Heather Holleman's Blog, page 43

All the Years Later

This morning it occurs to me that some of the writers of the psalms���mostly King David and Asaph the Levite singer���recounted the “wonders” of God nearly 300 years after the life of Moses. They kept the miracles in the front of their minds no matter how much time had gone by. I imagined they talked in their homes about the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, the manna and quail from heaven, or the way Aaron’s staff budded. I imagined Jewish families talking about the miracles as part of regular conversation: the walls of Jericho falling, a widow’s sun raised, and the oil that multiplied. On and on they might have talked about these miracles so their heart stayed full of wonder and worship as they considered this God of unimaginable power.

I want to keep the miracles in my mind always. I want to remember, like the command to the Israelites, the wonders of God. I want to meditate on how Jesus arrived on the scene as a healer, as someone with authority over demons, and as someone who had complete control over nature and physical elements. I want to mediate on Jesus raising the dead and, most of all, on Jesus Himself raised to life. It’s as if God keeps saying, “Remember who I Am. Remember my power. Remember. I am the Lord.”

I go about my ordinary day and forget. My heart forgets. This isn’t some tiny religion of comfort or happiness or self-satisfaction. It’s the biggest thing there is: Jesus���our God of unimaginable power, love, and authority. We worship Him.

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The Shape of Things

As winter approaches, I realize the beauty of times when God strips down life to see what’s really in the heart. You see the shape of you. You see what’s really happening underneath the cover of brighter, greener days. I don’t mind suffering as much anymore; it teaches me where I stand.

I stand by the plum tree, and I can finally see the work of my pruning. When the leaves fall, I see which branches I like, which ones need more work, and which ones create the shape I want.

I want times like this. It takes a certain season to see clearly: perhaps loss, perhaps some emptiness, perhaps some exposure to harsh elements. And then, spring.

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Why I Don’t Miss a Day

I’m not that disciplined of a person. I’m not a role model for excellence in any area (except for grammar and the use of strong verbs). But I do write every single day. I post on this blog every single day. And if I miss posting electronically, I write in my journal (this might happen this weekend when I’m in Dallas!). I realize that, for some things in life, the benefits far outweigh any perceived costs, so you want to do that thing. It becomes a habit, a way of being, and a part of your personality. I feel this way about daily writing. It makes me feel good. It provides a sense of order and clarity for the day. It helps my brain.

It helps your brain. There’s something about putting one’s thoughts down on the page, even if you don’t know where you’re going with a sentence. There’s something about taking time to reflect, to pause, to consider, to worship. There’s something about how writing slows you down. It’s a peaceful activity. And who knows? Once you start writing, you might put down a seed that becomes a book.

Writing also gets what’s churning inside of you outside of you. You can put it down here so it’s not tangled up inside of you. Try it. You’ll learn what you’re thinking about and why.

Writing with a purpose of gratitude also stills the negativity or sadness that might try to rise within you each day. I want to daily answer these kinds of questions: What was beautiful? What made me smile? What made me connect with divine activity? What did I learn? What made me hope? What reminded me of my purpose? What helped me grow into a more mature, loving person? How does my life help others live joyful lives? How I can care for someone else? What do I sense is next for me?

This morning, I enjoyed something wonderful: a toasted pumpernickel bagel with whipped cream cheese, red onion, capers, dill, tomato, and Scottish smoked salmon. I loved it. I loved how I drove to the bakery early to get the fresh pumpernickel bagels. I loved that I returned to a warm house smelling of coffee and family members preparing for breakfast. If you were here with me, I would make you this breakfast. We would drink strong coffee, watch the sunrise, and talk about what you’re thinking about. We’d write and reflect. But mostly, we’d talk about the smoked salmon and pumpernickel bagel and thank God for a breakfast like this. Thinking about this makes me smile. I think we will eat like this in heaven.

