Lyli Dunbar's Blog, page 40

The Time Police

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As a high school teacher, I learned quickly that I must keep my eye on the clock. A class period was 45 minutes, and students loved to get me “off topic” by asking about my weekend and the weather. I knew that five minutes wasted each day would total two weeks of learning time lost by the end of the school year. To accomplish my objectives, I enforced the class regulations with the vigilance of a wary police officer.

As I read Paul’s letter to the church at Colossae, I am reminded that daily I must adopt a similar attitude about how I share my faith. Paul encourages Christ followers to seize every moment of time with wisdom and purpose. I must be watchful for opportunities to share the Good News with my co-workers, neighbors, and family. The term “redeeming” here implies that we are to zealously buy back moments for Kingdom purposes like a greedy merchant who is seeking to make a profit.

Recently, I read a book that encouraged me to track my time for one week to see where I might find pockets of free time to pursue my passions. I quickly discovered that I was tossing away lots of valuable time trolling Facebook that I could have set aside for outreach.

Time is sacred, and we are called to offer each day to the Lord. A wise steward understands that this involves sacrifice. The world will try to distract us with selfish pursuits, but we must stay in tune with the Spirit so that we don’t miss openings to share the Good News. We want to guard our time, rather than squander it.

As you start your week, pray over your calendar. What is on your schedule that will provide a possible open door for you to share your God story? Is there someone you can call and meet for coffee? Ask God to help you be bold in your interactions with your lost friends and family.

Time is short. Let’s keep our eye on the clock and snag every minute we can to share the reason for the Hope that is within us.

Let’s Talk:  What practical steps will you take this week to redeem the time for His kingdom purposes?

“The Time Police” was originally published at Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale’s Daily Devo.

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I am sharing “Plead My Cause” and joining like-minded sisters at Give Me Grace, Still Saturday, The Weekend Brew, Spiritual Sundays, Faith-Filled Friday, Blessing Counters, Essential Fridays, Live Free Thursday, Three-Word Wednesday, Tell His Story, Coffee for Your Heart, Testimony Tuesday, Purposeful Faith’s RaRaLinkup, Rich-Faith Rising, Sharing His Beauty, and Playdates with God.

 

The post The Time Police appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

Peace and Goodwill

Photo Credit: freeimages.com / sanja gjenero

 

In hope of diffusing explosive personalities, I put up the Christmas tree early last week and prayed for peace on earth.

Please let us sit around the Thanksgiving table with love and laughter, rather than rancor.

I turned up the Christmas carols and asked God to dispel darkness and spread cheer, and I am overjoyed to report that we had a holly jolly day.

God is still in the business of peace on earth and goodwill to men.

I know this in my heart of hearts, but sometimes the hate in this broken world is so strong that despair grips my heart.

Tonight as my fingers are hitting the keyboard, the television blares painfully loud. I am crestfallen as I see images of senseless violence that shattered innocent lives. Rather than a red Santa suit on the screen, I see the crimson stain of sin.

I must decide to turn off the clamor and tune into the Light. Hope is ever alive in my heart because the Light of the World has come. He has conquered sin and death and darkness.

God is not dead, nor does He sleep. The wrong shall fail, the right prevail with peace on earth, goodwill to man.

Peace and goodwill will inevitably reign forever.

Tonight if you are heavy-hearted, repeat the words wild and sweet:

God is not dead, nor does He sleep. The wrong shall fail, the right prevail with peace on earth, goodwill to man.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Something to think about…

 

I’m sharing “Peace and Goodwill” with like-minded friends at Faith-Filled Friday.

 

Have you written something thought-provoking, challenging, encouraging, or inspiring lately? Link it up here! For best results, write the title of your post in the name box.

As a courtesy, please link back to 3-D Lessons for Life in your post. Grab and share the Thought-Provoking Thursday button to spread the word. Use #ThoughtProvokingThursday to share your post and connect on Twitter.

Check back later to see what other GREAT posts have been linked up! Visit the post immediately before yours and leave an encouraging comment.

An InLinkz Link-up

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Offer Thanksgiving Sacrifices

Photo Credit / Psa. 107:21-22, MSG

 

I am so thankful for all of you who share this space with me on Thursdays. 

This week, let’s take a thought-provoking break

and offer Thanksgiving sacrifices with our families.

Here are a few inspiring reads that helped prepare my heart for Thanksgiving this week:  
Because For Some the Holidays Feel More Like a Famine than a Feast by Lisa Murray
Fresh Air for Your Thanksgiving by Kristen Strong
Exchanging Anxiousness for Peace by Whitney Daugherty

 

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Plead My Cause

Photo Credit / Ps 119:154

Someone I love is imprisoned.

The jail cell has no walls, and the chains are not forged of iron.

She is entrapped by her circumstances and weighted down by pain and brokenness.

A few weeks ago, she asked me to pray for her as she presented her case on the witness stand.   Sharing the details of her story publicly for the first time, she cried out for help.

