Lisa notes

I Can Do It Myself—But Should I?

By LisaNotes April 4, 2018 Encouragement, One Word 2018: Mystery 20 Comments

The ladies at Manna House had cooked and boxed the meals already. They were ready to be delivered. I had a shopping cart of 50 of them to load into the back of my car Wednesday afternoon. It rarely takes long. I can do it alone if no one is around to help.

I used to think being self-sufficient was the nice thing. Do it myself. Don’t let anyone help. It might inconvenience them.

But if someone asks if I need help, I’ve discovered a better answer than my typical “No thanks—I can do it myself.”

When three young volunteers asked if they could help me Wednesday, I gave the better answer.

I’m learning now to say, “Yes, thank you! I’d appreciate your help.”

It seems the greater gift. Because it’s not only about me.

I asked the three men where they were from. One was from Oregon. Another from Arizona. And the third from Mexico.

And yet they all ended up as friends and co-workers in Alabama, volunteering at Manna House, loading the car of a native Alabamian so I could carry the food to others.

I could have loaded my car just fine without their help.

But I would have missed out on their joy of friendship. And they would have missed out on the blessing of helping another.

Saying “Yes, I’d love your help” was a gift all the way around. I’m glad I’m learning to unwrap it.

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Do you overvalue self-sufficiency too? How do you break yourself of the “I can do it myself” habit? Please share in the comments.

5 Links, Books, and Things I Love – April 2018

By LisaNotes April 2, 2018 Life updates, Links I like 27 Comments

What did you do in March? What are you looking forward to in April? We share once a month at Leigh’s.

1 Second Everyday

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

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5 Things Around the Web

1. The Death of the Church Directory 
by Leslie Anne Tarabella

Does your church still have a picture directory?  Ours doesn’t. I miss it. But I also understand.

Death of Church Directory

Church directories were the unofficial yearbooks for our families of faith. (Leslie Anne Tarabella)

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2. How Does Chick-fil-A’s Drive-Thru Move So Fast?
by Sean Ward

I often do wonder about this. They’ve put a lot of research into it. No surprise they do it well.

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3. 9 Things that Quiet, Awkward Introvert Wishes You Knew
by Jenn Granneman

#4 and #6 really stand out to me. You?

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4. Having Your Smartphone Nearby Takes a Toll on Your Thinking
by Kristen Duke, Adrian Ward, Ayelet Gneezy, Maarten Bos

“Our research suggests that, in a way, the mere presence of our smartphones is like the sound of our names — they are constantly calling to us, exerting a gravitational pull on our attention. If you have ever felt a “phantom buzz” you inherently know this.”

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5. How All You Can Eat Restaurants Make Money

I’ll pay closer attention next time I’m at an all-you-can-eat buffet.

All You Can Eat Profitable?

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5 Things about Books and Podcasts

1. Print Books Still Reign
by Andrew Perrin

Sixty-seven percent of Americans read a print book within the past year. And nearly one in five Americans now listen to audiobooks. More interesting stats here about the state of reading in America.

Print books more popular

2. Podcast: How to Inspire Every Child to Be a Lifelong Reader
TED Talks Daily Podcast: Alvin Irby

I listened to the audio on the TED Talks Daily podcast, but you can watch the TED Talk here by Alvin Irby, a former kindergarten teacher. He is the founder of Barbershop Books, a wonderful project.

3. Podcast: How to Connect with Depressed Friends
TED Talks Daily Podcast: Bill Bernat

Or watch it here.

“Want to connect with a depressed friend but not sure how to relate to them? Comedian and storyteller Bill Bernat has a few suggestions. Learn some dos and don’ts for talking to people living with depression — and handle your next conversation with grace and maybe a bit of humor.”

4. Podcast: Hot Mess Room “Just in Case” Items
Organize 365 Podcast: Lisa Woodruff

Do you have a HMR too (a Hot Mess Room)? My laundry room is a hot mess. It keeps popping up on my to-do list for a major do-over, but I haven’t gotten to it yet. This podcast gives some helpful tips.

5. Three Books I Recommend – March 2018     

Recommended reading from two novels and one non-fiction book I finished in March. Reading time has reached a new low lately.

3 Books I Recommend March 2018_LisaNotes

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5 Things I Love

1. Grandbaby Is 2 Months!

I’m loving every second I get to spend with our first grandchild, even though it means putting LOTS of miles on the road back and forth. She’s growing and changing so quickly.

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This bassinet has been used for generations in the Burgess family. Nowadays we mainly use it just for photos, one good one for each grandchild.

This is Riley’s turn for the bassinet photo. We almost waited too late! Her little toes are ready to escape.

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2. New Scripture Memory Challenge

This is Week 1 of our new scripture memory challenge with Do Not Depart. We’re learning Matthew 5:1-19 (includes the Beatitudes). I love having chapters I can go over in my head to chase out other crazy thoughts that pop in there.

sign-up-memorize-matthew-5

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3. Chocolate!

I love chocolate. Probably too much. I’ve recently tried this Duncan Hines Brownie-in-a-Mug mix for the first time. It’s a perfect one-serving size when I just have to have something. Leigh Kramer shared her homemade updated Mug Brownie Recipe on her blog last week. I haven’t tried hers yet, but I will!

