Lisa M. Buske's Blog, page 10

January 14th, 2021

@keepingitrealwithlisa

##keepingitreal ##onesistersjourney ##20minworkout Did you get your workout in today?

♬ Original Sound - Unknown

The TikTok and photo in the gym with my mask on our from this week, the others are oldies but goodies. I share these to encourage you. Here's the deal, I thought about deleting the middle photo of me using the TRX (I think that is what it's called) because of my rolls but then it's a reminder of the progress I've made. I'm not there yet but I'm closer than I was, even in that photo. 

Did you set fitness goals for 2021? If so, the secret to your success is to have fun. Saturday used to be the only day I could sleep in and then I tried a total body workout class at the YMCA. Oh my goodness, it was so fun. Is it a challenge? Yes. Do I hate it at times? Yes. Do I love more than I hate it? Yes! It is so fun. Half the fun is in the challenge, the other half comes from the instructor and the others in the class. (In case you are wondering, masks are worn and we are more than 6 feet apart and class size is limited.) In addition to this class I tried yoga and although I don't love it, and I'm not very good at, but it is fun.

Are you wondering how activities that are challenging, difficult, and, that I'm not veryy good at, are fun? It's your mindset! I always feel better after exercising and getting a workout it. I sleep better and smile more. The friendships made are blessings I count. Even when exercising at home with weights or DVD, I find the fun. When I fall out of the yoga pose, I laugh. When my abs or thighs burn, I laugh. Fitness can be fun when you look at it as an opportunity to feel better, smile, and laugh. Why wait? 
What are you doing to make fitness fun?

T.O.P.'s Tuesday: Inspired to Write, write, & Write

INSPIRED! Inspired to write is something I lacked prior to 2020. Last February the desire to write slowly returned, my mid-March I had so many ideas swirling in my mind, I couldn't keep up and then...COVID-19 and teaching from home. 

The desire and inspiration to write wasn't interrupted yet the time and ability to feed this hunger was. Like most of you, I didn't let the pandemic stop me, it only created a pause. Although every free moment was spent to learn how to teach and assist the teachers from home, when inspiration and ideas came to mind, I jotted them down.

As the school year wound down, my to-do list geared up for the summer. I opted to forgo the writers' conference and played it safe, staying put and enjoy the last few weeks with our daughter before she moved. While many relaxed and recharged poolside, I logged hours at my writer's cottage. I completed my first devotional, for Easter, and met the deadlines I set for myself. The long-range goal, a January 23, 2021 release. I'm happy to say, this goal was achieved ahead of schedule.

In addition to A Journey to Easter (available on Amazon now), I started a women's Bible study, an Advent Bible Study, and organized the notes for the sequel to Where's Heidi? One Sister's Journey. My productivity slowed in August and nearly hit a wall this past Fall. My ability to balance school and writing has been less than successful, with few writing deadlines met. The weekend after Thanksgiving was spent sewing to relax and a few hours in the writer's cottage to get in the groove.

My next goal is to readjust my writing deadlines and goals, understanding that my eyes and brain can only handle so much computer time after getting home from school. As I look forward to 2021 and future book releases, I know God is leading the way. After praying, reflecting, and listening I understand the deadlines were MINE, not God's. Over the next few weeks I plan to dedicate time to pray and listen for God's lead on what He is calling me to write and the timeline He has, not me. What goals and deadlines have you set for 2021?

T.O.P.'s Tuesday: New Book Released

Click here to order Click here to order ​I'm excited, last February and March when this book started to come together, I wasn't sure it would be ready for a 2021 release. My target release date was initially January 23 as a gift to one amazing guy but with Lent starting on February 17, I wasn't sure there would be enough time to share and get it into your hands before then. After a little discussion and much prayer, my first devotional Journey to Easter, is available for purchase. I haven't ordered my author copies yet but plan to on payday, until then, you can order by clicking here.