She wanted a friend to stand by her as she faced her menacing adversary and spoke the truth to dispel his lies.

She desperately longed to be free.

I prayed for a miracle.  I asked for justice.  I cried out for mercy.

My heart grew heavy thinking about all the possible outcomes in our upside-down world.

I feared for her safety.

I feared the worst until God finally assured me that her case was not as complicated as I thought.

You see, I forgot she’s got an unbeatable Defender in her corner.

He’s already declared her innocent.   Victory is certain.

Case closed.

He pleads our cause.

Are you feeling defeated by your circumstances right now?  Is your adversary trying to hold you captive by a weight of guilt and shame?

Your Advocate stands at the right-hand of the Judge.  He speaks constantly and confidently on your behalf.

You need not fear.  Step up to the witness stand and speak Truth.

He understands every intimate detail of your case, and He will ensure that Your voice is heard.

Lord, plead my cause.

Let’s Talk:  How has your Defender stood beside You and plead Your cause?

 

 

I am sharing “Plead My Cause” and joining like-minded sisters at Give Me Grace, Still Saturday, The Weekend Brew, Spiritual Sundays, Faith-Filled Friday, Blessing Counters, Essential Fridays, Live Free Thursday, Three-Word Wednesday, Tell His Story, Coffee for Your Heart, Testimony Tuesday, Purposeful Faith’s RaRaLinkup, Rich-Faith Rising, Sharing His Beauty, and Playdates with God.

The post Plead My Cause appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

In Everything

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To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything He has given us – and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him.

Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God. For the grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience. And that is what makes all the difference.

~Thomas Merton

 

 

Something to think about…

 

I’m sharing “In Everything” with like-minded friends at Faith-Filled Friday.

 

Have you written something thought-provoking, challenging, encouraging, or inspiring lately? Link it up here! For best results, write the title of your post in the name box.

As a courtesy, please link back to 3-D Lessons for Life in your post. Grab and share the Thought-Provoking Thursday button to spread the word. Use #ThoughtProvokingThursday to share your post and connect on Twitter.

Check back later to see what other GREAT posts have been linked up! Visit the post immediately before yours and leave an encouraging comment.

An InLinkz Link-up

The post In Everything appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

Stay Alert

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Thanksgiving helps us to be grace-centered, seeing all of life as a gift.  It looks on how God’s past blessings impact our lives.  Watchfulness alerts us to the unfolding drama in the present.  It looks for God’s present working as it unfolds into future grace.

Paul E. Miller, A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World, p. 187

 

 

 

Something to think about…

 

I’m sharing “Stay Alert” with like-minded friends at Faith-Filled Friday.

 

Have you written something thought-provoking, challenging, encouraging, or inspiring lately? Link it up here! For best results, write the title of your post in the name box.

As a courtesy, please link back to 3-D Lessons for Life in your post. Grab and share the Thought-Provoking Thursday button to spread the word. Use #ThoughtProvokingThursday to share your post and connect on Twitter.

Check back later to see what other GREAT posts have been linked up! Visit the post immediately before yours and leave an encouraging comment.

An InLinkz Link-up

The post Stay Alert appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

Gratitude as a Discipline

Photo Credit / Quote by G.K. Chesterton

 

Gratitude goes beyond the ‘mine’ and ‘thine’ and claims the truth that all of life is a pure gift. In the past I always thought of gratitude as a spontaneous response to the awareness of gifts received, but now I realize that gratitude can also be lived as a discipline. The discipline of gratitude is the explicit effort to acknowledge that all I am and have is given to me as a gift of love, a gift to be celebrated with joy.

~Henri Nouwen

 

 

Something to think about…

 

I’m sharing “Gratitude as a Discipline” with like-minded friends at Faith-Filled Friday.

 

Have you written something thought-provoking, challenging, encouraging, or inspiring lately? Link it up here! For best results, write the title of your post in the name box.

As a courtesy, please link back to 3-D Lessons for Life in your post. Grab and share the Thought-Provoking Thursday button to spread the word. Use #ThoughtProvokingThursday to share your post and connect on Twitter.

Check back later to see what other GREAT posts have been linked up! Visit the post immediately before yours and leave an encouraging comment.

An InLinkz Link-up

The post Gratitude as a Discipline appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

Simply Celebrate

Photo Credit / Quote:  Emily Freeman

 

These are the days of….



Cuddling in bed on a lazy Saturday morning
Watching through the window for the squirrels to steal a peanut
Hoarding a stockpile of free orange cranberry muffins
Floating together in the pool under blue skies
Holding hands and singing 80’s karaoke on a drive to nowhere special
Stealing a coconut shrimp off mom’s plate and splitting a key lime pie
Sitting quietly next to the blind man who taught you to see
Worshipping side by side in the back left corner
Invading the Moonlite diner after the service with stories to tell
Playing peekaboo with a blond little sprite
Pigging out on date night queso and chips at a tall table by the window
Praying big and believing God’s going to move a mountain



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What gives moments meaning is not the moments themselves but the presence of Christ with us in the midst of them.

