Lyli Dunbar's Blog, page 44
September 26, 2015
Drink Deeply
I’m sharing “Drink Deeply” and joining like-minded sisters at Still Saturday and Give Me Grace.
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The post Drink Deeply appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.
September 24, 2015
Lessons Learned in 3-D: Less is More
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It’s almost October. Wow! Wasn’t it just March yesterday? This year is flying by, and Fall has sneaked up on me.
I bet you I am going to blink a couple of times, and it will be 2016 just like that. So, before this year slips away, I am going to share a few tidbits that I’ve learned lately.
Lessons Learned in September:
Friends who give sweet gifts are like sunshine on a rainy day. My friend Nina painted this beautiful butterfly for me.
In honor of the upcoming new Peanuts movie, and you can “Peanutize” yourself and create a mini-me cartoon version of yourself by going here. (Don’t you love my pigtails?)
If you read this blog, you know that I am a huge book nerd. In October, (in)courage is hosting a Fall Book Club, and we are going to read Emily Freeman’s new book Simply Tuesday. Yay!
My hubby mentioned that he loved the American Gothic painting and suggested maybe we could find an artist who would paint us into the picture to display on the wall in our new home. I did a quick Google search and learned that art is very expensive. Instead of pulling out my wallet, I headed over to PicMonkey and decided to take a stab at it. This is when I realized that I may need group therapy for PicMonkey addiction.
For my fellow Bible study nerds, I just discovered that all of Warren Wiersbe’s “BE series” commentaries are on sale at CBD in 6 volumes (all 66 books of the Bible) for an outrageously low price. Run here to buy (I am not making any money off of this one.)
Periscope is the new thing. I got wooed onto this Live Video Streaming app by Crystal Stine as part of the 31dayers group, and she “almost persuadeth” me to do a scope myself. I might take the plunge in October as part of my 31 day series. Maybe. [Insert scream of fear here] You have to download the app to watch live. Follow me by looking up Lyli Dunbar or my twitter username @3dlessons4life. And in case you are wondering what I could possibly write about for 31 days, here is the big reveal:
Forget the selfie stick. That’s so yesterday. Crystal’s Periscope pointed me toward a bluetooth remote that is the awesome sauce. Here Bruce and I are testing it out. I said, “Let’s test the new camera remote, baby. Smile.”
Blab is the next new thing. This live video streaming format allows you to chat with 3 friends at the same time. (It’s kind of like watching an episode of the Brady Bunch squares.) I got wooed on there by Laura Krokos and will be chatting live with her, Joy Rudolph, and Jacque Kosmicki on Monday at 4 PM EST on the subject of “Living Missionally in Everyday Life.” You can join us and subscribe here. There is a Blab app, but it’s still in Beta form. The website is actually a bit more user friendly, in my opinion. You can follow me on blab here.
Podcasts are fun! My friends Holly Barrett and Diane Bailey invited me to join them for the new Consilium Podcast. The Consilium is great community for women over age 45. To listen to my interview, head on over here. You can also join the Facebook group and make lots of great friends.
Less is more. This month, my man and I have decided to slow down. We are saying no to busy and loud, and we are discovering that there is more intimacy with Jesus and with each other to be found in the quiet. A little unplugging is good for the soul.
Q4U: What did you learn this month?
I am sharing “Lessons Learned in 3D: Less is More” and joining like-minded sisters at Chatting at the Sky, The Weekend Brew, Spiritual Sundays, Faith-Filled Friday, Blessing Counters, Live Free Thursday, Tell His Story, Coffee for Your Heart, Woman to Woman Wednesday, Three-Word Wednesday, The Soli Deo Sisterhood, Testimony Tuesday, Purposeful Faith’s RaRaLinkup, Rich-Faith Rising, Sharing His Beauty, and Playdates with God.
The post Lessons Learned in 3-D: Less is More appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.
September 23, 2015
Welcome One Another
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I was ugly and dirty and covered in sin, and He welcomed me.
I was prickly and prideful. I was selfish and sour. Yet, He welcomed me with open arms.
I had nothing to offer. I came empty handed.
My life was upside-down, and my heart was hard.
I didn’t deserve His attention. But, He pursued me with kindness and love.
He invited me in and enveloped me in compassionate grace.
Now, He calls on me to extend His love to others.
He wants me to love the grime covered and sinful.
He asks me to reach out to the arrogant and the difficult.
I am not to demand. I am only to give it all away.
My life is a welcome mat that points to safe refuge, a soft place to land where Light dispels the darkness.
Open heart. Open hands.
Welcome one and all.
Something to think about…
I’m sharing “Welcome One Another” 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 Welcome One Another appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.
September 18, 2015
The Talk of the Town
I’m sharing “The Talk of the Town” and joining like-minded sisters at Still Saturday and Give Me Grace.
Photo Credit: Giana Pralea, via Pixabay
The post The Talk of the Town appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.
