Lisa notes

5 Links, Books, and Things I Love – August 2019

By LisaNotes August 5, 2019 Life updates, Links I like 16 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 blog posts from the month

What are you enjoying this month?

1 Second Everyday

[If you can’t see the 1 Second Everyday video, click here]

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

5 Things Around the Web

• The Mistake I Made with My Grieving Friend

Here are some ways to help—and not help—a friend with loss. Hint: Don’t top their story with your own. Avoid being a conversational narcissist.

• Things Not to Say at the Start of Your Service

Although good-intentioned, these introductory cliches aren’t always helpful to a congregation’s worship.

• 6 Secrets from the Top Marriage Researcher

“69% of a couple’s ongoing problems never get resolved.” Yikes. That’s a heavy stat. The advice here is worth reading to better deal with unresolved problems we all carry in our relationships.

• 5 Things People with Tidy Homes Don’t Do

If you prefer uncluttered spaces (me! me!), these tips are worth implementing. (Then again, if you have a low tolerance for disorder, you may already be doing these!)

• FB Aging App

Did you make yourself look older on FB with the latest app? This makes me laugh.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

5 Things with Words and Books

• We Don’t Really Own Our Ebooks?

We think we own our ebooks. Some we do; others, no. Some of our digital purchases could just disappear off our readers if so decided one day. This is somewhat disturbing. “We call DRM [digital rights management] media and devices defective by design, or broken from the beginning. There’s self-destruction built into the whole concept.”

• What Is the Aim of Christian Writing?

How do you evaluate if you’re writing for God’s glory? Some questions: Am I writing out of love for the readers or out of ego? Is this truth or ear-tickling? Is it helpful or just clever?

• How to Find Time to Read

Tips like these pop up regularly, but I still read them. And I usually pick up something helpful. I like the categories of books listed here (such as having a Wait Time Book, a Quiet Time Book, etc.).

• The Words People Google

Did you watch the Democratic debates last week? Here are the most googled words after the debates were over. It’s an interesting list.

• 7 Books I Recommend

Here are 7 favorite books I recommend from what I finished reading in July.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

5 Pictures of Things I Love

• Tea Cake Tradition

The granddaughters decorate Mama Jo’s tea cakes as part of the Burgess July 4 tradition every year. This year Jenna had to go solo for most of the decorating. The tradition lives on for another year.

~ * ~

• First Home for a Friend

We had fun celebrating with a young 20-something friend who bought her first home in July (even though she’s not in the picture).

~ * ~

• Our Latest Book Club

We finished Gretchen Rubin’s The Four Tendencies in our book club this spring (I highly recommend it). Two weeks ago we began our latest book, The Art of Living: Peace and Freedom in the Here and Now by Thich Nhat Hahn, being read here by my handsome great-nephew. We’re glad to have his input at our monthly meetings.

~ * ~

• All My Girls

While off for the summer, Jenna was able to travel with me to Morgan’s house several times. I love having all my girls together any time I can get it.

~ * ~

• And One More Grandbaby Pic

We have lots of fun together. She’s going to be a country girl for sure.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

5 Favorites from the Blog

• Get to the Point

She can’t say my name. But I know she loves me. Get to the point. Love is the point.

• Don’t Jump to Conclusions; Jump to Grace

Because our outsides looked different and sounded different, I assumed we were from different places. But not so. Look closer.

• Are You Available?

How tight is your schedule? Are you available when God calls?

• 7.5 Reasons to Celebrate Introverts

As an introvert, I’m not one to get the party started. But here are 7.5 reasons why we can celebrate introverts.

• Are You Too Sensitive?

If other people tend to drain you or they think you’re too sensitive, you might be an empath.

* * *

What was a highlight from your July? What do you have planned for August? Please share in the comments.

previous Links and Books

Unexplainable Love in Any Language

By LisaNotes August 2, 2019 My stories 9 Comments

I log on to complete my Spanish lesson in Duolingo. I attempt a lesson every day, even though progress seems painfully slow.

But in another tab, I see a note pop up in Messenger. It is from my friend Sofy. Completely in Spanish.

I like to understand things. I want them to add up. 2 + 2 = 4 and that’s that.

But some things happen I can’t explain.

I still have items around my house from our two mission trips to El Salvador summers ago. Papers, jewelry, trinkets, mementos.

With each item, I see a person. I hadn’t expected the outpouring. These people. I didn’t know they’d carve away a chunk of my heart for keeps in El Salvador.

How could I have known?

Oh, never underestimate the love of people.
Love has ways of binding hearts together we know nothing about.

When I first met Sofy, we could barely communicate. Through words anyway. But no matter. She was one of the unexplainable.

She invited Jenna and I into her home before our evening service to pick up something she’d left behind. We had our Spanish/English dictionary with us to communicate beyond gestures.

When I commented on the lovely artwork that filled her home, she pulled this piece off her shelf. She handed it to me. I admired it and asked how she’d made it. With individual magazine pages.