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The Photograph I Love

I remember taking my first picture with the first digital camera I ever had. Eleven years ago, nobody pulled out fancy phone cameras, and nobody used automatic filters and editing tools right on their phones. I didn’t know anything about taking pictures, but I learned about focusing the “macro” lens and watching the light.

On this day so many years ago, I knelt down and marveled over the design of the acorn and how the afternoon light filtered through the trees. It was unseasonably warm and sunny. I was walking to pick up my children from school. I took the picture and loved it so much for the blurred background and the light. It’s not even a technically beautiful photo, but to me, this picture marks a time in my life when I desperately searched for beauty and places to marvel in my ordinary days of motherhood. Within that first year of blogging every day at Live with Flair, I started documenting with words and sometimes photos in order to expand my capacity for joy. I wanted to notice, really notice, my life.

It worked.

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The Morning Walk: Test It

Lately, my daughter and I have taken sunrise walks. After the time change, we found ourselves up and ready to enjoy the day in the darkness. Why not take a walk and witness that gorgeous early morning light? We’ve been walking with the sun rising alongside us for the past three days.

I find myself more joyful, more energetic, and more clear-thinking. I find myself sleeping better. As someone who loves to read the latest research available, I search for evidence that a morning walk offers more benefits than an evening walk. I read about how a morning walk decreases blood pressure, helps you sleep better by setting the right circadian rhythm, and regulates cortisol. But mostly, I discover that any form of walking with indisputably improve your health and mood.

If you haven’t enjoyed a sunrise walk, I recommend it. I’m only one piece of evidence, but I attest to the increase in positive mood and energy.

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How Tempting

Last night, I asked a wise woman if she had any advice to offer me. It’s a great practice to ask older men and women what advice they have for you. You might also ask older people to speak a blessing over you. We miss out on so much when we don’t engage older generations like this.

So I asked the question. Then I listened carefully.

This woman, like so many other wise people in my life, answered with a warning:

Don’t love money. Don’t seek fame. But mostly, don’t love money.

She called these the “shiny things.” I laughed and nodded my head.

I went to bed thinking about “the shiny things” and how to run from them. I woke up thinking about this temptation.

Then I read 1 Timothy 6 with fresh eyes. Here, we receive a timely exhortation:

But��godliness��with contentment is great gain,��for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.��But��if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.��But��those who desire to be rich fall into temptation,��into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that��plunge people into ruin and destruction.��For the love of money is a root of��all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

I read the words, and I prayed for a deeply content heart for both my family and me. I prayed we would follow our purpose and listen to the Holy Spirit to give us right desires and to purge from us the “desire to be rich.” With this risky desire for wealth comes a dire warning. Expect temptations. Expect snares. Expect harmful desires that will ruin and destroy. Expect a dulled faith and a painful life.

Wow. I sit with the reality of this warning and ask God to make my heart right. Who wouldn’t love lots of money? Who wouldn’t want more and more wealth? But in God’s economy, we live with supernatural blessings that fill our lives with glorious satisfaction and contentment. Whether rich or poor, we access all the riches of God’s kingdom.

I’ve always heard it said that money is not evil, but the love of money is.

But still. This seems too tempting.

I used to pray words of surrender to God and say, “I’ll follow you, even if you make me poor.”

Today, I prayed, “I’ll follow you, even if you make me rich.” Suddenly, the rich life felt worse.

Whatever wealth God appoints for you and me, I pray we listen to Paul’s words and ask God for the supernatural wisdom to live a different way, to want different things, and to cultivate a contentment money can never buy.

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Read Psalm 37 to Help Cure Jealousy

This morning, I loved reading Psalm 37. This psalm commands us to “not fret” and to enjoy the abundant peace of God. It’s a psalm that ensures God will act in loving ways towards us and give us what He prompts us to desire. I’ve pulled my favorite verses for you to think about, especially if you are “fretting” over the success of others and imagining you might have a better life than the one God has given you right now, right where you are. Consider all God does.

 Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Be still before the Lord
    and wait patiently for him;

Those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. . .

But the meek will inherit the land
    and enjoy peace and prosperity.

