in-law who was insistent and intentional in our 3 days being memorable.

He has the personality of a believer, a thinker, a risk-taker. He jokes about my deep thinking writing, yet instructs me to explore opportunities with my blog. He believes I can be a successful writer and artist. He believes I can accomplish more than hobby.

If I have the chance, I plan to ask him if what I believe of his journey towards his current success as a businessman and ingenious CEO was motivated by the one thing I am convinced of:

(S) He believed he could, so He did.

Here’s my summary of progress thus far in this journey of believing.

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 2,800 times in 2014. If it were a cable car, it would take about 47 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.