But when I tried to give it back, she said no. She wanted me to have it. It took her hours to make, I’m certain. Yet she could so freely give it to me, someone barely a step above a stranger?

It mattered not that I understood few Spanish words. The gesture of love I recognized.

I’ve never forgotten Sofy. And thankfully she’s never forgotten me. We occasionally send each other messages on Facebook. On this day we share about each other’s lives. She’s since retired and enjoys her grandchildren. I ask how many. She has three. I tell her about my one granddaughter, and one on the way.

What did I do to deserve her friendship? Nothing.

Love is so good. And so unexplainable.

When I remember back to that breezy Salvadorian night, unexplainable love bound us together. Love that people can have for each other. Love that is fueled beyond words. Unaccountable and mysterious, yet certain and plain.

Unexplainable tokens of love. Extravagant gifts from one human to another, straight to my heart. Blessings that exceed expectations.

What do we do to deserve them? Nothing.

Sometimes you can explain love.
Sometimes you can’t.
And that is fine with me. In any language.

* * *

Have you received love today for reasons you can’t explain? Be grateful for it. Then extend unexplainable love to someone yourself tomorrow.

Please share your thoughts in the comments.

revised from the archives

On the Blog – July 2019

By LisaNotes July 31, 2019 Archives 2 Comments

Here are brief summaries and links to blog posts from July 2019.

7.5 Reasons to Celebrate Introverts (7/30)
As an introvert, I’m not one to get the party started. But here are 7.5 reasons why we can celebrate introverts.
7 Books I Recommend – July 2019 (7/25)
Here are 7 books I recommend from what I finished reading in July 2019 (5 non-fiction, 2 novels).
Get to the Point (7/22)
She can’t say my name. But I know she loves me. Get to the point. Love is the point.
Run from First to Second (7/18)
Don’t stay on first base. There are better things on second. You’re safe there.
Poor in Spirit, Rich in Grace (7/16) Weakness isn’t the goal. But maybe weakness really can work in our favor. Poor in spirit, rich in grace? Book review of Glorious Weakness.
Don’t Jump to Conclusions; Jump to Grace (7/12)
Because our outsides looked different and sounded different, I assumed we were from different places. But not so. Look closer.
Are You Available? (7/8)
How tight is your schedule? Are you available when God calls?
Are You Too Sensitive? (7/5)
If other people tend to drain you or think you’re too sensitive, you might be an empath.
5 Links, Books, and Things I Love – July 2019 (7/1)
Links and pictures of articles, books, and things I love in July 2019.

7.5 Reasons to Celebrate Introverts

By LisaNotes July 30, 2019 Encouragement 36 Comments

No one says this about me:

The party really starts when she arrives.

Nor this:

The party is over when she leaves.

As an introvert, I don’t make a big splash when I enter (or exit) a room. I’m okay with that.

However, there are times when I’m not happy about being an introvert.

Sometimes I feel awkward when I can’t come up with a conversation topic.
Or I feel rushed when I can’t articulate my thoughts quick enough.
Or (this is a biggie) I get overwhelmed when I have hours left to socialize when I really just want to leave NOW, go home, and read my book alone.

So when I came across this list of reasons to celebrate being an introvert, I wanted to share them. It’s from Beth Buelow’s book, Insight: Reflections on the Gifts of Being an Introvert (apparently I put this book on my Kindle in 2012, but never opened it until now; I’m a little behind).

7.5 Reasons to Celebrate Being an Introvert

1. Depth of Curiosity

“I have an intense need to know. This need ranges from the superficial (I had to literally sit on my hands while watching a movie last week, holding myself back from running to IMDb for info) to the profound (shadow work and leadership).”

2. Ability to Be Alone

“It’s impossible to overstate how important this is for me as a solopreneur. An extrovert friend recently said, ‘You’re lucky you’re an introvert, you don’t mind working home alone. I’m about to go stir crazy!’ Lucky, indeed!”

3. Quiet Energy

“My energy tends to be a calming presence, which means I don’t take up too much space in a room or conversation. And I don’t need to take up a lot of space. I have a greater influence when I am intentional and deliberate in my speech and presence.”

4. Close Listening

“This makes me a good coach. I can listen ‘in between the words’ to what my client is saying, as well as hear what he’s saying without thinking about what I’m going to say when he’s done talking.”

5. Introspection

“Since childhood, I’ve been fascinated with my inner world. I’m grateful for the tangible proof of that fascination: stacks of journals in my closets, chronicling my life from first kiss to marriage.”

6. Close Friendships

“I have a few, close friends. And how I love that. My strong preference for quality over quantity means I’ve developed a chosen family based on mutual love and respect.”

7. Self-Contained

“I’m pretty easily amused. It doesn’t take much to entertain me; give me a book, a place to nap, my laptop, and I’m generally good to go. This makes me relatively low maintenance and a fairly cheap date.”

7.5. Look Before Leaping

“This is one of the core traits of an introvert. We like to observe before jumping in. This is a huge asset, as it keeps us from seriously unintentional actions and big-time goofs.”

