Lyli Dunbar's Blog, page 51

Drink Deep

I’m sharing “Drink Deep” and joining like-minded sisters at Still Saturday and Give Me Grace.

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

Lessons Learned in 3-D: The Marriage Journey

 

Five years and eight months ago, I embarked on a new journey as a married woman.   When Bruce and I met, I was over 40 and had lived alone for close to two decades.

As a married woman, I’ve learned to yield, to slow down, to ask for direction, and to let go of my frantic grip of the steering wheel.

On the highway of life, detours and potholes abound.  But the road is sweeter when you have someone who calls “shotgun” and wants to take in the sites with you and tag along for the ride.

I don’t regret one minute of this adventure.

This week, I came across some really helpful marital “travel advisories,” and I wanted to share them with you.

Lessons Learned on the Marriage Journey:

I should be my hubby’s biggest fan.  (Loved how Dedre explained this concept.)
Prayer is essential in a marriage.  Darlene understands this, and she’s created a beautiful space that provides daily inspiration.  I signed up for her daily marriage prayer e-mails, and now each day, my inbox helps me pray for my husband in a fresh way.
I shared this beautiful story of a seasoned marriage with my husband.   Jennifer encouraged me to “find joy in the gritty.”
Laughter can “take two angry spirits and mend a fence.”  (Thank you Sara Ann for sharing that sweet tidbit in your  “7 Habits of a Healthy Marriage.”
September reminded me that it’s not a wife’s job to “keep him in drive” in her vulnerable post “Your Husband Needs a Wife, Not a Mother.”  (This one was right on time for me!)

 

Q4U:   Do you have wisdom to share with me from your marriage journey?

 

I’m sharing “The Marriage Journey” and joining like-minded sisters at Faith-Filled Friday, Friendship Friday, The Weekend Brew, Renewed Daily, and Spiritual Sundays.

The post Lessons Learned in 3-D: The Marriage Journey appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

Are You Ignitable?

Photo Credit: Alexander Stein, via Pixabay

“He makes His ministers a flame of fire.  Am I ignitable?

God deliver me from the dread asbestos of ‘other things.’

Saturate me with the oil of the Spirit that I may be a flame.

But flame is transient, often short-lived.

Canst thou bear this, my soul – short life?

In me there dwells the Spirit of the Great Short-Lived,

whose zeal for God’s house consumed Him.

‘Make me Thy Fuel, Flame of God.’”

–Jim Elliot as quoted in The Shadow of the Almighty

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Make Me Thy Fuel

From prayer that asks that I may be

Sheltered from winds that beat on Thee,

From fearing when I should aspire,

From faltering when I should climb higher,

From silken self, O Captain, free

Thy soldier who would follow Thee.

From subtle love of softening things,

From easy choices, weakenings,

Not thus are spirits fortified,

Not this way went the Crucified,

From all that dims Thy Calvary,

O Lamb of God, deliver me.

Give me the love that leads the way,

The faith that nothing can dismay,

The hope no disappointments tire,

The passion that will burn like fire,

Let me not sink to be a clod:

Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God.

–Amy Carmichael from Toward Jersualem

Something to think about…

 

 

I’m sharing “Are You Ignitable?” 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 Are You Ignitable? appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

Into the Deep

Photo Credit: Jimmy Dominico, via Pixabay

 

I learned to swim when I was 10.

I had begged my parents for the lessons for weeks.  Mom researched summer programs and found one that worked with her schedule.  So one fateful July afternoon, she took me to the YMCA for lesson number one, and I enthusiastically jumped into the pool like a trooper.

The first thing the instructor asked me to do was to stick my head under the water.

I wanted to get out of the pool immediately.

Why couldn’t I learn to swim without going below the surface?  I mean, I could easily stroke without ever plunging into the watery abyss.

The instructor was kind, but firmly resolute.

If i wanted to learn to swim, I must conquer my fear of the unknown.

I’ve thought about those swimming lessons quite a bit lately because I want to go deeper with my God.

Actually, a few times, He has just thrown me right into the waves.

Life can crash into you, and if you haven’t conquered your fear of the unknown, you might flounder rather than float.

I’ve also come to see that there is great beauty to be found in the deepest and darkest of waters.

Do you want to go into the deep?

His sovereign hand will be your guide.

Just jump in and meet Him there.

Lord, I want to go deeper.

 

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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 “Lift Me Up” and joining like-minded sisters at Recommendation Saturday, 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 Into the Deep appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

Homemaking

I’m sharing “Homemaking” and joining like-minded sisters at Still Saturday and Give Me Grace.
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Lessons Learned in 3-D: Time Wasters

Right now, I am reading two books that both encouraged me to track how I am using my time.  I’ve done this activity before — in fact, I used to teach a college orientation class where this was one of the assignments.  However, that was BEFORE I got married.

