Do The Next Thing

Last night was a restless one for me.

Turning in for the night at the usual time I found that I just couldn't settle in. Since I can usually fall asleep in minutes, I knew something was amiss. There was this obnoxious uneasiness in the pit of my stomach - the kind that is almost always indicative of my not being right in my relationship with the Lord.

As I sat down in my comfy chair hoping to drift off listening to the heavy rain, I began talking.

I talked for hours to Jesus and realized it's been so very long since I've made time for that. I also realized (much later) that I did not once ask Him to talk. It was all me, me, me. My woes, my worries, my demands, my hopes, my pleas to make things easier.

Every so often, I'd pause for a second and wonder why the uneasiness wasn't gone. I was praying, wasn't I? And at around 2AM, in one of those brief pauses, this verse came to mind:

Speak, Lord, for your servant hears. {1 Samuel 3:9}

I'd done so much talking to Jesus and not given any thought to letting Him speak to me through His Word and in the quietness of my heart.

Speak, Lord.

Are you sure?

Yes! I want to hear from You, please!

Are you willing to change when you hear what I have to say?

*pause* ...yes?

At this, I started talking again. Bemoaning all the ways I've been coming up short. Lord, look, I'm trying to juggle all of these things and I have no time for You lately and Will & I both agree that I'm sometimes a wretched example of a wife and a lazy mom and I'm not pointing anyone to You if I can't even point Will or the girls to You. I can't manage a home well; I'm a selfish friend...

Lisha?

...sorry, Jesus.

Do what I ask you to do day by day with excellence in that moment. [Colossians 3:23] Ask me each morning to show you what I have for you in that day [Psalm 5:3] - and then do not worry about anything else [Philippians 4:6-7]. When you finish doing something, ask Me what the next thing is. Just do the next thing, whatever it is, for My glory. You do not need to hold everything together - that's My responsibility [Hebrews 1:3]. You just need to set your heart to listen to My voice and choose to live as I called you [John 10:27].

...and if you find you have no time for Me, it's because you are not making time for Me. You make time for those things that are a priority. You need to make time. It's hard to follow Me when you are distracted by so many other things. [Luke 9:57-62]. 

Oh, Lord. You are right.

That deep-down uneasiness, I noticed, was gone.

For the next three hours I got some of the sweetest, most restful sleep I've had in months. And when I woke up this morning, Jesus reminded me right away:

Lisha, for today, just do the next thing that I have for you, with Me always in mind. Let go of every other care. If I bring something to mind, pray and do what you can in that moment. Leave the rest to Me.

Today, the "next thing" might be:
-snuggling one of my girls
-chatting on the phone with a friend in need
-going in early to work to be a blessing to the manager
-supporting Will in a big decision, even if it's not my first choice because I choose to trust
-that mountain of laundry
-tea time
-stopping everything to pray
-one of 1,000,000 other things that Jesus brings into my day.

None of them is without purpose and none are inconsequential, because the total sovereignty of God is not inconsequential and He orchestrated every circumstance of my life for a purpose - to know Him more and to make much of Him!

Friend, if there is an unsettled feeling in your soul, please make the time to sit and ask the Lord to speak. and then listen. He knows your heart and your life better than you do and He desires that you live abundantly in Him so that others can see His love.

Doing the next thing,
for His glory!
~Lisha

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He Will Refine and Restore

"You focus on Me - I will work through others to refine you;

You focus on Me - I will work through you to restore others."

For months (really, off and on for over a year now), I've been in this funk. There's been a lot of whining on my part about circumstances I've been given and wrestling with feelings of utter failure in various areas of my life & just being a terrible reflection of Jesus. Recently (and probably all along! I've just been unwilling to hear it), this has been the consistent message: Focus on Me, Lisha. I will work through others to refine you and work through you to restore others. But you just need to focus on Me.

Jesus invites me to sit at His feet and hear His voice, often (continually). To be nourished in the depths of my soul by His words. And as I try to take Him up on His offer daily - small choice by small choice - I'm slowly letting Him show me that oftentimes the unkindness and harshness of others is what causes me to cling to Him even more. The unkindnesses and crummy circumstances are not good, but He uses those moments for good. And as I turn my energies to honoring Him with each next task or opportunity He puts in my path, I find that I do not have to step in to others' lives and try to play the part of the Holy Spirit - just yield to Him and let Him work in hearts (including my own!).

Friend, if you have taken your eyes off of Him, I am praying that this will encourage you, too.