Better the little that the righteous have
    than the wealth of many wicked;
for the power of the wicked will be broken,
    but the Lord upholds the righteous.

The blameless spend their days under the Lord���s care,
    and their inheritance will endure forever.
In times of disaster they will not wither;
    in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.

The Lord makes firm the steps
    of the one who delights in him;
though he may stumble, he will not fall,
    for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

I was young and now I am old,
    yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
    or their children begging bread.
They are always generous and lend freely;
    their children will be a blessing.

The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,
    and their tongues speak what is just.
The law of their God is in their hearts;
    their feet do not slip.

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The Long-Awaited Audiobook of The Six Conversations

I’m so happy to announce that the audio version of The Six Conversations just appeared on audible.com. I think you will absolutely adore the voice of Joy Vandervort-Cobb who reads this book for us.

If you need a good book to enjoy as you travel for the holidays or go on long walks (or wherever you listen to audiobooks!) enjoy this one!

I love having audio versions of my books, especially since I often help my publisher audition the voices. For my first book, Seated with Christ, Moody gave me the honor and thrill of recording the book myself. I needed a voice coach to help me. I needed to eat a lot of very greasy food (chips, fries, and burgers) to lubricate my vocal cords. I needed lots of chances to get the “operative word” right in a sentence. We recorded the book in one day, and I loved the whole process. This was notably my last time providing the voice for my audiobooks! Ha! I’m simply not a voice actor!

I remember it all, so today, I’m thankful for the work of Joy Vandervort-Cobb and her work on The Six Conversations. Her voice is the coziest!!!

Working with a Voice CoachRecording the Audiobook of Seated with Christ, March 2016

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The Danger!

Early this morning, just before the sun rose, we rounded the corner to see an enormous hawk flying from tree limb to tree limb. His golden wings stretched far as he scanned the earth below. We watched him in wonder, close enough to hear him landing on the next branch. I thought he might be a Rough-Legged Hawk because of his size, but he most likely was a Cooper’s Hawk.

As we watched him, we suddenly heard the shrieking calls of what felt like a hundred squirrels and chipmunks sounding an alarm. The blackbirds scattered. The whole yard in front of us turned into flashes of small creatures racing for shelter behind our pine trees, up in the oak tree, and into the cracks in the pavement. The whole scene felt oddly unified against a common enemy. One squirrel in particular kept barking and barking as the other squirrels around her took heed and went into hiding.

We marveled at how nature suddenly came together in warning of coming danger.

The hawk stayed around until the sun rose high, and we made sure to keep our cat, Louis, inside. Birds that large can easily carry away a cat in their talons. Safe inside, I kept thinking of those squirrels and chipmunks all calling out to warn each other. In that moment, I thought of the best of community and how we all look out for each other and warn of danger. We shelter each other until the danger passes.

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Balmy Surprise

Today felt surprisingly balmy. We kept going outside to enjoy the pleasant weather. In between chores, football, and cooking, we walked and walked in the warm weather, making sure to crunch every acorn underfoot and catch every falling leaf in hand that we could. Later this evening, we’ll join neighbors for a bonfire.

This day? What mattered was the surprise of it���to be this gorgeous and warm outside.

I’m learning more about and more about the element of surprise from my friends Linda and Sue over at The Sublime Soiree. If you think about it, God often surprises us. It’s a wonderful part of His love for us; He works in unexpected and unforeseen ways. As I learned from Linda and Sue, I remembered that God crafts a day for us that’s full of loving surprises. His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3). He shows us the wonder of His great love (Psalm 17). And He works everything for good (Romans 8). Why don’t I expect His good gifts?

I often anticipate bad things happening, but what if I awaited the surprises of God? What if I stepped outside every day as I did today? As delighted as when finding a balmy warm day in mid-November? As full of marvelous joy as when my daughter and I reached up and each caught a falling oak leaf, something we often make wishes on and laugh about?

The day falls around me, and I reach up to gather as much surprising joy as I can.

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