So, this week, I decided to just sit down and think about where my time was going — I didn’t actually track it literally.  I just wrote down the number 24, and then started subtracting.  24 minus 7 hours of sleep is 17.  Seventeen hours minus 2 hours of getting ready in the morning and having my quiet time leaves me 15.  Fifteen minus 9 hours of work and drive time chops me down to 6.  Sixteen minus 2 hours of dinner prep and clean up will provide another 4 hours.

I have no idea where those 4 hours went.

I have spent the week looking for them.

Apparently, I am wasting a whole lot of time on nothing when I could be doing something.

I’ve decided I want my 4 hours back — or maybe if I could just squeeze out 2 hours, I will be more fruitful and effective.

That is one lesson I learned this week.

I haven’t had time to do a post like this one for a while (apparently because I was playing Words with Friends!), so this week, I am determined to change that.

5 Lessons Learned about Using Time Wisely

I am called to “keep company with God while I wait for seeds to grow.”  Love this post and prayer from Emily.
I must “invest in my mental status” in the morning because it’s not wise to “roll out of bed and into a meeting.”  (Love the practical ideas shared in this video.)
When my planning goes awry, my day is never wasted.  I must remember that God uses it all, and I am “clay in His hands.”  (Thank you, Joanne.  I needed this reminder.)
Jenny reminded me that I need to slow down and notice the gifts of beauty that God bestows on me each day.
My days are numbered.  Am I counting?  This verse suggests that I should:

 

Q4U:  What did you learn this week?

I am sharing “Time Wasters” and joining like-minded sisters at Friendship Friday, Faith-Filled Friday, The Soli Deo Sisterhood, Sharing His Beauty, and Playdates with God.

The post Lessons Learned in 3-D: Time Wasters appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

Perspective is Everything

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I often need a change in perspective.

My vision is clouded by my prejudice, by my selfishness, by my arrogance.

I see what I want to see sometimes.

That’s why I make weekly visits to a place where my perspective is challenged  and clarified.

Just this past week, I adjusted my view when I heard this analogy:

Do you view the church as a cruise ship…
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or do you understand it’s a battleship?
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Something to think about…

 

 

I’m sharing “Perspective is 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 Perspective is Everything appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

On My Heart

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I thought from time to time it might be nice to give you a peek at what’s tugging at my heart strings.

Right now I am…

Watching: I am a bit obsessed with the show Fixer Upper.  My husband keeps getting Joanna Gaines and her goofy hubby, Chip confused with the Hatmakers (who are on my second favorite HGTV show).

Reading: I am plowing through The Fringe Hours by Jessica Turner with the girls over at (in)courage’s Bloom Book Club.    This book has made me feel less guilty about my dirty dishes and my laundry pile by affirming that taking time out for “Me” is not selfish, but smart.

Listening:  My new morning routine is to start the day with this song by Jen Stanbro.  It’s a prayer that rises up in my soul.

Making: This recipe for Enchiladas is easy peasy and is always a hit at my house.

Feeling:  Tired. Grieving is incredibly exhausting.  This week, we laid to rest my beloved Madrina.  Here is a picture of us (circa 1970).

Planning:  I am going to leading an 8-week Love God Greatly study for women starting March 23rd.  Members must be subscribed to the LGG blog, and we will be meeting in a private Facebook group to share our insights on a few verses each week day.  I have room for 7 more in my group.  If you are interested in joining, let me know in the comments.

Loving:  I am in mad love with Panera’s hot chocolate (Don’t tell Bruce…)

Q4U: What’s on your heart right now?

I am sharing “On My Heart” and joining like-minded sisters at The Weekend Brew, Spiritual Sundays, Faith-Filled Friday, Blessing Counters, Live Free Thursday, Thriving 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 On My Heart appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

Redeemed

 

 

I’m sharing “Redeemed” and joining like-minded sisters at Still Saturday and Give Me Grace.
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The post Redeemed appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

A Teachable Spirit

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Teachable people have an attitude conducive to Learning.

Teachable people possess a beginner’s mindset.

Teachable people take long, hard looks in the mirror.

Teachable people encourage others to speak into their lives.

Teachable people learn something new every day.

— John Maxwell (as quoted on a sign posted on the COO’s office door.)

How teachable are you?
Something to think about…

 

 

I’m sharing “A Teachable Spirit” 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 A Teachable Spirit appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.