Lisa notes

Just One at a Time

By LisaNotes April 16, 2020 Community, Guest posts 7 Comments

How can you, as one person, respond to the massive trouble in the world?

One person at a time.

Keep your relationships strong for the other side. Isolation will end. Relationships don’t have to.

Just One?

We can feel disconnected because we’re missing our normal hangouts of work, church, social activities, etc.

What can you do to make a difference now when the problem is so large?

This is God’s specialty. He knows how to turn hopeless scenarios into extraordinary miracles.

And as God did in the past, He can also do today, using one person at a time.

Here are some things you can do today . . .

Read it all here, Reach One at a Time for the Other Side

I’m writing today at Do Not Depart. Will you join me there for how we can reach out, one at a time?

Congratulate Yourself – Thanks for How You’re Helping

By LisaNotes April 13, 2020 Encouragement 14 Comments

Congratulate yourself.

There are a lot of ways to help people through this crisis. Don’t underestimate your way.

Maybe you’re a healthcare worker. You’re stepping in the middle of it every time you go to work, risking your own life so others can breathe. We thank you. We applaud you.

Maybe you’re stocking the shelves at Walmart. Or filling prescriptions at CVS. Or making pizzas at Pizza hut. We thank you. We applaud you.

Maybe you’re still teaching a class of children, in a way you weren’t trained for. You make lesson plans, check up on students, field phone calls from weary parents. We thank you. We applaud you.

Maybe you’re feeding the hungry. You bag groceries at the food banks and put them in car trunks when people drive by. We thank you. We applaud you.

Maybe you’re curating encouraging articles online. You share information on Facebook, tweet helpful posts on Twitter, sends Marco Polo videos and participate in FaceTime chats with friends and families. We thank you. We applaud you.

Maybe you’re still going into work or working from home to earn a paycheck and keep your business in business. You’re also homeschooling your kids and keeping everyone clothed and fed. We thank you. We applaud you.

Or maybe you’re staying home, day in and day out. You’re only going out for food and necessities. You’re keeping distance and washing hands and wearing masks. You’re getting out of bed each morning and trying to sleep every night. You are our heroes, too. We thank you. We applaud you.

Whatever you are doing—and NOT doing—to keep our globe a safer place, we thank you. We applaud you. Don’t underestimate your contribution, whether it’s treating a patient or whether it’s staying in your house. Both of these, and all those in between, are valuable.

Thank God for the breath in your lungs. Pray for those struggling outwardly. Be compassionate to those struggling inwardly.

Congratulate yourself for making it through another day.

Thank YOU for the contributions you are making! Each are important. Please share your thoughts in the comments.

Mercy Is the Way Through – Grace & Truth Link-Up

By LisaNotes April 10, 2020 Encouragement, Grace & Truth Link-Up 8 Comments

How Are You Coping?

We cope differently.

Some try not to think about it. Others want to stay up-to-date informed. Some refuse to think negatively. Others cry it out daily.

But here’s the thing. When someone handles this differently than you, try not to judge them for it.

Just accept it. Remind yourself this is what works for them.

They’re doing the best they can.

Just like we’re doing the best we can.

Maybe in a few weeks, if we discover our coping mechanisms aren’t healthy (or more likely, if our housemates point it out to us!), we can put forth a herculean effort to change, beg for the Spirit’s help, and recalibrate.

But in the meantime, be gentle on yourself. And be gentle on others.

Ask God for mercy. Mercy for yourself. And mercy to give to others.

Mercy is the way through.

Our Featured Post

Linda Stoll reminds us that our thoughts and emotions we’re having are “perfectly normal, understandable, and completely valid given what we are journeying through.”

Read Linda’s post here to see how God empowers us, infuses us with love, and gives us sanity.

“You’re Not Alone if You’re a Bit Fearful . . . or You’re Freaking Out”

Linda’s gentle and wise words always help me feel better.

Thanks for sharing, Linda! Here’s a button for your blog.

MAREE DEE – Embracing the Unexpected
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HEATHER HART & VALERIE RIESE – Candidly Christian
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LISA BURGESS – Lisa notes
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We pray that Grace & Truth will point you to Jesus. Add your post to encourage others in the Christian blogging community.