September 16, 2015
Love On
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I turned my car onto the main drive this morning and discovered crazy congestion. Yuck! Where did all these cars come from anyway? Obviously, some unseen obstruction was preventing my safe passage.
I texted my husband to warn him about the pile up, and then I braced myself for the slow drip of traffic to inch its way forward at a snail’s pace.
Thankfully, most of the mash up was heading toward me instead of beside me.
Suddenly, a path cleared in the middle of the road, and I lunged my car toward the liberating space in hopes of making it to work on time.
I was soon zipping along on the turnpike. My mind checked out, and a mental fog descended. I think my vehicle must have driven itself to work.
Am I the only one this happens to?
My mind is congested most mornings. I can’t seem to get past the big boulders that are crowding my thinking and limiting my unobstructed view of God’s work in my life.
Life drags slowly forward at an almost imperceptible pace.
Will I ever reach the spacious place where I freely fly with no resistance?
Somtimes, I wonder if it’s possible. But, then I forget that God specializes in the impossible.
As I sat in my car this morning, weighted down by the bone-weary heaviness of carrying life’s baggage, a song on the radio woke me up and put the zip back into my soul.
Well, you can’t see the wind, but it moves the leaves
From the bottom to the top of the tallest trees
You are everything I will ever need
And they can’t take that from me
Oh, I feel it in my heart
I feel it in my soul
That’s how I know
You take our brokenness and make us beautiful
Yeah, that’s how I know
Suddenly, my heart felt alive. And that’s when I looked up and noticed the gray Honda minivan in front of me. The license place was declaring the driver’s singular mission in life:
Love On
I had to smile. Only God sends me a love note on a license plate.
Love creates the space
that helps me to move forward
into freedom and victory.
For Further Contemplation:
21 Words on Loving a Tough Cookie
Something to think about…
I’m sharing “Love On” 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 Love On appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.
September 12, 2015
Shout
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I’m sharing “Shout” and joining like-minded sisters at Still Saturday and Give Me Grace.
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The post Shout appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.
September 9, 2015
Beautifully Broken
Photo Credit: FreeImages.com/Bob Smith
My heart shattered into a million little pieces.
Boom. Rejection. Thump. Misunderstanding. Whack. Betrayal. Zap. Abandonment.
With every lacerating blow, my outer shell cracked and crumbled until I was fully fractured.
Alone and completely incapacitated, I crawled to the altar of surrender and laid my brokenness at His feet.
I am Yours. Have Your way in me.
Slowly, He picked up the pieces and created a mosaic of grace.
I am a beautifully broken masterpiece.
Photo Credit
Something to think about…
I’m sharing “Beautifully Broken” 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 Beautifully Broken appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.
September 8, 2015
Shine On
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I was at the DMV when I realized times had changed. I could not make out the teeny tiny letters on the bottom line of the eye exam chart. I’d always had perfect vision, so I grumbled quite a bit when my husband drove me to the optometrist office a few weeks later.
The young eye doctor dilated my pupils and crouched down to take a deep look into the back of my eye. “Are you experiencing any headaches?” she asked.
She seemed surprised when I said no. Then, she left the room, and another doctor with gray hair and more years of experience marched in with a concerned look on his face. He picked up a lens, shined a bright light right at my baby blues, and spent what seemed like an eternity making an assessment.
“Are you experiencing any headaches?” he asked. Apparently, my super-sized optic nerve was waving a big red flag of alarm…
I’m sharing “Shine On” over at The Consilium today.
To read the rest of this post, join me here.
The post Shine On appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.
September 4, 2015
A Well-Watered Place
I’m sharing “A Well-watered Place” and joining like-minded sisters at Still Saturday and Give Me Grace.
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The post A Well-Watered Place appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.
September 2, 2015
Dance in the Rain
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We spent 4 glorious days at the beach. Erika had decided to stay away, rather than raining on our parade. We’d elected to be dangerous and unplug from responsibility while all our friends ran to the grocery store for batteries and bottled water. Instead of preparing, we’d lounged in comfy chairs under a fancy umbrella.
Our “re-entry to reality” came on the drive home. Even though the hurricane had dissipated, the strong wind and heavy rain still battered the terrain. We saw large branches in the road and lots of debris in people’s front yards.
“Storms really clean things up,” commented my man as we surveyed the damage.
Ain’t that the truth? I thought.
We’ve faced quite a downpour in our six years of marriage. Relentless squalls have “cleaned me up” plenty.
I’m less selfish, more forbearing, and quicker to forgive.
Storm gusts have washed away the grime and left lots of grit.
I want to be that girl who puts on her dancing shoes when the blast blows in rather than drowning in a puddle of tears.
One storm at a time, my steps go stronger.
Something to think about…
I’m sharing “Dance in the Rain” 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 Dance in the Rain appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.
