Lisa notes

Because We Fall

By LisaNotes June 8, 2022 Grace, One Word 2013: Jesus, Prayer 9 Comments

It’s because we fall down.

That’s why we say it:

Lord, have mercy!

It’s the most frequent prayer in the Bible.

And it’s what we need the most—the Lord’s mercy. We need it because sometimes it’s dark and we trip on things and we scrape our hearts.

So we cry out, “Lord, have mercy!”

And the miracle is: God does. God always has mercy on us.

Maybe we see it immediately. Maybe it takes more time. Maybe we still haven’t seen its fullness.

But as sure as we fall, just as sure as gravity always catches us—it never fails—Jesus never fails either. He picks us back up.

When God promises mercy, God gives it. God is more faithful than we are.

Find comfort in God’s mercy.

Share your thoughts in the comments.

Related:

revised from the archives

Romans 8:1 – Memory Verse for June 5-11, 2022

By LisaNotes June 5, 2022 Memorization 1 Comment

This week’s memory verse for the 8-8-8 Bible Memory Challenge is Romans 8:1.

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Romans 8:1

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SCHEDULE

June 5-11, Romans 8:1
June 12-18, Romans 8:15
June 19-25, Romans 8:26
June 26-July 2, Romans 8:28
July 3-9, Romans 8:31
July 10-16, Romans 8:37
July 17-23, Romans 8:38
July 24-30, Romans 8:39

Last Chance to Sign Up for the 8-8-8 Bible Memory Challenge

By LisaNotes June 2, 2022 Memorization 4 Comments

Some say Romans 8 is the most beautiful chapter in the whole Bible.

Written by the apostle Paul to the Jesus-believers in Rome, the message in it is clear:

God is for us.

Many of us would love to have a few key verses from Romans 8 to carry in our heart, ready to think about whenever we need encouragement.

But we often lack the time or energy or motivation to memorize them on our own.

If this is you (or even if you’re a wonderful memorizer already!), here is an easy Bible memory challenge for the summer.

Together, we’ll learn 8 hand-picked verses from Romans 8. (.)

The challenge officially begins on Sunday, June 5, and ends on July 30. We’ll learn one verse per week for 8 weeks. But you’re free to go at your own pace.

. You’ll receive links for printable resources, plus a weekly email for 8 weeks with each verse of the week.

This is all free, no pressure, and slow-paced.

We’d love to have you join us!

Any questions? Share in the comments.

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On the Blog—May 2022

By LisaNotes May 31, 2022 Archives No Comments

8 Books I Recommend—May 2022

By LisaNotes May 31, 2022 Books I Recommend 16 Comments

“Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.”
– Charles W. Eliot

Here are 8 books I recommend from what I finished reading in May.

[See previously recommended books here]

Nonfiction

1. Bittersweet
How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole
by Susan Cain

Bittersweet by Susan Cain

The beautiful writings of Susan Cain (author of Quiet) remind us that we often feel multiple emotions at the same time. And that it’s normal. For example, we can feel both joy and sorrow when we watch our young children at play because even as we delight in their joy, we also realize this time is fleeting. This book puts these longings into words and makes you feel right at home in emotional pairings.

2. Plays Well with Others
The Surprising Science Behind Why Everything You Know about Relationships Is (Mostly) Wrong
by Eric Barker

Plays Well with Others

This is a fantastic book. If combining scientific data and relationships appeals to you, too, you’ll love this book. Barker writes with wit and clarity as he debunks several false theories we inherently believe about relationships, and confirms several theories we intuitively believe already.

[my review of Plays Well with Others is here, Two Things Your Friendships Need to Survive]

3. Do I Stay Christian?
A Guide for the Doubters, the Disappointed, and the Disillusioned
by Brian D. McLaren

Do I Stay Christian

I just spent this past weekend at a spiritual retreat with Brian McLaren, so it makes me love his book even more. Written with great humility, curiosity, and research, McLaren walks us through 10 reasons why someone might not want to be a Christian, then 10 reasons why someone would want to be a Christian. For himself, he concludes he’s staying Christian. But regardless of your own answer, McLaren then offers 10 excellent pieces of advice to everybody (part 3) on how to be a more loving human being in this world, Christian or not.

[my review of Do I Stay Christian?]

4. Creative Renewal
An Invitation to Make Stuff and to Stop Clicking Stuff
by Ed Cyzewski

Creative Renewal

Ed has a way of making me want to try something new. In this book he walks us through his own journey of finding greater mental, emotional, and spiritual health through creative connections. For Ed, it takes the form of painting and woodworking. I’m still pondering how it might look in my own life as I decide which creative tracks I want to follow. Ed reminds us that creating is something we do for ourselves, but it also is a way to gift the world with more beauty.

[my review of Creative Renewal is here]

5. Fearing Bravely
Risking Love for Our Neighbors, Strangers, and Enemies
by Catherine McNiel

Fearing Bravely

Are Christians more known for their love of others or from their fear of others? Sadly, it’s often the latter. This is a book meant to challenge us to see beyond our own tribes and offer open hands to others who may be very different from us. How are we to love other people if we’re so afraid of and repelled by their presence among us?

[more thoughts from Fearing Bravely are here, Can You Love Your Enemies Too Much?]