1. Follow your hosts on their blogs and/or social media channels, if you’d like.

2. Share 1 or 2 of your most recent CHRISTIAN LIVING posts. (No DIY, crafts, recipes, or inappropriate articles.)

3. Visit and comment on 1 or 2 other links. Be an encourager. Please don’t link and run.

4. All links are randomly sorted. Link early or late. The playing field is even.

To Be Featured:

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What is your coping style? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

7 Gifts of Menopause

By LisaNotes April 8, 2020 Book reviews 9 Comments

I remember a change in my mother in her mid-life years. She spoke up more for herself. She became more assertive. It was a good thing to see.

They say that in mid-life a woman finds it harder to repress pain and anger. Cheryl Bridges Johns writes that,

“Women begin to take note of the disparity in power, injustice in society, betrayal in relationships, and disappointments that they once were willing to overlook.”

I don’t know if that can be attributed to a change in hormones or not. But whatever the cause, I have seen it happen again and again as women get older.

In Johns’ new book, Seven Transforming Gifts of Menopause, she makes a case for women to use this phase of life to transform into a new way of being in the world, to use this “sacred space to discover a deeper, more mature relationship with God.”

She says there are seven developmental tasks for each woman to face, revealing seven gifts of menopause:

The Gift of Uncovering
Uncovering the repressed and hidden parts of your life
The Gift of Anger
Getting in touch with your anger
The Gift of Authentic Self
Recovering your authentic self
The Gift of Expanded Time
Living in expanded time
The Gift of Spiritual Freedom
Claiming your spiritual freedom
The Gift of Vision
Embracing a holy vision (calling)
The Gift of Courage
Returning to your courageous dragon self

To receive these gifts, Johns says to lean into the storm and get in touch with your body. Feel your feelings. Remember your memories. Grieve your losses.

And don’t do it alone. Do it with friends. Do it with God.

Using the seven gifts of menopause prepares you for the second half of life as “a person with the courage, strength, and power needed to face a future that may look quite uncertain.”

Claim the gift of spiritual freedom. It comes with “an enlarged vision of God.” And an enlarged vision of yourself.

I saw it happen with my mother. I hope I’ll see it happen with myself, too.

My thanks to Net Galley
for the review copy of this book

5 Links, Books, and Things I Love – Corona Edition, April 2020

By LisaNotes April 6, 2020 Life updates, Links I like 30 Comments

Every month I share my list of favorite 5’s.

5 interesting things online
5 articles about words, books, or podcasts
5 pictures of things I love
5 things on the blog

What are you enjoying this month?

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5 Things Around the Web

45 Things To Remember When The World Gets Scary

This is a beautiful list to help us get through a tough time. I couldn’t narrow down one favorite. Among others (including #1 and #45), #10 resonates with me: “Fear is easy. Hope is hard.” I’m putting my hope in God to get me through.

Use This Time to Re-Imagine the Faith of Two or Three Gathered in His Name – COVIDTide Prayers

“I hope the coronavirus interruption may help us recalibrate Christian worship and discipleship. If we’re super-mindful right now, quarantine may be the best thing that’s happened to “the church” in a long, long time.”
– Brad Jersak

How to Not Keep Refreshing the News

I have to limit how often I check the news to protect my mental health. You, too? Here are some helpful strategies.

Sorting Through Our COVID Anxieties

There’s no shame in being anxious during this time. Not all anxieties are the same though. This article takes you through six different types of anxieties and how to handle each kind.

Can Your Marriage Survive the Coronavirus?

Several tips here, including this cute one: get an imaginary coworker to blame things on, to keep you on the same side, i.e., “Cheryl” keeps leaving dirty cups all over the place and we really don’t know what to do about her.

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5 Memes

There have been so many great memes going around that I’ve added this special section.

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5 Things with Words and Books

New Words We Created Because Of Coronavirus

We’re familiar now with “social distancing” and “flatten the curve.” How about “doom-scrolling,” “covidiot,” and “coronacation”?

31 Optimistic Books for Readers in Need of a Boost

This is a list of life-affirming books that may have heavy topics, but will give you hope and make you feel good about the world.

