Lisa notes

Register now! Memorize Isaiah 55

By LisaNotes January 6, 2014 Memorization 29 Comments

Hiding-Isaiah-55-in-my-heart

Want to memorize Isaiah 55 together?

While memorizing a chapter might sound hard if you’ve never done it, surprise yourself by discovering how nice it is to learn verses in sequence of intent and meaning.

This challenge at Do Not Depart will be easier than most because several verses are already familiar, and we’re only learning ONE verse per week instead of two.

If you’re interested in registering now or in learning more, visit here or leave a comment below. I’d love for you to join us.

BASICS

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It’s a new day, a new year – Daybook

By LisaNotes January 3, 2014 Life updates 12 Comments

I am praying . . . about how to stay tender toward others without being too sensitive myself

I am wondering . . . if I made a wise choice for my One Word 2014: Compassion (I changed it at the last minute)

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I am thinking . . . honestly, it might be too dangerous a choice (I know how God works)

I am reading . . . Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life

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I am rereading . . . The Shack because I want to read The Shack Revisted soon

I am thankful . . .  Christmas is over (is that okay to admit?)

In the kitchen . . . are the makings for a Honey Bun Cake because it’s Jeff’s favorite

I am creating . . . a revamped master to-read list (it’s totally out of control; suggestions, anyone?)

I am going . . .  to the funeral tomorrow for the mother of one of my best friends; she died unexpectedly on New Year’s Day

I am looking forward to . . . this new memory challenge! Registration begins on Monday.
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I am appreciating . . . the community of friends who get excited each time we begin a new chapter

I am studying . . . the background of Isaiah 55

I am ready . . . to head back into daily Bible reading after taking a few months off

I am hearing . . . ocean waves; I got a white noise machine for Christmas to help me sleep better

I am hoping . . . Auburn will win the BCS National Championship on Monday, but I’m expecting they won’t

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I am pondering these words . . .

I begin this year resolving to abandon myself to everything Jesus has done for us. Jesus is the promise keeper, not us.
– Scotty Smith

One of my favorite things . . . meeting our sponsored child at Manna House for Christmas and helping with a wedding there the same day

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What’s happening in your day today?

The Simple Woman’s Daybook
…where every day is a blank page

The Simple Woman's Daybook

past Daybooks

Summaries—December ‘13

By LisaNotes December 31, 2013 Archives 2 Comments

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What God was teaching me in 2013

By LisaNotes December 30, 2013 Archives, Miscellaneous 17 Comments

Because we can never predict what a year will bring, neither can we predict what God will teach us.

In 2013, the Lord often used the needs of other people to remind me of my need for him. To push me into light when I was scared of the dark. To see how love can bridge differences. And to remember people trump rules.

He led me to listen when I didn’t have words, but to speak up when words mattered. To notice those doing hard things, and to ease up on those who are trying.

To worship him more fully. To offer his hope to the hurting, knowing his presence makes the difference. To be kinder than I want to be. And to know he’s the power behind it all.

But through no fault of the Teacher, I need another year of training, please. . . .

January 2013

burned-out-bulb

  • I’m still scared of the dark
    It was still light when I volunteered to take R home. But before I dropped her off in the projects, it began getting dark. And scary things happen in the dark . . .

February 2013

kings-banquet

  • Love at Table # 12
    The first bus rolled in. Six of the men of various sizes, outfits, and personalities quietly took a seat around Table # 12. Men accustomed to standing in a food line. Or gathering scraps to throw together. Or grilling over a campsite fire. But not today . . .

March 2013

break-the-rules

  • When you can’t keep the rules
    I’m a rule-follower from way back. But this fellow rule-keeper was beginning to annoy me. Didn’t Jesus choose people over the Sabbath? Relationship over rules? . . .

April 2013

homeless-count-huntsville

  • When you don’t know what to say
    I try to chit-chat, like I have conversations every day with people who live under bridges and sleep in tents. Except I don’t. I don’t know what to say, so I don’t say much. And this is what I hear . . .

May 2013

Return to Sender

  • Write back
    It felt risky. I wasn’t sure I should say it. Would it change things, make things weird? I wordsmithed cautiously, copied to Gmail, and hit send. Then waited. For something. Anything. Please? . . .

June 2013

running-shoes

  • Hey, you, overweight runner
    I have no idea who you are. But you’re my hero today. Because when one of us sees another of us doing a hard thing, the rest of us are encouraged to do a hard thing, too . . .

July 2013

polar-bears

  • When we eat our own
    You know you’re right on this one. So when someone comes along believing the opposite, you know they’re wrong. They couldn’t have studied as much or prayed as much or care about truth as much as you. Really? Please. Listen . . .

August 2013

worship-tweet

  • Let the body worship
    I looked over the audience and could tell God was in the house. And when God is in the house, how can a body contain him? So you let the body worship. That’s what he designed it to do . . .

September 2013

Wounded_Warrior_Salute

  • Honor the wounded
    One by one, they came down the center aisle. Some had no legs; some brought in dogs. But others looked strong. On the outside. Yet you knew they carried deep wounds on the inside. How could we help in healing the wounded? . . .

October 2013

closed-eye

  • Look pain in the eye
    It was time to confront her. I suspected it would be one of the hardest–and weirdest–conversations I would ever have. And it was. Knocking on the door of pain is never easy . . .

