Lyli Dunbar's Blog, page 43

Hide Me

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I need to get outside.

Under the blue sky with the warmth of the sun on my face, I remember that His mercies are new every morning.

As the birds sing a happy tune, I am reminded that I am worth more to God than many sparrows.

Do you need to remember?

Grab a blanket and find a nice quiet spot in the grass.  Lay down and look up at the expanse of the heavens.

Watch the clouds move and feel the wind caress your skin.

Contemplate His sustaining presence, His limitless power, and His abundant provision.

Pray a simple prayer as you reflect on every glorious little detail of His design:

Lord, hide me in the protection of your wings.
~
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 “Hide Me” and joining like-minded sisters at Still Saturday.

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

Your Way

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I like getting my way.

I love eating the last Oreo.  I’ll take the pretty Barbie doll and give you the Ken with the missing head.  I’m calling shotgun forever.

Inside me dwells a 5-year old in pigtails.

I’m cute, and I know it.   I know how to work the room, and I can pitch a fit and turn on the waterworks in five seconds flat.

Why me?  I want it now.  I don’t like veggies.  Mine.  Mine.  Mine.  

I like demanding my way.

Sometimes, my prayers turn to tantrums.  Why me, Lord?  What’s taking so long?  I don’t like this.

To pray big, I must put my big girl pants on, get off my tricycle, and let go of what I’m clenching in my greedy little hands.

We can’t pray effectively until we get in touch with our inner brat.  When we see our own self-will, it opens the door to doing things through God.  Instead of singing Frank Sinatra’s song “My Way,” we enter into God’s story and watch Him do it His way. No one works like Him.

~ Paul E. Miller, A Praying Life (p.161).

Lord, may it be Your way, not mine.
~
Let’s Talk:  Is “My Way” your theme song?  How do we lay our Oreo down?
~
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 “My Way” and joining like-minded sisters at Spiritual Sundays, Faith-Filled Friday, and Blessing Counters.

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

Carry My Load

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I have a huge packing list.

Whenever my man and I decide to get away for a few days, I will ask him to pull down my suitcase.  Before I put my toothbrush and underwear or anything vital in, I take the big stack of books on my nightstand and pile them up in a corner.  Then, I will toss in the essentials on my list.  Before I zip up the bag, if there is any space left, I will grab a few more potential good reads off the shelf and  shove them in.

Basically, my suitcase ends up being two pairs of socks, my floss, and a sizeable portable library.  My sophisticated friends tell me to pack a Kindle instead — it’s light and packs easy.  But, I am old-fashioned.  I love the feel of a pen in my hand as I scour the page.  I am an excessive highlighter.  Underlining is my love language.

You may be thinking:  That is one heavy suitcase, crazy girl.  You are going to get quite a workout.

But that is where you would be wrong.  You see, I have a personal valet.  (He is really good-looking, and I may have a thing for him.  Yes, you guessed correctly.  It’s my husband.)

When it’s time to embark for the journey, I just put on a pair of sunglasses and grab a tall glass of iced tea.

Bruce does all the heavy lifting.  I am completely foot loose and fancy free.

The problem is that I somehow can’t seem to transfer this protocol to my spiritual walk on a consistent basis.

On the journey of life, my luggage is overloaded.  I didn’t exactly place all those things in my bag voluntarily, but they are encased firmly into the suitcase with my name on it.

If I pick up the weight of it, I will be crushed.

I need to remember to leave that burden at the foot of the cross.

God is a power lifter.

Friend, let’s place our baggage at His feet and make a humble request:

Lord, please carry my load.
~
Let’s Talk:  How has God sustained you under the weight of difficult circumstances?  I’d love to hear your story.
~

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 “Carry My Load” and joining like-minded sisters at  #write31days, The Weekend Brew, Spiritual Sundays, Faith-Filled Friday, and Live Free Thursday.

 

~ 
It’s time to link up! 