Coronavirus: Fact vs Fiction – Podcast

I’ve enjoyed this new podcast every morning with Dr. Sanjay Gupta. He updates you on the latest news about the coronavirus. Sometimes it’s heavy stuff; other times it’s lighter stories.

The Best Distance Learning Is Reading a Book

I love technology but it’s still hard to beat paper. “Crack open a book and you can not only learn from someone who’s several thousand miles away, you can learn from someone who’s several thousand years away.”

5 Books I Recommend

I really loved these books I finished in March. Maybe You Should Talk to Someone seems especially pertinent in this season.

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5 Things I Love

Missing My Grandbabies

All my pictures this month are my granddaughters from the past few weeks because I’m missing them. So much! I look forward to playing together again as soon as we can!

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5 Things on the Blog

It’s Okay to Be Sad, Christians

It’s okay to be sad, Christians.⁣⁣ How am I? I’m grieving. I’m anxious. I’m conflicted. And yes, I’m still Christian.⁣

When Anxiety Needs Words, Memorize Scripture – Psalm 91 Challenge

When you need to put better words in your brain, try memorizing Scripture. Sign up now to learn Psalm 91 beginning April 6.

Ways to Use Technology for Social Connection During Social Distancing

Here are ways we can use technology to stay socially connected during social distancing.

What It’s Like to Be the Investigator, the Enneagram 5

See what it’s like to be the investigator, an Enneagram Five, in Mary’s “EnneaWhat??” series.

When Plans Are a Tossup, Live in Grace

Our plans are a tossup in these times of COVID-19. But we can always plan to live in grace. Read Bob Goff’s newest book for encouragement.

What is bringing you joy this month? Please share in the comments.

previous Links and Books

If You Can’t Decide, Try This – Grace & Truth Link-Up

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

I Can’t Decide

I’m not at my best these days. It’s hard to stay focused. Even small decisions can feel big, like life-and-death.

Should I go to the grocery store tomorrow, or can I wait a few more days?
Is it safe to get take-out food for supper tonight?
Should I volunteer to distribute food at our food pantry, even within CDC guidelines?

The answers aren’t always clear. There’s not always a definite right or wrong.

So what do we do?

Our Featured Post

Debbie Wilson offers four suggestions for us in our featured post this week, “4 Practical Tips for When You Can’t Decide.”

Debbie’s decision involved her new puppy. He began limping. The vet recommended expensive surgery.

It would be costly and these are uncertain economic times. The breeder offered to do a puppy switch instead.

What should she do?

Read Debbie’s post to see how she’s walking through the decision process, and how you can walk through yours.

My decisions? I chose to:

Wait.
Go to the store next week when my list builds up more.
Yes.
Get the takeout food and support the restaurant, but dispose of the wrappings and wash our hands thoroughly back at home.
No.
Let the younger volunteers fill in the gap now. I can volunteer again in a few weeks.

Thank you, Debbie.

And thank you, God.

“The pressure to make the perfect decision is paralyzing. How can we make the right decision when we don’t know everything? Only God has all knowledge. However, we can trust that He will reward those who seek Him, and that provides precious peace of mind (Heb. 11:6).”
– Debbie Wilson

Thanks for sharing, Debbie! Here’s a button for your blog.

MAREE DEE – Embracing the Unexpected
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

HEATHER HART & VALERIE RIESE – Candidly Christian
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

LAUREN SPARKS
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

LISA BURGESS – Lisa notes
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

We pray that Grace & Truth will point you to Jesus. Add your post to encourage others in the Christian blogging community.

1. Follow your hosts on their blogs and/or social media channels, if you’d like.

2. Share 1 or 2 of your most recent CHRISTIAN LIVING posts. (No DIY, crafts, recipes, or inappropriate articles.)

3. Visit and comment on 1 or 2 other links. Be an encourager. Please don’t link and run.

4. All links are randomly sorted. Link early or late. The playing field is even.

To Be Featured:

5. Post the button or link back to one of our hosts. It encourages new participants. (Not mandatory to participate, but required to be featured.)

6. Every host will feature and promote one blog every week.

Now Let’s Link Up!

How is your decision-making skill these days? What helps you decide? Please share your thoughts in the comments.