My favorite memes and leaders (Nov 30 – Thanks)

MEME:
(only one definition among many)
[rhymes with dream]

A weekly (or daily or monthly) question or topic hosted by one blogger that other bloggers link to, with answers in their own blog posts

How fun memes are! But blog memes don’t happen without people willing to lead them.

1. Rebecca — “November of Thanks”
Rebecca of Rebecca Writes has been the gracious host all month of “November of Thanks.” She visited each participant every day to capture a summary of their thanksgivings, then posted and linked them all on her own blog.

Thanks, Rebecca! That was a lot of work, and I’ve been thankful for YOU all November.

On this last day of “November of Thanks,” I thank not only Rebecca, but the weekly meme leaders in my section of bloggy world. You’re all wonderful!

2. Joanne — Memory Monday
Joanne  of The Simple Wife encourages us to keep God’s Word in our heart through memorization. She’s also enthusiastically hosting the book group for Spiritual Mothering.

3. Jane — Corner View
Jane of Spain Daily hosts a weekly look at the wide varieties (and similarities) in all the corners around the world. This international peek into each other’s lives is both illuminating and entertaining.

4. Kathy — Wondrous Words Wednesday
Kathy of Bermudaonion works on our brains by increasing our vocabulary. She lets us share new words with each other that we come across in our individual reading.

5. Ann — Walk with Him Wednesdays
Ann of Holy Experience goes quietly and deeply into spiritual disciplines, and invites her community to post a spiritual practice each week that draws us nearer to the heart of Jesus.

6. Susanne — Friday’s Fave Five
Susanne at Living to Tell the Story has been hosting this weekly meme for over a year. She asks you to list five favorite things you’ve experienced each week, and share them with others.

7. Amy — Then Sings My Soul Saturdays
Amy at Signs, Miracles, and Wonders expands the big world of worshiping God through music by inviting her readers to share their favorite songs of praise.

More
Laurie of Beauty for Ashes isn’t hosting a weekly meme, but she is sharing her book study on-line (and real-life in her town) on Charity and Its Fruits by Jonathan Edwards. She is thorough and sticks to the Word, and I always learn much from her notes and her faith.

I met Laurie through Reading Classics Together book groups at Challies.com. Tim Challies helps us get through some tough classics of the faith by committing to read them together one chapter at a time. We’re currently working our way through Redemption Accomplished and Applied by John Murray.

* * *

Thanks to each of you who hosts for consistently giving your time and opening up your blogs to let us hang out each week. I’ve met wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ through our visits, and I look forward to our continued walks together as we grow in faith in our God.

I can hear again! (Nov 29 – Thanks)

Sometimes we have to go through the bad thing to appreciate the status quo.

I’m not saying that being temporarily deaf in one ear for a week qualifies as a “bad thing.” But it’s not pleasant either.

I’m more aware now how society accepts a certain volume standard. We know basically about how loud to talk for others to hear. We’ve found the right volume on the radio and TV. But with impaired hearing, those levels change.

I didn’t like having to ask people to talk louder. I didn’t like making sure you sat on my left side so I could hear you. I didn’t like turning up the volume higher than normal.

But what I did like was sitting in church this morning and hearing a pop! I had a great tenor who was singing (muffled) to my right, and my husband whispering sweet nothings in my good ear on my left, when all of a sudden I could hear again! I’m up to about 50% by this afternoon, and I’m loving it.

Will I start hearing again what I’m supposed to be hearing?

Or will I be like these verses I’ve thought about all week:

For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.
Matthew 13:15

I don’t want my vision to be dimmed or my hearing to be dulled. I want to see what I’m destined to see, and hear what I’m designed to hear.

…Many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
Matthew 13:17

I’ve been blessed to live in this time and place. I want to soak it all up. Paying attention. Eyes and ears wide open.

That’s how I want to live all the time. Seeing with my eyes, hearing with my ears, and understanding with my heart. Gazing at the Master, listening to my Shepherd, delighting in his love.

Living healed. And living thankful.

Friends for life (Nov 28 – Thanks)

I have three friends that I’ve known forever. We get together at set times every year.

One of those times is Thanksgiving weekend.

Today we met for lunch and catch-up.