(Beth listed that one as “.5” only, because while sometimes “looking before leaping” is an asset, other times she’d like to throw caution to the wind.)

Are you the life of the party or are you more of a quiet presence?

If you’re an introvert, which one of Beth’s gifts hits home with you?
If you’re an extrovert, which one puzzles you?

* * *

Please share your thoughts in the comments.

7 Books I Recommend – July 2019

By LisaNotes July 25, 2019 Books I Recommend, Video Book Reviews 45 Comments

When we come out of a book, we’re different.
– Jacqueline Woodson

Every month I share the best of the books I just finished. Here are seven books that I recommend from July’s readings.

Books I Recommend

NONFICTION

1. The Myth of a Christian Nation
How the Quest for Political Power Is Destroying the Church
by Gregory A. Boyd

Was this really published back in 2005? It feels very 2019. This book still serves as a current wake-up call, urging us to rein in our hunger for political power and instead go about doing the things Christ would do. I find it very thought-provoking.

Is it the church’s mission to overpower the world, or rather to serve those in the world?

“Only what looks like Jesus qualifies as a kingdom-of-God activity. Slaughtering, enslaving, cheating, conquering, and dominating are not the sort of activities Jesus engaged in.”

[click here if you can’t see 1-Minute Book Review]

2. The Enchanted Hour
The Miraculous Power of Reading Aloud in the Age of Distraction
by Meghan Gurdon

I loved reading aloud with my two daughters as they were growing up, even long after they could read for themselves. And now I love reading with my granddaughter. So I don’t need to be sold on the virtues of reading-aloud; I’m already a believer.

Yet I am still inspired by this book about the importance of reading aloud at ALL stages of life, including reading to those who may be bed-ridden and/or dying. Filled with research, beautiful excerpts, and practical tips, this is a relevant book for all of us.

3. Glorious Weakness
Discovering God in All We Lack
by Alia Joy

This book is grace for our tender spots. Alia Joy writes with humility and rawness about her own hurts and weaknesses in a way that we all can relate to. Sometimes the book felt a little too dark for me, but if you hang in there, she always lets the light of Jesus shine back through again.

“His words served as a reminder of the Christian response to suffering—we enter into it together, share in it together, lament with each other.”

My book review of Glorious Weakness is here

4. Thriving as an Empath
365 Days of Self-Care for Sensitive People
by Judith Orloff

This is a daily devotional for sensitive people. It focuses on gratitude, on small daily practices, and on self-care. I started reading a review copy this spring. I have benefited from the short reflections each day on how to protect our time and energy in balanced ways while staying engaged with the world.

“Finding this balance is the art of healing. Inwardly you can say, ‘This is not my burden to carry.’ It is impossible to fix someone. Everybody deserves the dignity of their own path.”

My book review of Thriving as an Empath is here

5. Just Show Up
And Other Enduring Values from Baseball’s Iron Man
by Cal Ripken Jr.

I remember in 1995 when baseball’s “Iron Man” Cal Ripken broke the MLB record for playing in the most consecutive baseball games: 2,131 games. Then he kept playing, eventually reaching 2,632 consecutive games.

So when I saw his book title was the mantra I’ve been using for years—Just Show Up—I had to check it out from my library. I’m glad I did. It’s about his life, but it’s also for our lives. It’s about integrity and determination and character.

And some baseball thrown in, too.

“We do our best, we hope we’ve done the right thing, and then the next day, we show up again, ready to hit a baseball, or make a ruling, or raise a kid, or be kind to the person serving us in a store.
We only get a few innings on this planet, after all. May as well show up, ready to play, for every one.”

(He also made me feel better about streaks that I like to keep; maybe I’m not so weird after all? “A streak is not an end in itself. It’s a way of doing things.”)

Fiction

6. Before We Were Yours
by Lisa Wingate

A beautifully-told story that goes back and forth in time, this novel tells about five siblings living in a shanty boat in Memphis in 1939, and then a present-day family with a yet-to-be discovered past. Even though this is fiction, it revolves around a real-life scandal of a Memphis adoption agency.

“It’s funny how what you’re used to seems like it’s right even if it’s bad.”

7. I Let You Go
by Clare Mackintosh

I’ve never been caught off guard at a plot twist as much as I was with this novel. The story begins with a horrible accident: five-year-old Jacob is killed in a hit-and-run accident. The novel then keeps you engaged, switching narration back and forth between involved parties, including the police investigators. I’d read this one again.

READING NOW

Where the Crawdads Sing
by Delia Owens
The Weather Machine
A Journey Inside the Forecast
by Andrew Blum
Stop Being Reasonable
How We Really Change Our Minds
by Eleanor Gordon-Smith
Crossing to Safety
by Wallace Stegner
What If God Wrote Your Shopping List?
52 Ways to Find Freedom from “Stuff”
by Jay Payleitner
The Art of Mindful Reading
Embracing the Wisdom of Words
by Ella Berthoud
While the World Watched
A Birmingham Bombing Survivor Comes of Age During the Civil Rights Movement
by Carolyn Maull McKinstry