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4. This poem—to our bodies—“Dear Body, I’m sorry and I love you“

I first heard this poem by Hillary McBride on the Liturgists podcast, episode Embodiment. It brought me to tears. Too often I do not appreciate my body, but rather see its flaws on a daily basis instead. This poem gives a better perspective.

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5. Tornado Cleanup

Alabama had tornadoes again two weeks ago. While it didn’t affect my neighborhood, it did hit within 20 miles. Our local disaster response team, PAR (Prepare and Respond), spent lots of hours helping clean up. So proud of their selfless devotion to help others.

PAR March 2018 Tornadoes

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5 Things on the Blog

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What was a highlight from your March? What are you looking forward to in April? Please share in the comments.

previous Links and Books

On the Blog – March 2018

By LisaNotes March 31, 2018 Archives 2 Comments

Summaries and links to blog posts for March 2018

 

Have You Memorized the Beatitudes? Want to Try Now? {New Scripture Memory Challenge}

By LisaNotes March 28, 2018 Bible, Memorization 12 Comments

Beginning next week, April 2, the community at Do Not Depart is going to tackle a new Scripture Memory Challenge. You’re welcome to join in!

Matthew-5-Scripture-Memory-Challenge

Our plan is to memorize Matthew 5:1-19, one to two verses per week. We intentionally go slowly so the words can sink into us as we can sink deeper into the Word.

The goal of memorizing isn’t to check off boxes on a spiritual checklist, but rather to swap words back and forth with God. It’s a conversation by choice.

The words in Matthew 5 are straight from the lips of Jesus. They include the Beatitudes (“Blessed are the…”), passages on being light, on being salt, and more. Read it all here.

See the full schedule here.

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If you want to join in, sign up here.

You’ll then receive a link to resources you can download and print. And for each week we do the challenge, you’ll receive a short email on Monday mornings reminding you what the verse-of-the-week is.

We have an active Facebook group you also can join, Hide His Word. We meet there each week and share what we’re learning and tips to help each other along the way.

This will be good!

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Have you ever memorized the Beatitudes? Do you have a favorite chapter you’d like to commit to memory? Please share in the comments.

3 Books I Recommend – March 2018

By LisaNotes March 26, 2018 Books I Recommend 26 Comments

Here are three books I recommend from what I read in March. Once a month we share our current reading lists at Jennifer’s.

3 Books I Recommend March 2018 LisaNotes

Books I Recommend

1. The Path Between Us
An Enneagram Journey to Healthy Relationships
by Suzanne Stabile

Path Between Us, The

My review of The Path Between Us

This book on the Enneagram, a personality typing system, specializes in relationships. Specifically, how to deal with your own personality type and those of the other eight types. Suzanne Stabile is also the author of The Road Back to You, a great primer on the Enneagram. This newest book goes one step further, focusing on practical ways to get along better.

2. An American Marriage
by Tayari Jones

An American Marriage

This novel caught me off guard. It begins with a love story between Celestial and Roy. And continues through ups and downs of an unexpected situation. It was painful to read at times (I still have mixed feelings about it). But it is a culturally-signicant book for insights into circumstances I have no experience with. It’s an Oprah’s Book Club Selection.

3. A Gentleman in Moscow
by Amor Towles

A Gentleman in Moscow

This sweet novel started a little slow to me, but I’m glad I didn’t give up. Beginning in 1922, Rostov the Count receives an unorthodox sentence: house arrest in a hotel across the street from the Kremlin. For years. It gives insight in Russian history and provides laughs as well as tears.

Reading Now

  • The Way of Abundance
    A 60-Day Journey into a Deeply Meaningful Life
    by Ann Voskamp
  • Girl, Wash Your Face
    Stop Believing the Lies about Who You Are So You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be
    by Rachel Hollis
  • 42 Seconds
    The Jesus Model for Everyday Interactions
    by Carl Medearis
  • The Life You Can Save
    Acting Now to End World Poverty
    by Peter Singer
  • Still Evangelical?
    Ten Insiders Reconsider Political, Social, and Theological Meaning
    edited by Mark Labberton
  • In Search of Wisdom
    A Monk, a Philosopher, and a Psychiatrist on What Matters Most
    by Matthieu Ricard, Christophe Andre, Alexandre Jollien
  • Why Evangelicals Need the Wilderness
    (Evangelicals After the Shipwreck Book 2)
    by Ed Cyzewski
  • Tears We Cannot Stop
    A Sermon to White America
    Dyson, Michael Eric

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What good book have you read this month? Please share in the comments.

Whats-on-Your-Nightstand-at-_5-minut

My books on Goodreads
Previous reading lists

How Does Jesus Love You?

By LisaNotes March 23, 2018 Guest posts, Jesus No Comments

How do you know Jesus loves you?

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It’s one thing to believe a fact. It’s another thing to experience it.

  • We think we know someone…until we live with them.
  • We think we know how to parent…until we have a child.
  • We think we know the love of Jesus…until we experience it for ourselves.

Maybe we know in theory that Jesus loves us. But do we understand HOW to receive his love?

Here are 12 ways we can let Jesus love us.

Read all 12 ways here

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I’m writing today at Do Not Depart. Will you join me there for “12 Ways to Let Jesus Love You“?