We dug into each other’s lives as quickly and thoroughly as best friends do.

Eight parents, four husbands, ten kids, four girl/boyfriends, one s-i-l, and one future grandchild (!) later, we were up to par in the particulars of each other’s lives.

Armed with new prayer requests, we’ll go another two months before we get together again, this time for our yearly sleepover.

I know I’m blessed having these women as friends. They love me; I love them; we all love Jesus. And I’m thankful.

Fun rivalries (Nov 27 – Thanks)

The 74^th Iron Bowl just ended an hour ago. It’s a ferocious rivalry between the football teams of Auburn University and the University of Alabama, but a fun one.

If you live in the state of Alabama, you choose a team and hang on all season to hopefully gain year-long bragging rights from this game’s outcome.

Today’s game was a nail-biter from beginning to end, and even though Auburn lost in the end (21-26), it was still a great game. It’s a nice diversion to temporarily get excited over something not-so-important for awhile.

Both Auburn AND Alabama fans, though, can agree to pull for Auburn’s Zac Etheridge as he continues to recover from a debilitating injury in the game against Ole Miss on Halloween.

He’s now expected to make a full recovery. Despite the loss of this football season for him, he says he knows that things happen for a reason. And he knows that he’s blessed.

That’s a perspective everyone needs.

Regardless of the outcomes of games or seasons or any of life’s situations, if we keep believing that things happen for a reason and understand that we’re blessed, then we are.

God is faithful regardless of how our circumstances appear on any man-made scoreboard. Being on his side, we’ve already won. And I’m thankful.

Reminders to give thanks (Nov 26 – Thanks)

It comes up often: count your blessings.

I’m thankful to be surrounded by so many reminders to give thanks. I need them.

Sometimes I can sink into seeing the bad stuff, but the bad stuff is fleeting and massively outweighed by the good stuff, and I don’t need to dwell there.

So I’m appreciative today of my friends (in person and on-line) and family and church and Savior who send me subtle and not so subtle reminders to:

Rejoice always,
pray without ceasing,
give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

HT to Debbie at Heart Choices for this poignant cartoon on her blog this week:

May you all have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Feeling the birthday love (Nov 25 – Thanks)

So it’s that day again.

And I’m thankful for all the people who remember (I think).

Not only does God love me, but he puts it in other people’s heart to show me love, too. He treats us all special like that.

For my birthday, my sweet daughters worked their gifts, each using their special talents.

Morgan, my landscape design major, planted some beautiful flowers for me to enjoy this fall and winter.

And Jenna, my techie-in-training, posted about her mommy on her blog.

 

I feel the birthday love. And I am thankful.

Less noise (Nov 24 – Thanks)

Did you say something?

Sorry if I missed it. I still can’t hear.

Out of one ear anyway. At least one more day anyway.

I have the washing machine going, the dryer running, the dishwasher washing. But I’m not drowning in noise. At lunch, I could read my book easier, and now, I can think clearer without so many distracting noises.

With less noise, I concentrate better. Fewer sounds promote greater focus.

This ear infection is forcing it on me this time.

But I notice it at other times, too. Like, when a big enough problem, or a big enough joy, comes along, I’m better able to tune out minor noises around me.

Yet I don’t want to wait for a big enough problem to hear God’s voice clearer. I want God to be my big enough joy, all the time, to help me hone in on his voice and turn a deaf ear to vain sounds that compete for his attention.

For today, the radio isn’t as loud, the neighbor’s lawnmower is a whisper, and the dryer is a soft whir. It’s a good time to pray, to read the Word,…to listen.

And I’m thankful.

Unexpected reading time (Nov 23 – Thanks)

It was the means to an end.

I’m not always mature enough to be thankful for “the means.”

Today’s “means”? An ear infection.

It hit full-force yesterday, so I found myself sitting in the doctor’s office this morning at 7:30, partly due to a funny but thought-provoking tweet from Laurie last night:

“Nobody can make you go to the doctor. That's the beauty of being a grown up. You can have your earache and suffer all you want.”

I get it. Why suffer unnecessarily? Go to the doctor.

So sitting in the waiting room, I was given a gift:
unexpected time to read more of Chapter 2 in Charity and Its Fruits.

