Lisa notes

5 Suggestions to Calm the Chaos
—Grace & Truth Linkup

By LisaNotes December 11, 2020 Grace & Truth Link-Up 3 Comments

Now Let’s Link Up!

Which of these 5 suggestions have you used to calm your chaos? 1-Pray, 2-Praise, 3-Music, 4-Outside, 5-Change of scenery. Share your thoughts in the comments.

Expect a Good Surprise from Jesus (+ A Christmas Recipe)

By LisaNotes December 10, 2020 Guest posts 1 Comment

Do you have a favorite recipe that you use only at Christmas? I have this one: Miss Miriam’s Surprise.

The title doesn’t indicate the deliciousness that you’ll be surprised with.

2020 has given us lots of surprises. We’ve not liked many of those.

But Jesus only surprises us with good things.

How watchful are you for the surprises he has in store for you?

Read it all here

I’m writing today at Do Not Depart for our #ChristmasTea series. Will you join me there?

How Much Do We Need to Know?

By LisaNotes December 8, 2020 Book reviews, Encouragement 16 Comments

Do You Want to Know?

If you could, would you want to know when you’ll die?

With the surge of COVID-19, maybe you’ve already contemplated the possibility of your own death or that of a family member or friend.

I often wonder if my death will be from Alzheimer’s. It’s how my mother died. It’s haunted me for years.

But would I take a test now to find out if I have Alzheimer’s? Probably not. I’d rather live with the uncertainty.

I’m not alone. A survey mentioned in Too Much Information states that 53% of respondents also said no, that they would not want to know if they will get Alzheimer’s.

How much do we really want to know?

Life Is Uncertain

I didn’t plan to read these two books at the same time. I didn’t even realize the significance of their pairing until almost after the fact.

But reading Too Much Information at the same time as Searching for Certainty was likely no coincidence.

And to make it even stranger, a few days after I began reading Searching for Certainty, I heard that its author Shelly Miller had just died after a short illness. Such a tragic loss to her family and our world.

Life’s circumstances are certainly uncertain. There are more things we don’t know, can’t know, than things we do know.

And we have to learn to live with that uncertainty, like it or not.

In Too Much Information, the author Cass Sunstein says that:

“If we want to know whether and when people want to know, we have to focus on how people think that they will feel if they end up knowing.”

Would you want to know what your friends really think about you? Only 42% of those polled would want to know.

This Is Enough to Know

Sometimes it’s best that we don’t know everything up front.

Shelly writes in Searching for Certainty,

“In fear, we can miss the obvious—that your uncertainty is God’s opportunity to reveal his great love for you.”

God never said he’d give us explanations for all that happens. Nor did he guarantee certainty in our circumstances.

“God doesn’t promise safety and security; he promises that he will be with you.”

Shelly suggests we “reframe uncertainty through the lens of the certainty of God’s love.”

Life has shown us much uncertainty in 2020. It’s made me uncomfortable. I’ve wanted to know more—times, dates, answers.

But one thing is certain: God’s love is always with us. When we don’t know much else, we can know that.

And that might be the most important thing we ever need to know.

Would you rather know or not know information like when or how you’ll die? Share thoughts in the comments.

My thanks to Net Galley for the
review copies of these books

Don’t Rush to the Answer – Linger in the Pause

By LisaNotes December 7, 2020 Linger, My stories 18 Comments

Is Everything Really “Fine”?

Our elderly friend had brought a chair outside. She was sitting in it when we walked up. We could tell something was wrong.

We asked her if she was okay. She blew off the question with, “Everything is fine.”

But I recognized the ploy. I sometimes use it myself.

We may try to hide behind our words, but our eyes often give us away. Her eyes were speaking.

We asked if there was anything we could pray about for her. She was silent.

So we became silent too.

What’s the Rush?

It’s hard to linger in silence.

We don’t like uncertainty.
We want answers.
We don’t like pain (ours or others).
We want relief.
We don’t like problems.
We want them fixed.

Answers and relief and solutions are good. They are healing. They are our goals.

But sometimes, in our rush to fix things, to get to the answer, to hurry to a resolution, we shortchange a relationship.

With our friend, we waited through the silence. And the silence was uncomfortable.

I don’t like long pauses in conversations with those I don’t know well. My mind starts grasping for something to say, anything to talk about.

But this time, we stayed with the pause.

And out of the silence arose a mumbled answer, “I just don’t like living here.” The dam broke. Our friend cried. She told us more. And more. We listened. We prayed.

We connected.

Rising from the Silence

Isn’t this how God often works with us? God doesn’t always rush in to tidy up our lives as soon we’re in a mess.

Instead, he gives us room to hash it out. He allows us to spin in circles if needed. He makes space for us to experiment with new ideas and toss around options. Yet all the while he sticks by us, allowing us to experience his presence.

God’s help isn’t always noisy. Sometimes it’s quiet.

I was thankful for the Spirit’s nudge to honor the initial silence with our friend. To listen a little longer. To linger in the pause. Even though it felt unnatural.

In the end, the silence brought fuller understanding, not less.

Instead of rushing to get an answer, I want to be willing to linger longer in the pause.

A better way may arise from the silence.

Is it hard for you, too, to linger in the pause? Share in the comments.

