Lisa M. Buske's Blog, page 51

Is your life too busy?

life is too short to be so busy that we miss the moments. In anticipation of our daughter's departure to college I accepted a few new responsibilities this school year and volunteered for a thing or two. Now, in the middle of October, I realize instead of being busy, I NEED TO BE!

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2 ESV

Instead of filling my time so I don't feel the pains of my passing over a year ago or our daughter's graduation and transition to college, I've got busy. I'm guilty.

I'm thankful for this realization. I could dwell on "how long" it's taken me to not only recognize this but to also do something about it. I have a renewed Peace within me. I have a renewed outlook and drive to move forward in faith to "be" the best Lisa I can be. I will continue to strive to be the best wife, mom, daughter, sister, niece, educator, author, and speaker I can be BUT only by allowing myself to "be Lisa" too.

I, you, can't be the best all around person God designed us to be if we aren't taking time to be this person - a time of reflection, renewal, and regeneration. do you take time to just be?
​Is today the day you start?
Leave a comment and let us know...

Losing A Little of Ourselves and...

Growing
as a
​couple! Less of us (losing weight)
and growing (getting closer as a couple) Life is good...even if my selfie isn't.  Earlier in the week my husband, Ed, and I joined the gym. We decided it's worth the $20 a month to dedicate time and monies to getting healthy. It also allows us time to talk and catch up. I'm learning it is common for "empty nesters", like us, to have a hard time communicating after the kiddo(s) fly from the nest and start their new journey. Who knew, not me. 

It makes sense though, think about it...for eighteen plus years, unless you are amazing and established a plan while the child was still "in utero", you can most likely relate to this new found time and communication barrier. This is the opposite of what I thought. I'm so naive, or is it that I just didn't have a lot of "empty nester" friends prior to this year.

Another challenge I face is to establish a healthy life style routine I can manage and continue with on a VERY routine basis. As I sat wallowing in my own pity one evening it came to me. Ed and I could join the gym. Not only would this help our physical health, it will renew our communication and dedicate time each week together. I'll admit, the first day, Ed put in both his ear buds and listened to the sports channel he selected as his entertainment. Meanwhile, I only had one ear bud in, the opposite ear of the side Ed was walking on his treadmill. I figured I could have the background of Channel 9's news in one ear and a conversation with Ed at the same time. Not so much.

I was annoyed at first UNTIL I realized something. Ed is a man! He doesn't know this exercise time is a date and a means to reconnect and communicate. He thinks, or should I say, thought, it was just about the physical activity. Duh, he's a man. How do I expect him to realize my intent and heart's desire, if I don't tell him? Guess what, the next workout date, he still used both ear buds but talked with me more than the first time. We are work in progress. I need to be more understanding of my husband (man brain)'s need for sports in the morning while he gives a little time for his wife (female brain)'s desire to "bond" and "reconnect". We are synergy in motion...literally! LOL

This is a work in process and I'm a needy wife, wanting his attention and thoughtful conversation at 5 a.m., before we even drink our coffee. I choose to be thankful he joined the gym with me and even more thankful that each time we go, the conversations get longer and a little more interesting. Who knows, we might even lose weight and establish healthy exercise routines. A win-win if you ask me!  Any other "Empty Nesters" out there that can relate?
Share how you and your spouse reconnect when the nest emptied.

A Writer's Wednesday: Week 8

Week eight of our Writer's Wednesdays,
how is your writing coming along?
Do you enjoy these 5, 10, or 15 minutes
of creating a story from a prompt?

Week eight
and I'm feeling great
It must be fate
You're not late
Your writing fits in a crate
Wednesdays are a writing date!

Guess what we are writing this week? A poem!

Just have fun, make a rhyming poem -
​it doesn't have to make sense. Try something new! Who will be brave and share their poem first?

T.O.P.'s Tuesday: Seize the Memories

It is a brisk October morning with a warm day in the forecast tomorrow, the weather is an amazing thing, especially along the Great Lakes. My thoughts and prayers go out to all effected by Hurricane Matthew, the devastation and loss on the news each day is heart breaking. I hope you will join me in praying for the people and communities only beginning to look to their new futures.

This week for T.O.P.'s Tuesday I want to take a moment to remind everyone to "seize the day". Originally I was going to share a scene from Dead Poet's Society but found this beautiful song and think it's message is more powerful. What does the phrase or mantra, "seize the day", have to do with remembering my sister, Heidi Allen? It's a gentle reminder that our tomorrow or even five minutes from now aren't a guarantee. This is a fact so why do so many people say and do things they regret? Why do some carry unforgiveness and hate in their hearts? Why do some people not let their loved ones know how much they mean to them and are loved?

I don't have the answers to these questions and I'm guilty at times of saying or doing things I regret. Although this is something I, we, struggle with, don't dismay. It simply means we are human BUT we have a choice. Instead of carrying on or dwelling on the negative we can focus on the positive and live with a "seize the day" mindset. God is the only one who knows when we, or our loved ones, will breath the last breath here on earth. 