 

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 Carry My Load appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

The Hard Task

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To pray big, you need a 4th quarter mentality.

You need to keep the goal in mind and recognize that the end is near.  Yes, I am depleted of strength and all banged up, but I must “suck it up.”

Keep pushing forward.  Never give up.

The problem is that some days, I don’t even want to put on the uniform.  I don’t want to walk out on to the field and execute what’s written in the playbook.   I’d rather be on the couch painting my nails.

I don’t like hard things.

Not to mention, it’s incredibly hard to get enthusiastic when you keep getting pushed back every time you step on to the gridiron.

I guess you’ve got to trudge on through the gore to truly appreciate the glory.

Here’s the thing — I’ve got a winning quarterback.  His mighty arm never gets tired.  He runs on to the field waving a victory banner over my life every time.

Even if my scoreboard reads zero at this moment, the clock is not going to run out before my comeback.

I’m on the conquering team.  There is no doubt about it.

Nothing is too hard for my God.  He’ll flatten the opposition every time.

Are you tired of the fight today?  Put on your helmet and pray a simple prayer:

Lord, give me help for the hard task.
~
Let’s Talk:  Have you pressed through the gore to experience the glory?  How did God help you keep pressing forward even though it was hard?
~

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 “The Hard Task” and joining like-minded sisters at Faith-Filled Friday,Tell His Story, Coffee for Your Heart, and Three-Word Wednesday,
 

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

Lay Your Life on the Altar

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I don’t like puzzles.

I learned this when my husband and I were in the dating phase.  I am easily frustrated when I can’t figure out how the pieces fit together.  Plus, my back aches from bending over, and the strain on my eyes from focusing so intently gave me a killer headache.

I give up too easily, I guess.

Ironically, my life lately feels quite a bit like a difficult puzzle.  The blurry, disjointed splotches of uneven experiences don’t make any sense to me.

I can’t see how everything fits together, and my mind’s eye cannot picture any beauty emerging.

If I try to force the pieces together, I end up confused and frustrated.

So, like a child who needs help from her Daddy, I pick up my broken pieces and hand them up to the Lord for His help.

Father, thank You for this relationship.  Help me figure out how you designed me to fit in this space. 

I praise You for this season in my life, Lord.  Though the way is unclear, I know that You have a design and a purpose for every experience. 

If I hold on to my pieces with tight fists like a petulant child, I may never see God’s true design for the splashes of color in my view.

Only God makes beauty out of my brokenness.

Lord, I offer You all the pieces of my life.
~

Tonight on Periscope, I shared some #PrayBig inspiration on surrender.

 

 ~
Q4U:  What broken pieces do you need to lay down on an altar aflame?
~
For Further Contemplation:

I Surrender

Lay Me Down

Here I am to Worship

On Surrender

~

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 “Lay Your Life on the Altar” and joining like-minded sisters at Faith-Filled Friday, The Soli Deo Sisterhood, Testimony Tuesday, Purposeful Faith’s RaRaLinkup, and Rich-Faith Rising.
 

The post Lay Your Life on the Altar appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

Into Your Presence

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Maybe God thinks I’m a cry baby.

My mountain is more than I can handle.  I can’t see past it.  I can’t bear the weight of it.

My mountain is frightening and dark and seemingly impenetrable.

I am helpless and weak in its shadow.

Yet, I pretend that I can handle it.  I tell myself to be brave.

Never let them see you cry.

I trudge on like a four-year-old wearing a red terry cloth cape tied around my neck.

I scheme a sure-fire plan to take that mountain down.  I walk around in circles and make plenty of noise.

I always end up flat on my face, bruised and brokenhearted.

I cry.  Defeated, I cry hard and heavy till I can’t breathe.

I cry out to my Abba Father.