Then waiting in the room for the doctor gave me more time.

And waiting at the pharmacy gave me even more time.

God knows I still need lots more work to become a big fan of waiting, but I am thankful this morning that he helped me use this waiting time profitably. And I’m closer to reaching today’s “end” goal of finishing Chapter 2.

But my ultimate “end”? Giving glory to God.

The more I can learn to wait with patience, or endure pain without complaining, or give thanks no matter what, the more powerful God is shown to be. Because I sure can’t do any of that on my own.

He’s welcome to use whatever means he chooses to reach his end. And today I choose to thankful for that.

The 80-yr-old’s comment (Nov 22 – Thanks)

I was teetering anyway. But when the older gentlemen walked near, put his arm around me, and said to tell my dad he’d be thinking about him, well, that did it.

It was the tipping point.

I couldn’t hold it together any longer.

I’d already been fighting back tears all morning. Fighting back thoughts. Fighting back worries.

So I retreated. Home. Leave the big party of Thanksgiving to everybody else. Off with the Sunday clothes; on with Saturday sweats. Turn on the electric blanket and crawl back into bed. Get the tears out of the way then start this day over.

But my thoughts, my prayers, return to my 80-yr-old friend and his comment and his life.

His prayer request this morning? For his sweetie, under the weather. He takes care of her in ways she can’t take care of herself, as her memories fade. 

My prayer request this morning? For my dad, now sick himself, who wants to continue taking care of his wife, my mom, in ways she can’t take care of herself, as her memories fade.

I talked to the man a few weeks ago about it.
My comment to him: “Sometimes life just doesn’t turn out like we expected it to.”
His comment to me: “That’s right. It’s even better.”

I was convicted then. I’m convicted now.

Other disappointments this week have gathered. Layered upon each other, they’re heavy. Too heavy? No. God doesn’t allow that. He wants me to keep the faith even more than I do.

And I want it more than anything.

The older man is keeping his faith. My dad is keeping his faith. I will keep my faith. This morning they all crossed paths.

And I am thankful.

Breakfast at Hardee’s (Nov 21 – Thanks)

When I was growing up, my family rarely ate out. The only times I remember were when we were returning from Mississippi. Daddy would stop at Burger Chef in Decatur and we’d all get to fix our own burger.

But don’t think I was deprived. My mother was a great cook—and far more disciplined than me to spend her day in the kitchen. She fed us well and we never lacked for food.

So it seems very odd to me that this same family now has a new tradition:
Eating breakfast at Hardee’s every Saturday morning.

It started with just my parents and my aunt and uncle. Then my brother and s-i-l joined the crowd. But we sisters started feeling left out of the party, so we’ve joined, too.

And suddenly, a family tradition is born.

We often separate into women at one table and men at another. We catch up on the latest family news. Today’s news was preliminary test findings about my dad’s health. We’re trying to help each other not worry about it.

Today’s breakfast was particularly unusual though because we’re getting back together again tonight (at our baby sister’s house) to eat our Thanksgiving meal.

I guess we just can’t get enough of each other. Or maybe it’s the food… Whichever, I’m thankful.

Sharing music (Nov 20 – Thanks)

When I was a teenager, I didn’t listen to the same music as my parents.

I liked Kansas, Boston, Journey, Heart, Huey Lewis and the News (and, okay, Leo Sayer, Barry Manilow, John Denver, the Bee Gees … and, gulp, Prince).

On our long trips to visit grandparents in Mississippi, Daddy would turn the radio in our station wagon to either country music or old-time gospel songs. I would wince (but only inwardly). No voting allowed. No majority rules.

Now that I’m a parent myself and finally in control of the car’s music, I’m thankful that I enjoy basically the same stuff as my kids. We’ve somehow escaped the music wars by sharing a love for contemporary Christian music.

So we swap CDs, agree on radio stations, and belt out the same songs.

This week we’ve been listening to Casting Crowns new CD together, and tonight we’re going to a concert together to hear Leeland, Brandon Heath, and Francesca Battistelli. We’re all excited.

And I’m thankful.

Good advice (Nov 19 – Thanks)

Guilt trips.
I didn’t learn how to give them from my mother. She didn’t do them; she was too busy fending them off from her own parents.