Striving to steady my gaze upon

the Author and Finisher of my faith,

for His glory!
~Lisha

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Top Ten Posts of 2013!

Here are the top ten most-read posts of 2013. If you have liked, shared, commented on, or pinned any of these best-loved posts, I am grateful! Thank you!

#10 - Haven or Hollywood? (Pin it!)

#09 - How to Deal with the Fools in Your Life! (Pin it!)

#08 - Our Afternoon Routine (Pin it!)

#07 - Take cover! (Pin it!)

#06 - Confession of a messy mom. (Pin it!)

#05 - Unfulfilled Dreams? (Pin it!)

#04 - You just don't understand! (Pin it!)

#03 - Teaching children to sit through church (Pin it!)

#02 - No wonder she's not listening (Pin it!)

and the most-read, best-loved post of 2013...

#01 - Our Morning Routine (Pin it!)

Thank you all! I am waiting with great expectation for the lessons the Lord has for me to learn & share in 2014!

Writing as He moves me,

for His glory!

~Lisha

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Footprints in the snow

“Hannah! Follow me!” Abby pleaded. “Just follow in my footsteps, right there! It makes it easier…”

As Abby plodded her way through the eighteen(ish) inches of snow in our yard last weekend, she realized that Hannah was struggling to keep up with her older (and taller) sisters – she was in the ‘deep, deep snow’ and couldn’t even lift her legs up far enough to move. So Abby backtracked and tried to make footprints close enough together so Hannah might be able to follow.

It was still a little bit of a struggle, but Hannah did it!

I teared up a little as I watched, because I realized that Abby was giving me a glimpse of the Father:

“Lisha! Follow Me! Just follow in My footsteps – right there! It makes it easier…” In the snowdrifts of life – where I just can’t seem to move forward because there is too much in my way – He comes and whispers “my daughter, I’ve already walked this path before You. Just follow Me, and you can move.” Will it be a piece of cake to move? Maybe. Maybe not. But when I choose to follow His precepts, commandments, and wisdom, He will surely enable me to take those forward steps, no matter how infantile they might seem.

This Christmas, no matter what snowdrifts you find yourself standing in – look for the Father’s footsteps, and follow Him in the path He’s already prepared for you!

Looking for His footsteps,

for His glory!

~Lisha

Verses about walking in the Lord's ways:

Leviticus 18:4-5

1 Kings 8:60-61

Psalm 26:3

Psalm 86:11-12

Psalm 119:1-3

Proverbs 10:8-9

Isaiah 2:3

Jeremiah 7:23-24

Ezekiel 20:19-20

Hosea 14:9

Micah 4:5

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Sharing the Word!

I just want to share a few of the verses that have stirred my heart over the past couple of weeks. I've been sharing some of these each morning over on my FB page, as well. Feel free to pin, share, or send them to a friend!

Which verses have been stirring your heart?

Sharing the Word,

for His glory!

~Lisha

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Update - Elizabeth's Surgery

New to the blog? Catch up on my daughter's journey by reading I did not sign up for this part!!, have i not commanded you?, I trust you so much, but..., You just don't understand!, and It's not about her, if you'd like.

We made the two-and-a-half-ish hour trek north early this morning to the regional children's hospital (CHaD - Children's Hospital at Dartmouth) [You may have seen this recent viral video - some of the staff members here have cared for E!]. We prayed last night that the weather would be okay, since it's been snowy and gross here [December. New England. What else could we reasonably expect?!]. Instead, the roads were still kind of slick when we hit the road at 6:45am. So instead of changing the weather, God had us follow the state salt & sand truck - for 13 miles - over the mountain and almost into Keene. (Thanks, Lord).

The staff at CHaD is phenomenal, and we are grateful for each one that has cared for Elizabeth (and us!). They treated Elizabeth with respect and great kindness. The anesthesiologists & the surgeon were baffled by her calmness, and how eagerly she cooperated - and how sweet she was right upon waking up from the anesthesia. It is a direct answer to my prayers, though: that the peace of Jesus just rest upon her and fill her heart, so that she knows in Whose hands she is the whole time. She trusts God inherently in ways that astound me.

Elizabeth decorating her anesthesia mask
with princess stickers :)

The surgery itself started much later than we thought due to circumstances beyond anyone's control, but Elizabeth was only in surgery for about 25 minutes - if that. Only enough time for Will and I to go in search of my favorite coffee spot in the food court and then walk back with 20oz of hazelnut coffee liquid energy (I was running on about 3 1/2 hours of sleep). She came to right away, smiling and trying to chat up a foggy-minded storm (so cute!). After a couple of minutes, she was mostly back to normal and the doctor came by to check on her. She thanked him and the nurse for helping her (and thanked another nurse for choosing the right and coolest band-aid for her IV spot) and wished the doctor a Merry Christmas - and the nurse brought her a cherry popsicle.