5 Snapshots of Time

By LisaNotes December 4, 2020 Life updates, Linger 21 Comments

A New One Word 2021 Group

Lately I’ve been lingering in my memories. “Linger” is the word I chose for 2020. Little did we realize how much lingering we each would do in our own spaces in 2020!

I’ve also been thinking ahead about my One Word for 2021. So I’m creating a One Word community for 2021.

Sign up for the One Word 2021 group here.

It will be a low-key group where we can:

Share about our One Words once a month
Listen to others share about their One Words
Help each other stay accountable to practice our individual word throughout the year

On the 21st day of each month I’ll offer my blog as home for you to share your own progress (or lack thereof) via comments or your own blog posts or Instagram posts. I’m also setting up a Facebook group for those interested in more interactions throughout each month.

More information about the One Word 2021 community is on my blog here.

5 Snapshots of Lingering in Time

Here are 5 pictures from last month, reflecting on time—past, present, and future.

1. THE PAST – PART 1

My husband Jeff has a gift for connecting with the older generation, listening to them talk about their past, about the toys they grew up with, the lives they lived. One such toy is Cushman scooters. Jeff’s hobby is buying old Cushmans, working on them awhile, then selling them to those who want them. This is a unique one, a 1961-ish Cushman Golfster.

2. THE PAST – PART 2

Our granddaughters were with us on November 13 this year, the birthday and death anniversary of our precious middle daughter Kali 27 years ago. Our granddaughter got to wish Aunt Kali a “Happy Birthday” and leave flowers on her grave.

3. THE PRESENT

Living in 2020 has brought many firsts. This was our first all-outdoors Thanksgiving. Thankfully it was a semi-warm, totally sunny day at my in-laws’ house. But who knows?—this could be the beginning of a brand new tradition (except I hope we’ll not have to keep a 6-foot distance again).

4. THE FUTURE

I love watching my youngest daughter Jenna and Trey grow into their marriage. They have a bright future together. They are both avid photographers, so Trey rowed Jenna to the pelicans who were also visiting my in-laws on Thanksgiving Day so she could get closer photos of them.

5. TIME COMBINED

Our oldest granddaughter always asks to see the rockets when she comes to our house. This trip we took her to the Space and Rocket Center near us to walk among the rockets. My father spent his career building rockets and the Space Shuttle for NASA so I love that she is interested in them. Jeff also builds rockets for his job, so I feel past, present, and future all combined in this photo.

Did you choose One Word for 2020? Do you have one yet for 2021? Share your thoughts in the comments.

5 Favorite Comments on 5 Posts

By LisaNotes December 3, 2020 Life updates 9 Comments

I love reading your comments at the end of blog posts. You teach me so much.

Here are five favorite comments from five posts from the blog last month. Thank you for sharing your hearts and wisdom here.

I’m sharing five groups of five things I love, one per day this week.

5 Books I Recommend (Monday)
5 Things to Laugh About in 2020 (Tuesday)
5 Links I Love (Wednesday)
5 Favorite Comments on 5 Posts (Thursday)
5 Snapshots of Time and 1-Second Everyday Video (Friday)

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

5 Posts and 5 Favorite Comments

1. How Can We Stay Close If We Don’t Communicate?

If we keep avoiding people who disagree with us, how will we ever come back together? Let’s relearn how to talk together.

From Martha:

“I remind myself often that we are all God’s children, and that we should treat one another with respect and dignity. I do wish things weren’t so polarized right now, but with God’s help, we can recover and truly be one nation under God.”

2. 5 Reasons to Read Nonfiction Books + 5 Favorite Books to Read in 2020

If you don’t already love nonfiction books, here are 5 reasons on this blog post for you to add nonfiction to your to-read list. Plus a book suggestion for each category.

From Literary Feline:

“I like to be inspired by my reading and find that in both fiction and nonfiction. I enjoy historical fiction and when I come across a character that existed in real life, I will often do a bit of research to find out more about that person in their real-life. More often than not, I am more impressed with the real person. Sometimes I like to read about someone’s struggle or journey and gain perspective about my own life that maybe I was missing or needed illuminated, whether similar or completely different. And I just plain love to learn new things and expand my worldview.”

3. Is Someone Avoiding Your Table?

Who is avoiding your table? When we make others uncomfortable, they’ll sit elsewhere. Learn to be a safe place. Ideas in the post.

From Carlie:

“As a believer in Christ, I long for us (believers) to truly live out His mission, and ours, to make room at the table for EVERYONE. May we purposefully strive ‘for everyone to be invited. To feel welcomed. To feel at home.’”

4. 5 Reasons to Love Being a Grandparent (+ Pictures)

I share 5 reasons in this post about why I love being a grandparent. I’m still a newbie, but I’m loving it.

From Theresa:

“My grandmother used to wear polyester pants with creases sewn in. For years, that’s what I associated with being a grandmother. Luckily, they are no longer required!”

5. How Do You Decide What to Read Next?

In this post I share how I decide what to read next, plus some books recommended to me from #nonficnov.

From Jeanne:

“I have a couple hundred hard copy books on my TBR shelves. I have placed them in the order I want to read them. Although, admittedly, that order changes from time to time. ? I also take note of what blogging friends have recommended, and if the book is on a topic that resonates with me or that I have been pondering, I’ll pick up that book and put it at the front of the pile.”

previous Favorite 5’s