But somewhere along the way I learned how.

I put one on my own daughter last weekend and I feel really guilty. (Sorry, Morgan. I didn’t mean to. I know you know that I want you here for Thanksgiving. So why my extra words? Not necessary.)

I’ve since done two things:
1. Apologized to Morgan for my bad approach. (She’s faithful to forgive.)
2. Asked for advice from an older woman. (She’s faithful to provide.)

As is Sharon’s way (and she’s not MUCH older, btw), she gave me the advice I needed. Gently. But hard to swallow nonetheless.

What I heard was:

• Lower your expectations.
• Accept what you get.
• Make your times together pleasant.

That doesn’t mean I’ll stop wanting more time with Morgan, or that if my words are fewer, then I’ll magically get my ‘fair share’ of time with her.

But it does mean that I’ll be a bit more content inside. And a lot more likable outside.

So I’m putting suitcases in the attic. They won’t be needed for future guilt trips.

While I’ll probably still travel occasionally (it takes me awhile to learn a lesson), hopefully the guilt trips will be fewer and far between. And I’ll realize it quicker to change course.

There are so many things I still have to learn. Each season of life brings new lessons.

But I’m thankful for special friends who have already walked the path before me, and who are willing to pass along what they’ve learned. May I be willing to listen and do it.

Listen to advice and accept instruction,
that you may gain wisdom in the future.
Proverbs 19:20

Another year with him (Nov 18 – Thanks)

Today I give thanks for another year with the best husband in the world.

Since last November 18, we . . .

• drove to Iowa and back
• attended chorus concerts and ballet recitals
• fidgeted in waiting rooms for good news/bad news
• celebrated our 17th Christmas together
• fell asleep during our 17th New Years’ Eve
• witnessed Lauren marry Nathan, and Whit marry Grant
• sent Uncle Holmes back Home
• cocooned incredible weeks in Denver and Cape Canaveral and Chicago
• hosted meals and sleepovers and a 14th birthday party
• worshipped together at Stream Franklin and Summer Celebration
• visited various Silvers in the hospital
• bought a bigger bed
• got a daughter engaged
• returned all four to a Florida beach 
• buried the best dog in the world
• survived heat and cold at Jordan-Hare
• traveled back and forth to Central a million times

    . . . and
talked and
laughed and
fussed and
kissed and
cried and
forgiven and
prayed and 
       loved.

Thanks for another year to love you
and be loved by you.
I never dreamed it could be this good.

Happy Birthday, Jeff!
I love you,
Lisa

Plans (Nov 17 – Thanks)

The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men, Gang aft agley.
~To a Mouse by Robert Burns, 1785

The best laid-plans. Yeah, I know what can happen to them. I’ve had a few go awry lately, much to my chagrin.

But I also know what happens when I don’t make a plan at all. Life happens either way, but I’m far more likely to squander time and be less fulfilled in the long run if I have no plan.

So as I look at my week, I see it’s too full. There’s no way to do everything I want to do. Anybody relate?

I need a better plan.

I need to bump less important things off my schedule so I’ll have time for the more important things this week. Like celebrating my husband’s birthday, watching my neighbor in a play, and going to a concert with my daughter.

And daily sitting down to give thanks for something. I don’t want to scrimp on this November of Thanks. It’s been good for me to consciously choose a special gift from God each day and thank him publicly for it. And to visit around reading about the gifts he’s given you. (We gather at Rebecca’s; join us!)

My plans for this week are now set into a new schedule. But, Lord willing, I’ll still be open to adjustments as needed.

Actually, as I’m writing this (Monday afternoon), I have my cousin’s sleeping baby lying against my chest. I had set aside 4 hours this afternoon just to hold her because I assumed she’d spend much of the afternoon crying.

But instead, she’s asleep, peacefully, right here with me. I hadn’t planned for that. But I’ll take it. And I’m thankful.

A new sister in Christ (Nov 16 – Thanks)

Last night at our small group Bible study, one of the young ladies was so ready to be baptized, that her dad agreed to baptize her in the lake behind our house.

So they made a few phone calls to family and friends, and before long, we had a big family of believers to witness and celebrate her decision.