Today, I encourage you to seize the day and keep a positive focus. Our womens' Bible study this past month focused on some of these aspects and after our study last night, I know there is a group of women more determined to live this mindset. What about you?
What will you seize today?

How One DJ and Poet Reached My Heart

To Listen
to
K-Love
Online
CLICK HERE!
I spent a few days last week horizontal, or running to the 15 minute reading room, needless to say it is a week I don't care to do-over. You are probably thinking, "too much information Lisa" yet it was in this down time and listening to K-Love on the radio that I heard one of their DJ's share the following poem by Blake Williams. It resonated with me and I want to share it with you. I was left with nothing but time to think, reflect, and pray about the message JD shared with me through Mr. William's words. I hope you'll take time to read them and let them absorb into your heart as you take a deeper look at your faith and faith walk. If you feel led, leave a comment below of how it touched you. "I don't really worship these days
I don't really stand up to praise you with songs
Or prayers or actions
or with anything
I am full of all the right moves
I am full of all the right words
I am full of all the right religion
But it is all just illusion
I am really
Lonely
Lost
Calloused
Jaded
Cynical
Too religious
Too realistic
and well...really just too lazy
to worship you anymore
I have lost my first love
I have lost the joy of your presence
But most of all I have lost the fear of your glory
Father I need to see you again
Like Isaiah I want to stand in awe of your glory
To fall down at your feet
To come face to face with your
Perfection,
Radiance,
Goodness,
Holiness,
Awesomeness
I want to stand before you and see you for who you are
and me for who I am
I want to be undone
I want to know me for who I really am
I want to see the depths of my heart
And know that you are the only way
You are the only truth
You are the only life
I want to see me and understand
What it really must have taken for you to
Love me
Care for me
See me
Speak to me
Want me
Communicate with me
Die for me
Die for me
Die for me
Lord, I want to stand in that place where all I can see is your glory
And my sin
Because in that place I can't help but worship you.
Lord let me come undone
Undo my heart
Lord, undo my heart
break down these walls that I love so much
No, wait don't!
I'm scared I don't know if I can handle this
Don't...
But I can't live this way anymore
I can't stand here in this half-life
this going through the motions life
this not really alive life
Father, I need you... so come in and do what you must
Cut out the tumor on my heart
Break down the walls that I love
Lord let me come undone
Undo my heart
let me worship you again"
*Blake Williams  If you feel led, leave a comment below of how it touched you.

A Writer's Wednesday: Week 7

Yes, it's the same picture as last week but your prompt is different.  This week you arrive at your child's/grandchild's
preschool or elementary school to pick them up
and see a row of these pans lining the sidewalk.

What is the first thing you think?
What is the first thing you do?
Do you take a picture and send it to someone?
Do you writing in the sand?
Is this the conversation starter in the office/car ride home?

How did the same photo but
with a different writing prompt change your story?

A Writer's Wednesday: Week 6

You are walking through Central Park in New York City and see this container, what is the first thing you think? How does this make you feel? Do you write in the sand? Call the police? Pretend you don't see it?

Leave your story below in a post...

What's Your Favorite Lazy Day Activity?

Do you have a favorite lazy-day thing to do?

Sometimes You Need to Retreat and...

Retreat, Reflect, Refocus, and Reconnect  "So submit yourselves to the one true God and fight against the devil and his schemes. If you do, he will run away in failure. Come close to the one true God, and He will draw close to you. Wash your hands; you have dirtied them in sin. Cleanse your heart, because your mind is split down the middle, your love for God on one side and selfish pursuits on the other."
James 4:7-8 Voice Happy Friday everyone! Is anyone saying the catch phrase, TGIF today? If so, maybe you need to retreat, withdrawing from the stuff overwhelming and burdening you. I encourage you to retreat in a non-traditional sense, don't run in the other direction and never look back. Instead, retreat so you can reflect, refocus, and reconnect. This is necessary in our lives. 

I may be the only one (if I'm not, I hope you'll leave a comment below), but I tend to wait to retreat until I'm so overwhelmed I'm not sure how to keep moving forward. I keep pushing and the "busy" of life takes over BUT when the busyness and things-to-do over power our quiet time, eventually we hit burn out, frustration, and become ugly. Sometimes we can hide this ugly from those not living with us yet doesn't our family and God deserve more than ugliness spewing from our heart? Of course they do.  

​I encourage you to take time this weekend to stop, reflect, refocus, and reconnect. YOU and those you interact with deserve it and God longs to spend time with you. How do you Retreat, Reflect, Refocus, and Reconnect...

A Writer's Wednesday: Week 5

No prompt today...(you can do this)

Think and focus on this picture for a few minutes and then just write. 

Let your mind wander and your words trickle onto the paper.

No deep thought, let the words flow. Leave a comment below to answer the following questions:

Did your writing end in the same place you started?
​
Was this fun or do you prefer a more guided prompt?