His response to my cry is always tender:

He hears my voice.  (II Samuel 22:7)
He turns to me.  (Psalms 40:1)
He takes note of my distress.  (Psalms 106:14)
He is attentive.  His eyes are on me.  (Psalms 34:15)
He hears me and accepts my prayer.  (Psalms 6:9)
He hears my desires and encourages me.  (Psalms 10:17)
He gives me understanding.  (Psalms 119:169)
He comes to my relief.  (Psalms 143:1)
He extends mercy to me.  (Psalms 142:1)
He saves me.  (Psalms 88:1)
He rescues me from those who pursue me.  (Psalms 142:6)
He delivers me from trouble.  (Psalms 34:17)
He vindicates me.  (Psalms 57:2)
He brings about justice for me.  (Luke 18:7)
He fulfills my desires.  (Psalms 145:19)
He is my Refuge, my Portion in the land of the living.  (Psalms 142:5

He knows I’m a big cry baby, and He loves me anyway.

He delights in receiving and responding to His snotty-nosed children.

Cry out to Him today.  Lift up your arms in surrender.  Trust that Your Abba Father will envelop you in His care and comfort.

Lord, let my cry come right into Your presence.
~
Let’s Talk:  Do you try to put on a brave front before God, or are you more of a Cry Baby?
~

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 “Into Your Presence” and joining like-minded sisters at Faith-Filled Friday, Sharing His Beauty, and Playdates with God.

The post Into Your Presence appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

Tear Down the Walls

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Lately, I sing my prayers.

Let me explain.  I am not a song writer.  I don’t know how to play the guitar or create melodies.  I just love to sing along with the radio in my car.

As I belt out the words, God tunes my heart to sing His grace.  He quietly reminds my heart what is true and re-aligns my perspective.

Are you feeling stuck in your prayer life?  Maybe you need a change in atmosphere.  Grab your headphones and head outside.  Set aside an hour to worship and pray.

Let the lyrics enliven your spirit as you exalt His name.

 

He reigns over all.  All creation sings praise. 

 

 

Spirit come and change the atmosphere

Convict and open hearts here

The anthems that the angels sing

The worship of the King of kings

For Jesus reigns

Over all He reigns

We Exalt Your Name

High above the heavens

We Exalt Your Name

All of creation sings praise

Your presence fills and satisfies

Tears down the walls we hide behind

Oh, God of every aching heart

We long for You in light and dark

Lord, tear down the walls.
Rise up in all Your power.

~
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 “Tear Down the Walls” and joining like-minded sisters at Give Me Grace.

The post Tear Down the Walls appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

Show Me How You Work

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Do you ever think that maybe you are getting it all wrong?  Sometimes, I question my prayer competency.   I imagine that there’s some mystical algebraic prayer equation written in invisible ink that’s way beyond my understanding.  Maybe my mountain never crumbles because I am “asking amiss.”

I fumble to figure it out every morning.  Maybe if I were more eloquent, my prayers would be more effective.  Maybe if my thoughts were less scattered, my prayers would stop hitting the ceiling.

How do I stay focused and fervent day after day?  How do I keep asking for the same thing without sounding like a broken record?

I won’t find the answer by making more noise.  The Lord speaks in a still small voice.

I must unplug from the social media static and sit quietly at His feet.

This weekend, let’s slow down and open up the Word of Life.  Imagine that you are the psalmist and overlay the sacred script on your weary soul.  Let each phrase linger on your tongue as a personal plea.  Put pen to paper as you contemplate His divine nature full of goodness and glory.  In the quiet of your heart, whisper one request:

Lord, show me how You work.  School me in Your ways.
~
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 “Show Me How You Work” and joining like-minded sisters at Still Saturday.

The post Show Me How You Work appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

Stay Planted in Faith

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Here’s the thing:  I live in an upside-down society corrupted by cynicism.

I live in a world where Brad leaves Jennifer, and my co-worker ends up a single mom with too many bills to pay because her husband bails out.

I live in a world where Milli Vanilli lip syncs, and my insurance company declines my claim for no good reason.