We sang several songs inside while the family got ready. Jenna had some extra clothes for Rose to get wet in, and Jeff had some waders for her dad. Our neighbors also came over with an extra outside light and to take pictures.

It was one of the coolest things I’ve experienced in quite awhile. I love how God can do the most spontaneous things anywhere, anytime.

It was a very fitting way to end last week, and a great beginning to a brand new week. I am thankful to have a new sweet little sister in Christ.

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Psalm 34:8

Cleaning help (Nov 15 – Thanks)

I usually clean house on Thursdays, but since my daughter was coming home this weekend, I knew better. I waited until today.

She had friends come over to help her de-horse-poster her room yesterday. Years worth of going up came down in a few hours.

I’m happy for the clean slate (except that the walls needs painting now), but I’m melancholy to lose more traces of my once-little girl.

Jeff took down our rusted, metal swingset this weekend, too. Years worth of playing and laughing, sharing and not sharing, all came down in an hour.

The backyard looks much better now (and is safer), but it’s also sad to remove that familiar vestige of childhood.

So I waited until today to clean house. I should have known better. But a week’s worth of mess disappeared in less than an hour because Jeff split the work with me.

The house is clean. And for that job, I feel nothing but thanks. Whew.

Comment Love (Nov 14 – Thanks)

When we share our words of joys and pains—real life—others care. I had a tough week, but it wasn’t in isolation.

We’re not alone out here.

You’ve proven that.

I had physical hugs and face-to-face conversations. But I also felt supported by you bloggy friends and my facebook community.

Every comment meant something special.

So the next time I wonder whether or not to leave a comment on someone’s blog or write on someone’s wall, I’ll know to just do it.

Because I know how much it means.

A few years ago I wouldn’t have known what comment love was. Now I know how it feels. And I’m thankful.

All roads lead home

Comings and goings
Daughter # 3:
She’s leaving home today.
Jenna will spend the weekend with church family.
I’m grateful.

Daughter # 1:
She’s coming home today.
We’ll get all Saturday and Sunday with Morgan.
I’m excited.

Daughter # 2:
She left home and came Home 16 years ago today.
Kali has spent 5,840 days straight with Jesus already.
I’m hopeful.

Mom:
One day, for an eternity of days, we’ll all be Home.
At the same time, same place. 
I’m overwhelmed at God’s goodness in his perfect plan.

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God,
the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love
with those who love him and keep his commandments,
to a thousand generations.
Deuteronomy 7:9

* * *

Breaks (Nov 12 - Thanks)

I love a routine. Ruts don’t bother me. I’m comfortable working a schedule.

They eliminate unnecessary angst of constant deliberation over everyday decisions. They’re freeing.

But I also love breaks. Today I’m taking one. No schedules or clock-watching or schoolwork.

Deep breaths. Rest. Appreciation of His presence.

He knows when I need to break from the ordinary to indulge in the sacred.

Today I can. Today I will.
Today, again, I’m thankful.

The right song at the right time

I’ve had a weepy week so far.

The orange trees, the cooler temps, the crunch of leaves – these are forever tied in my mind to the loss of my second child on a cold November day. So I live with a touch of melancholy at this time of year.

As I was driving alone yesterday to pick up Jenna, another wave flooded over me about Kali’s 16th birthday around the corner. 

Just then, an Aaron Shust song came on the radio, To God Alone.

Can You take me by the hand?
Can You use me as I am?
Break me into who You want me to be
When the time is finally right
Will You open up my eyes and show me everything You want me to see?
This life is not my own

“This life is not my own.” I have to be reminded of that quite often. I don’t control who lives or dies, or who God brings into or out of my life.

But what I can control is this: Will I give him the glory anyway? No matter what?

To God alone be the glory
To God alone be the praise
Everything I say and do
Let it be all for You
The glory is Yours alone
Yours alone

The song was just what I needed. The right song at the right time.

It reminded me of Job’s words. May none of us ever have to endure what Job did! But may we all have his attitude in whatever trials do come our way.

   Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped.
   And he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."
   In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.
Job 1:20-22

So I join with Job, saying: “Blessed be the name of the LORD.”
And I join with Aaron, saying: “To God alone be the glory.”