Fiction

6. The Four Winds
by Kristin Hannah

The Four Winds

This novel set in Texas during the Dust Bowl/Great Depression era of the 1930s is about a young girl Elsa, then wife and mother, who has to find her way through poverty in a man’s world and through extreme conditions. Her difficult life choices involve staying on the family farm that is being pelted by disastrous storms or move west to California in search of a better life and the American Dream.

7. The Stranger in the Lifeboat
by Mitch Albom

The Stranger in the Lifeboat

This short novel by the author of Tuesdays with Morrie is about the survivors on a lifeboat after their ship sinks. After being at sea awhile, an unexpected person arrives out of the water. He claims to be “the Lord” that they had been calling for. The story goes back and forth between the people on the lifeboat and the people in an island town a year later where the lifeboat washes ashore with a diary from one of the survivors.

8. The Rosie Project
by Graeme Simsion

The Rosie Project
This was my whimsy read of the month. The main character in this novel, Don Tillman, reminds me of the character Sheldon on The Big Bang Theory. He’s a quirky genius who finds himself in awkward social situations. The plotline was satisfying enough that I’d like to read more in this series.

Reading Now

  • Native
    Identity, Belonging, and Rediscovering God
    by Kaitlin B. Curtice

  • Undistracted
    Capture Your Purpose. Rediscover Your Joy.
    by Bob Goff

  • A Tale for the Time Being
    by Ruth Ozeki

  • You Got Anything Stronger?
    Stories
    by Gabrielle Union

  • The Happiness Trap
    How to Stop Struggling and Start Living: A Guide to ACT
    by Russ Harris

  • It’s OK That You’re Not OK
    Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn’t Understand
    by Megan Devine

What good book are YOU reading this month? Please share in the comments.

More books I recommend

sharing at these linkups

Share Four Somethings—May 2022

By LisaNotes May 27, 2022 Life updates 15 Comments

We’re all in grief. And anger over the latest mass shooting.

We were already in mourning from May 14 when a white supremacist took away 10 Black lives at a Tops Friendly Markets store in Buffalo, NY.

Then on May 24 an 18-year-old killed at least 21 people and wounded around 16 more at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

I hope I can TAKE ACTION in some positive way to help stop these massacres.

Ask yourself: what can I do to help prevent another mass shooting?

Then do it.

One suggestion is to call your two senators and ask for a “yes” vote (if you’re so inclined) on the two background check bills H.R. 8 and H.R. 1446. These two bills have passed the House but have yet to come up for a vote in the Senate (as of this writing). They would expand background checks (as most Americans consistently say they prefer) on who is able to purchase or transfer guns. Read more about the bills here. 

Now for today’s post and linkup.

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Near the end of each month I share four somethings with others at Heather’s.

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Something Loved

  • COMPANION ILLUSTRATED BOOK

While I’m reading the full-text book of The Happiness Trap, I’m also following along in a pictorial version, The Illustrated Happiness Trap. It’s an easy-to-follow, cartoon-like summary of the original book.

Illustrated Happiness Trap

After hearing each chapter in words in the big book, it’s been helpful (and fun) to see the material in pictures. I would love for even more books to offer this option.

 ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Something Gleaned 

  • PANDEMIC WISDOM FROM ECKHART TOLLE

Jeff and I went to Atlanta on May 12 to hear Eckhart Tolle speak.

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Well, to hear Eckhart on Thursday night was *my* primary reason for the Atlanta weekend. Jeff’s main goal was to see the the Atlanta Braves play baseball on Friday night. Both events were very entertaining.

Atlanta Braves baseball game

One thing (among many) that I gleaned from Eckhart’s talk is that the world has a lot of residue of fear/anxiety and/or anger from the past two years with the pandemic. Our first step in overcoming this residue? Acknowledge it.

I do realize that living through a pandemic has changed me in certain ways. Has it changed you, too?

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Something Braved

  • BARBRA’S 30-DAY CHALLENGE 

I signed up for a paid 30-day challenge with Barbra Drizin from June 1-June 30 on “The Choice Is Yours.”

The Choice Is Your Challenge

Barbra will take us through daily lessons, exercises, and activities along with a private Facebook group and occasional Zoom gatherings about brain training, neurolinguistic programming, somatics, and more.

Barbra is a great teacher who puts a lot of work into effectively sharing what she’s learned into visual and bite-sized pieces. Her work pushes me, which also prompts growth. I’m looking forward to what I’ll learn (and be provoked by) through this challenge.

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Something Achieved

  • COMMITTING TO THE NEXT BIBLE MEMORY CHALLENGE

I’ve been struggling to re-memorize all 39 verses of Romans 8 (it’s been 10 years since the first time) with a group alongside Janet Pope.

So I decided to supplement it with a simple 8-verse challenge in Romans 8 for 8 weeks with our Hide His Word fellow memorizers.

I’ve already printed out the 8 verses, 3×5 cards, journal pages, etc., so beginning on June 5 I’ll be ready to dig in.

Sometimes just making the commitment is an achievement in itself, so I’m counting these first steps as a win.

If you’re interested in memorizing 8 beautiful truths together, it’s not too late to join us. 

What was a highlight of your May? Share your thoughts in the comments.