I live in a world where Nixon says he is not a crook, and my pastor resigns due to “moral failure.”

I live in world where a beautiful baby is a fetus with no rights and the sacred covenant of marriage is “redefined.”

I live in a world where praying to Jesus in the public square is considered offensive and where the People of the Cross are massacred.

I see darkness when I turn on the news.  I’ve experience heart-wrenching personal disappointment.

It’s easy to understand why I face my mountains with a touch of cynicism.

I’ve become somewhat anesthetized.  I’ve developed a thicker skin.

In the quiet of my heart, sometimes it’s hard to believe.  I know that God is able to do anything, but I wonder if He really will.

So instead of praying, I take a nap to forget.  I go to Starbucks to drown out my sorrows.  I watch a Netflix movie to keep myself distracted.

I am resigned instead of resolved.

I forget that I follow a resurrected Savior who conquered death itself to deliver me from the darkness.

I forget that my Father owns it all.  He has the whole world in His hands.

I forget that God is still in the business of dismantling strongholds and setting captives free.

I fail to recognize His care.

To pray big, I must dispel doubt every day.  This begins by looking to the One who is the Author and Perfecter of my faith.  As a wise reader suggested yesterday, I must get on my knees and put God in front of the dark mountain.

I don’t want to live like the whiny Israelites who complained about leaving behind the quail in Egypt and failed to appreciate the manna in their midst.

God has never failed to meet my every need.

Like the hymn writer of old, I must count my many blessings and name them one by one, remembering that the Apostle Paul encourages us to make our requests known with a heart of thanksgiving.

Cynicism looks reality in the face, calls it a phony, and prides itself on its insight as it pulls back.  Thanksgiving looks reality in the face and rejoices at God’s care.  ~ Paul E. Miller, A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World, p. 90

Lord, plant faith in me
that won’t be uprooted by doubt.
~
“You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them.
“I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed,
you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’
and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” 
Matthew 17:20, NLT

 ~
 Therefore, let us offer through Jesus
a continual sacrifice of praise to God,
proclaiming our allegiance to His name.
Hebrews 13:15, NLT

~
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,
continue to live your lives in Him,
rooted and built up in Him,
strengthened in the faith as you were taught,
and overflowing with thankfulness.
See to it that no one takes you captive
through hollow and deceptive philosophy,
which depends on human tradition
and the elemental spiritual forces of this world
rather than on Christ.
Colossians 2:6-8, NIV
  ~
Let’s Talk:  How do you combat cynicism in your prayer life?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am sharing “Stay Planted in Faith” and joining like-minded sisters at Spiritual Sundays, Faith-Filled Friday, and Blessing Counters.

The post Stay Planted in Faith appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

Keep Fighting the Good Fight

 

 

Every morning, I wake up and lift my heart to God in prayer.

I praise Him for His glory and goodness.

I surrender my agenda and expectations to His greater kingdom purposes.

I yield my desires to do His will.

And, then I ask for Him to move a mountain.

I cry out to Him for that mountain to crumble.

I believe that God is bigger than any obstacle or stronghold.

Yet, my mountain remains — immovable and unyielding.

Do you have a mountain?   I bet you do.

Like me, you may be discouraged by the darkness that looms large in your view.

You aren’t alone.

If we sat down today in my kitchen and shared our stories, I bet we would see similarities.

That’s exactly what happened to my husband and I just a few weeks ago.  Our friend Mikey and his bride Sherree invited themselves over and stepped into our valley.  They sat down and listened to the nitty-gritty, and they didn’t try to fix us.  They didn’t pretend that they had it all together, either.  They shared their own messy mountain tale, and then we decided to invite someone else into the conversation.

Four hearts bowed together in front of an altar aflame.

Together, we asked God to move two mountains.

With worshipful hearts, we cried out to Him for those mountains to crumble.

We prayed big.

+++

In the Old Testament when David faced defeat and discouragement, he continually lifted up empty hands to heaven and cried out for mercy.