Journey to Easter is available in both print and on Kindle. The devotional begins the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and concludes on the Monday after Easter. It was so much fun to write this book and when I realized Easter Sunday was April 4, I knew God had orchestrated it all. My sister disappeared on April 3, Easter Sunday, 1994. This is the closest Easter has been this anniversary in years. I don't remember exactly when I recognized the date of Easter but I remember crying. There were tears of joy, sadness, and gratefulness.

For more than a decade I couldn't celebrate Easter because I blamed God for my sister's kidnapping. In 2011 when God called, and inspired, me to write Where's Heidi? One Sister's Journey, I never thought devotional writing was something I could, or would do. This is one of the coolest things about God. He sees the depth of pain AND the depths of our healing and victory we have, and experience, through our relationship with Him. May He be glorified through this devotional and may others come to have a closer relationship with Him.

As I stayed at various hotels early in 2020, my heart was heavy with the knowledge of my daughter's upcoming graduation from undergrad and the 99% likelihood of attending grad school out of state. It was during these interview weeks and weekends that this devotional was birthed. There was a pharmacy near by and I walked over, spent about $50 and purchased "the" right pens and paper to start writing this devotional. Every moment that my daughter wasn't in the hotel was spent reading my Bible, researching, praying, crying, and repeating this process until the only thing that helped my eyes was a shower or soaking in the hot tub.

I look forward to sharing more about the writing of this book and how it came to be over the next few weeks. The idea was birthed in a hotel room but the real work started once we returned home. In less than a week from returning to New York, COVID-19 shut the state down and I found myself at home with a lot of time. Do not misunderstand me, I'm not thankful for the pandemic yet I'm grateful to God for opening my heart, my passion to write, and having a project I could work on while secured in our home for months.

I hope you'll take time to check out this new book, my first devotional. You can purchase it on Amazon.com. I usually check with our local book store but haven't done this yet, so for now, it can be purchased online. If you want a signed copy, I'll post when my author copies arrive and you can purchase from me directly using Venmo or PayPal. Thank you for your love, support, and prayers. May God be glorified and my readers be blessed as they come to know Jesus better and on a personal level.
God is good and all the time...God is good.
I'm grateful to share this new release with all of you!
Thank you and may God bless you!

What Forces You Into the Air!

Happy New Year everyone! No goal setting this week, instead I want to share a couple photos my Dad's game camera captured in December.

As you look at this first photo, notice the black on the snow. These are birds at rest. As they sit, graze, and absorb the sun, they are content and at peace. Then. It. Happens.

We don't know what startled them yet that isn't important. We are like these birds. At times in our life, all is going well and then BAM!! Yup, life throws a curve an we usually don't see it coming. Regardless of how prepared, or ill prepared, to handle it, we have to deal with it. BUT you don't need to do it alone...you are never alone wen you have a relationship with Jesus. Are you ready to stand strong and confident?

 Here is the bottom line:
​do not worry about your life.
Don’t worry about what you will eat or what you will drink.
Don’t worry about how you clothe your body.
Living is about more than merely eating,
and the body is about more than dressing up. 
Look at the birds in the sky.
They do not store food for winter.
They don’t plant gardens. 
They do not sow or reap--and yet,
they are always fed because your heavenly Father feeds them.
And you are even more precious to Him than a beautiful bird.
If He looks after them,
of course He will look after you.
Worrying does not do any good;
​who here can claim to add even an hour to his life by worrying?"
Matthew 6:25-27 VOICE

We don't know what startled the birds yet there is one thing we can all agree on, something startled them into movement. God designed the birds to know, sense, and feel when they are in danger. This verse from Matthew reminds us that if God will care for the birds with such great care, then how much more will He care for you and your needs? The birds take to flight so they remain safe. You, my friend, don't need to run to escape. Instead, you can relax. 

Don't run, fall to your knees and lift your eyes and prayers to God. He is ready, willing, and able to answer your prayers. You WILL have unexpected, unwanted, and challenging events and situations in your life. The next time one of these is thrust into your life, remember, God cares for, and loves you, MORE than the birds. You can do it!
Photo credits go to my Dad...thank you for letting me share these on my blog. YOU WILL HAVE CHALLENGES...
and God is ALWAYS there for you!