Out of surgery, in recovery - my little trooper,
holding tight to Daddy's hand!

The prize :)

Once the nurse was pleased with her vitals, we got to load Elizabeth up in a wheelchair and head home!

Leaving CHaD!

And the prescription now is Don't Do Much For The Next Couple Of Days. That means a rare 'movie day' and quite a few special treats while she heals up. She even got to rest in Mommy's chair (a big deal around here!).

Elizabeth sitting in Mommy's chair! :)

I don't even know where to begin with how grateful I feel right now. I know that many dear ones were praying for us and I saw God answering prayer in the biggest and tiniest details!! So let me share this, the verse on my mind:

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
to declare Your lovingkindness in the morning,
and Your faithfulness every night,
on an instrument of ten strings,
on the lute,
and on the harp,
with harmonious sound.
For You, Lord, have made me glad through Your work;
I will triumph in the works of Your hands.
{Psalm 92:1-4}

What next? Keep irrigating her system every morning. Sometime in the next 6+ months we will likely return to CHaD for tests to see if the nerves in her colon are dead or not. No matter what the journey holds or the long-term outcome, I want the might and majesty and mercy of Jesus to be the first and only thing people notice!!

Thankful for modern medicine,
for His glory!
~Lisha

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Daily Devotions for little hearts

Most mornings, Monday through Saturday, the girls and I set aside some time to learn about God, sing & dance to praise songs, and to pray for our day and for our friends & family.

If you've been thinking about doing something similar but don't know where to start, here's an overview of what's working for our family now. I hope it will encourage you to find what works in your home!

First, I read a lesson from whichever devotional book we happen to be reading, or a passage from Scripture. Right now, the older girls & I are reading through Leading Little Ones to God 2-3 times a week (I HIGHLY recommend this for children, probably up through age 10. It presents basic doctrine in a way that is understandable and engaging. My daughters look forward to these lessons!

Hannah listens in on the lesson and whatever the morning's Bible reading is, as well, and then I read a page from her book. Right now, we're reading 101 Favorite Stories from the Bible - excellent for toddlers & preschoolers. The stories are short (less than a page), well-illustrated, include a couple of easy comprehension questions for each story, and most importantly they are scripturally accurate. The big girls enjoy going back through this book (we read it together in 2009) and it's been a great refresher for them.

With the Bible reading, I read directly from my Bible - a passage that goes along with the big girls' lesson. I read from the New King James Version or the King James Version and then I explain any of the unfamiliar words or expressions so the girls understand what's being said.

After our readings, we go over our memory verse of the week (if we have one - most weeks we do). We read the verse together out loud once or twice, then I ask if anyone would like to try it by herself). Then I ask each of the girls in turn to list a song or two that they'd like to sing. Anything that honors Jesus is fair game.

In our home, we feel that sharing different genres of music with our daughters is not only okay, but important, so they know that there are many different ways to praise God in song. Personally, I prefer more acoustic-style artists (Shane & Shane, Phil Wickham, Bethany Dillon...), but Will enjoys the Christian rap and techno artists (Trip Lee, Andy Hunter, etc).

Elizabeth's favorite: Robot {Trip Lee}

Abby's favorite: Forgiven {Sanctus Real}

Hannah's favorite: Captured {The Digital Age}

We share traditional hymns, classical music, acoustic, hip-hop, rock, etc with the girls. As long as the message is clearly meant to lift up Jesus, it works. However, we understand and appreciate that some families have come to a different conclusion about music - so while I still think music is an important part of worship (the Psalms make it clear that we are to praise the Lord with instruments and song!) - your own conviction about the styles of music should help you choose the music that works best in your home.

Here is the playlist that we tend to draw from most mornings:
Your Great Name (Natalie Grant)
Though You Slay Me (Shane & Shane)
To Live Is Christ (Trip Lee)
Easter Song (Keith Green)
songs from Sing the Word: A New Commandment CD (the Harrow Family)
The Shout of El-Shaddai (Paul Wilbur)
Names of God (Laurell Hubick)
All the Poor and Powerless (The Digital Age)
A Mighty Fortress is Our God (the Chris Rice version)
All Creatures of Our God & King (the Passion version)
Manifesto (The City Harmonic)

The Revelation Song (Jesus Culture)

Strong Tower (Kutless)

Once we take some time to sing and dance, we pray. I have no requirements for prayer time except that the girls have an attitude of reverence. Their posture and what they say is not nearly as important to me as their hearts being focused on speaking with and listening to the Lord. I have a kneeler, a dancer, and a fidget-er. Their prayers range from "thank You, Jesus for this day!" to in-depth prayers for their friends and for people they know.