November 2013

1-thessalonians-5-11

  • Be nicer than necessary
    Then she gave us one more thing before going back inside. Her words linger with me still. Most of us have room to be a little nicer to everyone we meet . . .

December 2013

Jehovah-Jireh

  • The needs of 3 women
    I grab a sleeping bag from the clothing room and toss a throw pillow into a bag. But I know she needs more. Her eyes give it away . . .

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What’s something the Lord was teaching you in 2013?

What would you like to learn in 2014?

2 year Bible reading plan

By LisaNotes December 28, 2013 Bible 18 Comments

UPDATE: Find the updated plan here for easy download.

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If you resolve to read through the Bible every year, but never make it, consider this option instead.

Instead of speed-reading to check the box every day, then feeling guilty when you fall behind, what if you took TWO years to read it all and actually finish, instead of committing to ONE year and failing?

This plan alternates between two weeks in the Old Testament (weekday reading only) with one week in the New Testament, not necessarily in chronological order, but often in parallel order (read about Jesus’ birth in Matthew 1-2, then the next day in Luke 1-2).

The Bible isn’t a book to be rushed.
Read it all to get the whole story.
But go slow enough to get the whole message.

(not dated, so start anytime)

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What tips would you recommend for reading through the Bible?

My reading list December ’13

By LisaNotes December 24, 2013 Books I Recommend 5 Comments

These are the books I’m currently reading and have just finished from last month. Every 4th Tuesday we share our nightstands.

JUST STARTED

embracing-obscurityEmbracing Obscurity
Becoming Nothing in Light of God’s Everything
by Anonymous

I appreciate being reminded that humility isn’t easy, but it is incredibly important if we’re going to follow in Jesus’ footsteps–through suffering, through serving, through everyday living. I also like that the author has stayed anonymous.

king-jesus-gospelThe King Jesus Gospel
The Original Good News Revisited
by Scot McKnight

Some say this book is repetitive, but so far I like hearing over and over that the gospel isn’t centered on us and the plan of salvation, but instead is centered on Jesus and his death and resurrection (which paves the way for our salvation). Discipleship is then a process of daily following Jesus, not a one-time only decision.

moonwalking-with-einsteinMoonwalking with Einstein
The Art and Science of Remembering Everything
by Joshua Foer

Joshua Foer is a reporter collecting facts for a story on the U.S. Memory Championship. He subsequently spends the next year preparing to be a contestant himself. He shares in this book what he learned. I heard about it from one of my new favorite podcasts, NPR: TED Radio Hour. This one was from Memory Games. Very interesting!

wednesday-warsThe Wednesday Wars
by Gary Schmidt

This novel is from the Young Adult section (and appropriately so) but it’s a cute story even for adults about a 7th grade boy and his adventures in 1967.  So far anyway.

 

STILL READING

sitting-at-the-feet-of-rabbi-jesusSitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus
How the Jewishness of Jesus Can Transform Your Faith
by Ann Spangler and Lois Tverberg

I’ll be in this one awhile because I’m not reading many pages per week. It’s my follow-up read from Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus. Both books acclimate you to life in first-century Israel to give you greater insight into the words of the New Testament and into the life that Jesus and his disciples lived.

Everyday_Prayers_scotty_smithEveryday Prayers
365 Days to a Gospel-Centered Faith
by Scotty Smith

Personal, short devotionals of 365 prayers written by Scotty Smith, centered around one topic generally relevant to the season and a scripture passage. I’ve enjoyed reading his Advent prayers this month. I planned on using it just for November/December, but I may continue on through the other 10 months since it is good.

 

FINISHED FROM NOVEMBER’S NIGHTSTAND

mockingjayMockingjay
by Suzanne Collins

This part 3 of The Hunger Games trilogy was a re-read after seeing the movie Catching Fire (part 2) which I thought was well done. Mockingjay was my least favorite of the three books but I still liked it better than the third book of the Divergent series (see below).

kisses-from-katieKisses from Katie
A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption
by Katie J. Davis and Beth Clark

This is an inspiring true story of a young lady who traded her normal American life for one of hardship in Uganda to take care of orphans. After a short time there, the kids stole her heart and she now has made it her life’s mission to raise children there (she’s adopted 13 daughters so far). Her blog is here.

Transforming_GraceTransforming Grace
Living Confidently in God’s Unfailing Love
by Jerry Bridges

A very, very good book about God’s grace and how it changes us. I included it on my Top 10 books of 2013. Bridges is one of my favorite authors who consistently delivers the saving message that God saves us by his grace, not by our own efforts or worth.

allegiant-veronica-roth

Allegiant
by Veronic Roth

Whew. I was not happy at the end. Definitely my least favorite of the Divergent series, which I really enjoyed as much as The Hunger Games. The concepts in this book were interesting, but I’d preferred the series ending with the cliffhanger in Book 2 than this way. I also didn’t like the alternating change of voice between Tris and Four since the first two books didn’t do that. I’m wondering if Roth was rushed to get this book published and didn’t have time to edit it properly. If you’ve read it, too, let me know what you think.

on-becoming-a-writerOn Becoming a Writer
What Every Blogger Needs to Know
by Denise J. Hughes

An encouraging eBook with both motivation and practical advice not only for blog writing but for any kind of writing for any kind of audience. Denise is a blogger and English teacher so she knows what she’s talking about.

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Here are my 10 favorite books of 2013.

What’s a good book you are reading or want to read?

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

My books on Goodreads
More nightstands