This is the Right Moment

As we move closer to Christmas and our ability to make, and keep, plans is a moving target, it's easy to lose sight of the blessings in our lives. I read this quote and was reminded that no matter what happens in our life, its timing is perfect, neither too soon or too late.

The Bible offers an array of verses talking about the difference between God's timing and our timing. There will be times in your life when you feel like it's been too long, or the exhaustion from waiting starts to wear on your health but we must remain strong because God's timing is perfect. We might thin it's been too long, or too soon, but God answers our prayers and lets things happen at the right moment. His moments are different than yours and mine.

This is difficult to accept, especially if you've waited a long time, yet we must hold firm to our faith and trust God. He has our good, the good of His Kingdom, and all involved at the forefront of His answer and timing. We won't understand. We can't understand. I'll be honest, I don't want the power or responsibility God has. Would I like Him to answer my prayer and bring my sister home, yes, but I trust that as we wait for Him to say "yes", He is working out all the details to bring Him glory in the process while honoring Heidi and the prayers of the multitude, praying for her return.  
It might not feel like it, but God's timing
​is always right! Don't give up!

Regeneration is Witnessed In the Pinecone

"At one time you were far away from God and were his enemies because of the evil things you did and thought. But now, by means of the physical death of his Son, God has made you his friends, in order to bring you, ​holy, pure, and faultless, into his presence."   Colossians 1:21-22 I'm enjoying an Advent Bible study each week. Last week we learned about some of the symbols of Advent, I was surprised to learn the pinecone is more than a decoration. The pinecone reminds us we have new life through our relationship with Jesus. To learn more, check out this article: click here to read article.

I found this video enlightening and I learned something new about the pinecone. If you are into the Science behind a pinecone and its resin, check it out.Enjoy your Advent Season!

T.O.P.'s Tuesday: Inspired to Write & Release

I can't believe it's already the second week of December. My first devotional releases in less than a month. I like to release my books on special dates to me but my devotional, More Than an Easter Devo, needs to release January so you can have it delivered in time for Lent.

Lent begins on Wednesday, February 17, 2021 next year. Initially I planned to release it on my father's birthday but with mail taking longer and shortages, we opted to release early in January to ensure that anyone ordering their Lent devotional would have it in time to start on Ash Wednesday. You'll enjoy one devotional a day from Ash Wednesday through the Monday after Easter.

I didn't realize it but the the Saturday before Easter is April 3, 2021. This will be the 27th anniversary of my sister's abduction. This devotional isn't about Heidi or her kidnapping, its focus is on Jesus and the sacrifice He made for you and I. My Beta Readers enjoyed the devotional and encouraged me not to limit it to only Easter, so I changed the title. It was fun to work with a bank of readers offering feedback, their favorite parts, and pointing out areas that didn't make sense. 

Once this part of finished, I made final edits and sent it to my proofreader and editor. She and I worked through the summer with edits and changes. With a final copy ready, it was off to the editor. I look forward to receiving my first shipment of author copies later this month. This is when it gets exciting. The smell of new books from the publisher is almost as uplifting as walking through the bookstore. 

Stay tuned over the next few weeks to learn how you can help spread the word about my new book and help share it with your friends, family, coworkers, and social media connections. I pray you'll consider partnering with me to spread the word for my first devotional. I'll have more details after Christmas. While it is wise to start promoting a few months ahead, I believe it's more important to spend time with family and honor Advent. These are the weeks to prepare and anticipates Christ's birth and return, but in January, you'll be able to get your hands on this Lent devotional to help you prepare for Easter and Christ's crucifixion and resurrection. Each has its own time.

Thank your for your encouragement, support, and prayers! Have a great week!
Mark Your Calendar: Saturday, January 2, 2021

Be the Light for Others: Share Joy!

How are you feeling this week? It's been a week since Thanksgiving, and a lot has changed, at least in my neck of the woods. On Thanksgiving I looked forward to seeing the kiddos on Monday, then Saturday came. Our school is doing virtual instruction for two weeks because the COVID numbers are high. I am bummed. My heart breaks for the kids, their parents, and all the educators. If I focus on the loss then I'm overcome with grief. I can't even imagine how our parents and students are feeling. 