I've found that the best way to teach prayer is to let them hear me pray, and then give them the chance to pray out loud, too. Often. When we are having a crummy morning (it happens!), I pray and then invite them to as well. When I see a prayer request pop up on FB or a call comes in, we stop and each take turns praying. Before we do Elizabeth's cecostomy flush each morning, she hears me pray over her. The more often they hear Will & I and others pray, the more they see that it's vital; the more they pray, the more likely they are to develop the reflex of prayer first in all situations!

We do recite the Lord's prayer (KJV) at least 2-3 times a week. Not because reciting it gains any extra favor with the Lord, but because it is a precious reminder of the mindset we should have when we approach the throne of grace! That the Lord is holy, and to pray for His will, and to ask for His provision, pardon, & protection, and that we confess that He is the Almighty!

All in all, we spend about 30 minutes to 1 hour each morning with our "Bible Time". It's a sweet time for all of us. And honestly, some mornings it doesn't happen that way. It's had to wait until lunch time before, or just before bed. But I try to work it into our mornings, even if other parts of our morning have to be ditched. My desire is that they will, over the next few years, begin to have their own quiet time each morning with the Lord as well as our devotion time. In order to do that, I need to take these precious days to model what it looks like. Even in the seasons when I'm struggling with my own walk.

Do you have a daily devotion time with your children? When? What books and other resources do you use? (And do you have a recommendation for young girls who are 8ish? When E turns 8, I'd like to put aside some time each day to begin a Bible study just with her, and I'd love any suggestions!)

Learning about the Lord with my littles,

for His glory!

~Lisha

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Faith like a child

Do you believe that children can minister to adults? That God can move a hard heart through the faith of a little one?

I do.

My relationship with Jesus exists because a dear child with a giant-sized faith introduced me to her God (you can read about Sarah & me here. or here. or here.).

And at 7, 6, & 3, my children have all strengthened my heart on days when I didn't feel I could bear much more. I think some people dismiss children as useless and not able to contribute much - but from my experience (and some of the most poignant stories in the Bible!), I've learned that when I'm willing to open my heart and my ears to them they are one of the most precious resources I have for learning, growing, and being built up in my faith.

Below are some of the ways my children have ministered to me, my husband, each other (what a joy!), and to others in their lives. The best way to describe how it feels when one of my girls reaches out to comfort me is, it's like a soul hug. God works through them to calm my soul and anchor my heart on His love and His truths!

Romans 8:28, as drawn by Elizabeth.
This still hangs in the kitchen to remind me daily
that nothing is wasted in God's economy!

Back in May, Will had gone to NY to stay with his mom for a little while. It was a rough couple weeks for me, and Elizabeth was particularly sweet to remind me of the things we had learned about during Bible time and what she'd learned from Miss Diane at Junior Church!

The girls wanted to sing this song for Daddy

while he was away for a period of time earlier this year.

Again, the girls wanted to encourage Daddy with a song they'd been learning - Psalm 1 (courtesy of the Harrow Family's Sing the Word series!)

The big girls & I work on memory verses each week.
Sometimes, Elizabeth writes out the week's verse for Hannah (3)
and teaches it to her.

Do to others as you would have them do to you! -Elizabeth spent a long time writing this out and going over it with Hannah! And now Hannah remembers the verse when her sisters are giving her a hard time. :)

We hosted a 5-Day Club this summer.
At the end of the week, E made this for one of her teachers!

They love to make cards for people, and write out the words to their favorite Bible songs. I know it blesses others when my daughters remember them and reach out to encourage them!

"Mommy, I wrote you a secret message
in my copywork today. Can you find it?"
On this particular morning, I needed both of these messages!

This is a page from E & A penmanship book (Horizons Penmanship from AOP! We love it!)

Elizabeth made this and hung it next to Daddy's computer
"for the days when he forgets this."

It's true. Sometimes, we forget the truths of God's Word. And I am so grateful that the Lord sees fit to minister to me through the hearts and lives of my daughters. 

How have the children in your life ministered to you in difficult times?

Praising God for children,

for His glory!

~Lisha

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