Why do we think that we can’t do the same?  God delights when we confess our need for Him.   He sees your trembling heart full of love that is holding fast to His promises.

He sees you.

Your prayers are a sweet aroma of sacrifice that rises straight to the heart of the King of Kings.

One glorious day, He will thunder down and crumble your mountain.

Join me as we #PrayBig for the next 31 days.

May my prayer be set before You like incense;

may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.  Psalms 141:2

++

Day One:  Keep Fighting the Good Fight
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The left lane was blocked off due to construction.

Time was ticking away, and all I could see in front of me was congestion.  I needed to move faster.

Lord, it’s Monday, and I am late.  Could you please make this a little easier.  

I decided to take another route — in hopes of making up time.

Two turns later, I smacked right into a snarl-up.  Obviously, my plans for the day had just gone up in smoke.

The vehicle inched along at an infuriatingly slow pace.  Move forward two feet.  Stop.  Crawl ahead a pace.  Slow down.  Push ahead a piece.  Slam on the brakes.

At the light, I reached for my phone to make the me culpa “I am going to be late” call and realized my fancy dancy cell phone had  lunged forward off the passenger’s seat and landed on the farthest corner of the floor mat.

I unhooked my seat belt and extended my body across the length of the car.  No matter how much a strained ahead, my fingertips could not reach that phone.

Oh well, I’ll grab it when I get there.  

I drove on disconnected and discontent.

I flipped on the radio, and soon the terrible traffic lulled me into a stupor.    I am not sure how long I drove on lost in my thoughts until it hit.

A loud wailing sound emanated from floor.

Waank.  Waank.  Waank.  Waank.

My cell phone alarm was mocking me.  The noise was loud enough to wake the dead.

Waank.  Waank.

I drove on in desperation.  Lord, make the blaring buzz stop.  

Waank.  Waank.

Should I turn off the radio?   I left it on to help take the edge off the pain.

The next song started, and I heard a familiar melody that made me smile.

I know I’m not strong enough to be

Everything that I’m supposed to be.

I give up.

I’m not strong enough.

Hands of mercy won’t you cover me.

Lord, right now I’m asking you to be

Strong enough,

Strong enough

For the both of us.

Ain’t that the truth? I thought.  I am not strong enough to do Mondays without God.  I am not strong enough to face these mountains without His hands of mercy covering me.

Right there in my car with the iphone alarm waanking away, I surrendered my Mondays and my mountains to my God.

That’s when the radio DJ decided to play the next song.

Even in the road blocks,

Even through the rough spots,

When you’re feeling you’ve given all that you’ve got,

I’m with you in the next step

Giving you in the next breath.

I’ll be the voice saying: “You’re gonna make it.”

When you’re out there on your own,

You are never alone.

Keep fighting the good fight.

Keep letting your light shine

‘Cause I’m never gonna leave you,

Always gonna see you through to the other side.

Keep fighting the good fight.

I started singing along.  My soul woke up, and I remembered the One who fights my battles for me.

You see, the enemy of my soul is sounding a loud alarm that says I am defeated.  He seeks to discourage me and deplete me of faith.  He wails and waanks and makes plenty of noise.  He throws roadblocks in my plans and strives to disconnect me from my supernatural Source of strength.

To pray big, I must let go of my time-table and my well-laid plans.   I must surrender the steering wheel to the Omnipotent One.   I must inch forward joyfully through the congestion and believe that despite all the noise in my life He is going to make a way.  He must lead, and I must continue to fight the good fight even if the way seems unclear.  My job is to stay faithful to the course.

Lord, help me to keep fighting the good fight.
Something to think about…

 

++

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 “Pray Big” and joining like-minded sisters at  #write31days, The Weekend Brew, Spiritual Sundays, Faith-Filled Friday, and Thriving Thursday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
It’s time to link up! 

 

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 Keep Fighting the Good Fight appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.