It's in these moments when it's the most challenging to remain joyful and hopeful yet this is the most joy-filled and hope-filled time of year, it's Advent. The days and weeks leading up to Christmas. We shouldn't be have heightened stress, unknowns, and darkness. This is a season of Light, the Light of Jesus Christ. Yet, in this season of light, the darkness wants to swallow us whole. I won't let the darkness win and neither should you. A verse came to mind, John 8:12, says "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." This is truth, a truth I need to pray each day.

As we move forward in this Advent season, with COVID dictating how we can live and celebrate, remember: the "experts", scientists, and politicians have our health and best interest at the forefront of their decision making. We can't change COVID. We can't change the decisions they make pertaining to our ability to go to work, the store, or congregate BUT we do have the ability and choice to FOCUS ON GOD and ALL THE GOOD and BLESSINGS IN OUR LIVES! It may  be more difficult to celebrate and be joyful yet this is exactly what we all need to be doing.

We aren't called to let the darkness win, we are Christ's ambassadors. Let us each shine brightly and share joy and happiness with everyone we meet. Let joy be contagious. Let hope spread. Let the love and light of Jesus illuminate the darkness.
How are you sharing JOY this holiday season?

T.O.P.'s Tuesday: A COVID Book Release?

In January 2020 I started to outline my first devotional. In February 2020, God made changes to "my" idea and inspired me. I spent weeks changing the outline and focus. The next few months I researched, prayed, wrote, and repeated until I sent it to my proofreader and editor. The days waiting to hear from her were long yet I started my next writing project while I waited.

The summer was spent making revisions, sharing with the proofreader and editor again, until the final draft was finished. Next, it was time to format the book. Multiple proofs reviewed online and sent to the house. These steps are tedious and, often, more important than the writing. If your book doesn't look good, it may never leave the shelf to go home with a reader. As the new school year started, final revisions and formatting reached completion and then it was time to wait.

This is the time to plan and organize the book release and book promotion tour. Prior to COVID, this would consist of reaching out to book stores, libraries, and other organizations for opportunities to speak and hold book signings. Due to COVID, most, if not all of these things can't happen right now. It's time to get creative. 

My first devotional is an Easter devotional, set to release in January so readers can have it in their hands for the start of Lent in February. I have a few ideas running through my head and need to firm them up. If you think of it while doing your prayers, could you pray for clarity and direction in how to organize a fun and successful book launch for my first devotional? Thank you in advance.

As you move into this first week of Advent, remember to take time to pray and reflect on Jesus' coming - first as a baby and then again when He returns to bring us all to our Eternal home. Have a wonderful week and may God bless you abundantly!
COVID can't stop us, we need to be more creative!

You Survived, Now Get Busy Living

If you are readinig this then you survived Thanksgiving and a virtual Black Friday! I heard "I can't do this one more day." and "I'll never survive this Thanksgiving." or statements similar to this too many times prior to Thanksgiving. There were moments I felt defeated too yet I know Who holds my tomorrows in His hands and have hope to see each one of them.

We have a choice to make. We can trust God or we can trust the scientists and politicians. Who will you trust today? I choose to trust God. In this moment we are faced with a surplus of negatives and closed doors. You weren't sure you could survive a COVID Thanksgiving, yet you did. You weren't sure you could teach, parent & teach, or work remotely BUT you have! You have the ability, determination, and strength to be and do whatever you are called, gifted, and blessed to do.

I encourage you to TRUST GOD each day and let Him LEAD, GUIDE, AND INSPIRE you. Today is a new day and it's the day you need to turn a page into the positive outlooks of how you can bless others and encourage them despite COVID. Share love, happiness, and joy with everyone you meet - whether it's in the grocery store, check out line, driving, pumping gas, or dropping off the garbage. You have the power of the Holy Spirit to be the catalyst of hope the people in your circle of influence need. 

Let go and let GOD LEAD!  TRUST GOD and the direction He leads you.
What does trusting God "look" like to you?