~Emily Freeman, Simply Tuesday

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Let’s Talk:  Where do you see evidence of God’s kingdom in your everyday ordinary?

 

This journaling activity was inpsired by Emily Freeman’s wonderful book Simply Tuesday.
I am sharing “Simply Celebrate” and joining like-minded sisters at incourage, Give Me Grace, Still Saturday, The Weekend Brew, Spiritual Sundays, Faith-Filled Friday, Blessing Counters, Live Free Thursday, Tell His Story, Coffee for Your Heart, Testimony Tuesday, Purposeful Faith’s RaRaLinkup, Rich-Faith Rising, Sharing His Beauty, and Playdates with God.

 

 

 

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Lessons Learned in 3-D: Fall Revisited

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Hello November!  I don’t know about you, but I am looking forward to turkey and sweet potatoe casserole in my not too distant future.  I am a huge fan of Thanksgiving, but before I officially get on the “gobble gobble” train, I want to revisit some of the lessons learned in October.

Apple rolled out wi-fi calling, which has saved me from bad cell reception purgatory while I am at work.  Hallelujah!

I am slightly addicted to Etsy.  This is my latest purchase for our home from JodiMarieDesigns:

The new movie Woodlawn is based on the life of someone I know personally!   I learned Tony Nathan is an awesome dad and husband when his girls were in my class years ago.

If you go to Paneras late and ask the to give you the muffins for free, you might just go home really happy.

I plunged into Periscope in October and survived.  [Insert scream of fear here.]  Note:  Periscope might not auto save your broadcasts (even if you have it set up to do so), so signing up for Katch is a good idea as a back up.  If you’d like a little #PrayBig inspiration, check out my October scopes on my You Tube page.  Find me on Periscope here.

I joined Laura’s book club on The Right to Write and discovered that I love reading books about writing!

Reading a book on writing while you do a 31-day writing challenge will inspire you to push through and keep writing.  Here are some of my new “writing mottos” thanks to Julia Cameron and the #write31days challenge:

When we forget ourselves, it’s easy to write (p. 11).
Don’t try to write something perfect; just write (p. 15).
Writing doesn’t always have to know where it’s going (p. 22).
Accept  your writing as permanent, a person you are in love with who has good days and bad days, cranky days and euphoric ones.  Let your writing be itself.  Give it love and it will surprise you (p. 36).
Writing is what we make from the broth of our experience (p. 65).

Men do the “nesting” thing, too — except they do it in the yard and the garage.  Here is the bird feeder on steroids my hubby just acquired for our backyard:

 

It’s a good idea to have a techy person to help you with your blog — especially if your blog disappears in the middle of your 31-day writing challenge.  I’m so thankful for Arthur at Outstanding Setup.

November will sneak up on you if you aren’t paying attention.  I don’t want any more days slipping by unnoticed, so this month I am going to be Counting My Blessings from A to Z every day on Facebook.   I hope you will join me.

 

Let’s Talk: What did you learn in October?

I am sharing “Lesssons Learned in 3-D: Fall Revisited” and joining like-minded sisters at Chatting at the Sky, #write31days, Give Me Grace, Still Saturday, The Weekend Brew, Spiritual Sundays, Faith-Filled Friday, Blessing Counters, Live Free Thursday, Tell His Story, Coffee for Your Heart, Testimony Tuesday, Purposeful Faith’s RaRaLinkup, Rich-Faith Rising, Sharing His Beauty, and Playdates with God.

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Awakened

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I woke up with a start.

Thunderous power reverberated through my frame.  The heavens were alive with glory and light.

I laid in bed listening to the voice of the Lord and contemplating His mystery.

Many moons ago, He had awakened me unexpectedly from a dead slumber.    My spirit came alive.

He filled my days with His light.

He is still awakening the lifeless.

Let’s pray big and ask God to give us eyes to see.  All you view today may be dry and defeated, but the Word of the Lord thunders down and breathes new life into our frames.

He restores.  He empowers.  He transforms.

He is still the God of the great exchange.

Rise and shine, my friends.  Today might be your revival day.

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Holy Spirit, awaken us.
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Let’s Talk:  How has God breathed new life into you or your loved ones as you’ve prayed?
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Let’s Pray Big in Community:

This year, my desire is to lift up holy hands and “Pray Big.” Want to join me? I’ve created a private “Pray Big” Facebook group for like-minded sisters to share their stories and surrender each one to our mountain-moving God in prayer. Let’s cry out to God together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am sharing “Awakened” and joining like-minded sisters at Give Me Grace, Still Saturday, The Weekend Brew, Spiritual Sundays, Faith-Filled Friday, Blessing Counters, Live Free Thursday, Tell His Story, Coffee for Your Heart, Testimony Tuesday, Purposeful Faith’s RaRaLinkup, Rich-Faith Rising, Sharing His Beauty, and Playdates with God.

The post Awakened appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.