Lyli Dunbar's Blog, page 57

Hold Fast in Hard Times — Focus on Finishing (Day 29)

Photo Credit: Eran Becker, via Free Images

 

I saw a plaque today that made me laugh so hard.  It reminded me of my days in the trenches as a high school English teacher.  It read:

Today I will be happier than a teacher on a snow day.

Teaching adolescents is a beautiful and brutal experience.  It was super fun to start the school year with new school supplies and creative strategies for engaging my minions.  But, right around March, we entered a season of schooling that I liked to call “Hell.”  After Spring Break, the kids grew weary of learning and made me wish I was elsewhere — like on the beach with a good book and a cool glass of iced tea.

The temptation to give up and not put my best foot forward during that last inning of the game was strong.  Rather than corral the restless pupils, some teachers chose to “phone it in” and spent a lot of time popping videos into the DVD player to try to hypnotize their students into silence.

I decided to go down fighting.  I blame Dr. Yarusinsky for this.  My college professor had ingrained in me the importance of making every minute of the classroom experience a valuable one.  He’d told me that if I wasted 5 minutes of classroom time each day, by the end of the year, I would have lost 2 weeks of teaching time.

Not on my watch.

I determined to finish well — even if it killed me.

Holding fast in hard times will require you to swim against the tide of indifference and apathy.  When everyone around you has “checked out,” you must push forward with passion.

I think of Jesus.   He was misunderstood, betrayed, abandoned, and beaten.

My Savior kept His eye on the finish line.

Are you battle weary and losing steam right now?  Look to your Redeemer and remember why you started the race in the first place.

 

Keep your eyes on Jesus,

who both began and finished this race we’re in.

Study how He did it.

Because He never lost sight of where He was headed—

that exhilarating finish in and with God—

He could put up with anything along the way:

Cross, shame, whatever.

And now He’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.

When you find yourselves flagging in your faith,

go over that story again, item by item,

that long litany of hostility He plowed through.

That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

Hebrews 12:3-4, MSG

I’m joining The Nester and friends for #write31days and sharing “Focus on Finishing” with like-minded sisters at Coffee for Your Heart, Tell His Story, Spiritual Sundays, Recommendation Saturday, Faith-Filled Friday, Essential Fridays, and Thriving Thursday.
To see all of the posts in this series, head on over here.

The post Hold Fast in Hard Times — Focus on Finishing (Day 29) appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

Hold Fast in Hard Times — Stick Together (Day 28)

This week I was reminded that Superheroes always seem to have a sidekick.  I can’t imagine Batman heading to the Batcave without Robin at his side.

We aren’t meant to do life alone.

Jonathan had an armor bearer.  David waged war with his group of mighty men.

If the Lone Ranger had Tonto, and my Savior had a posse of twelve, why do I think that I am better off facing the fire alone?

Are you facing a giant obstacle right now? In the video below, I share an encouraging word about how mountains are easier to scale if we stick together.

Help each other to stand firm in the faith every day,

while it is still called “today”,

and beware that none of you becomes deaf and blind to God

through the delusive glamour of sin.

For we continue to share in all that Christ has for us

so long as we steadily maintain until the end the trust with which we began.

Hebrews 3:13-14, PHI

I’m sharing “Stick Together” joining The Nester and friends for #write31days and linking up with like-minded sisters at The SDG Gathering, Testimony Tuesday, and Rich-Faith Rising.
To see all of the posts in this series, head on over here.

The post Hold Fast in Hard Times — Stick Together (Day 28) appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

Hold Fast in Hard Times — Pinky Promise (Day 27)

The girls came over tonight.  We celebrated big with chips and dip, Emily’s delicious pumpkin squash soup, and a salad bar extravaganza.  We sat out back and let the cool breeze wash over us.   One by one, we shared our stories.

The greatest gift you can give a friend is to listen without judgment.

At the end of the evening, we sang happy birthday and cut the decadent chocolate ganache cake in 5 pieces.  The birthday girl got a little emotional as she opened her presents and read her cards.

She thanked us for being “real” as we pulled down the crafty banner with her name on it.  She took it home as a souvenir.

After the kitchen was cleaned up, I wrapped up my evening by sitting cozy on the couch with my man.  We held hands and enjoyed each other’s company after a crazy busy weekend.

I am loved well by so many.  I am thankful.

Good friends help you get through hard times.  They make you laugh, and they tell you the truth.  Good friends fight for you on their knees and show up with casseroles when you are hurting.

Good friends pinky promise to keep your secrets and celebrate your successes.

The “bestest” of my friends actually laid down His life to buy me back from death.  He’s fully present in my life — never leaving or forsaking me.  He delights in me and counts my tears in a bottle.

His banner over me is love.

His promises hold truer than all pinky promises.

  When God made His promise to Abraham, He backed it to the hilt,

putting His own reputation on the line. He said,

“I promise that I’ll bless you with everything I have—bless and bless and bless!”

Abraham stuck it out and got everything that had been promised to him.

When people make promises, they guarantee them by appeal to some authority

above them so that if there is any question that they’ll make good on the promise,

the authority will back them up.

When God wanted to guarantee His promises,

He gave his word, a rock-solid guarantee—God can’t break His word.

And because His word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable.

Hebrews 6:13-18, MSG

 

I’m sharing “Pinky Promise” joining The Nester and friends for #write31days and linking up with like-minded sisters at Sharing His Beauty, Playdates with God, and Unforced Rhythms.
To see all of the posts in this series, head on over here.

The post Hold Fast in Hard Times — Pinky Promise (Day 27) appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

Hold Fast in Hard Times — Only One (Day 26)

He sees you.

You’re His favorite.

You are never alone.

Here’s an anthem to encourage your spirit on this Sabbath.

 

 

Remember He holds you up.

I’m sharing “Only One” joining The Nester and friends for #write31days and joining like-minded sisters at Still Saturday and Give Me Grace.
To see all of the posts in this series, head on over here.

 

The post Hold Fast in Hard Times — Only One (Day 26) appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

Hold Fast in Hard Times — Watch Your Step (Day 25)

 

I’m sharing “Watch Your Step” joining The Nester and friends for #write31days and joining like-minded sisters at Still Saturday and Give Me Grace.
To see all of the posts in this series, head on over here.

The post Hold Fast in Hard Times — Watch Your Step (Day 25) appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

Hold Fast in Hard Times — Plug Along (Day 24)

Keep plugging along with your eye on the prize.

 

I’m joining The Nester and friends for #write31days and sharing “Plug Along” with like-minded sisters at The Weekend Brew.
To see all of the posts in this series, head on over here

The post Hold Fast in Hard Times — Plug Along (Day 24) appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

Hold Fast in Hard Times — Be Brave (Day 23)

I fall frequently.  You see, I walk with the assistance of a prosthetic leg.  Some days, I feel a bit like the Bionic Woman who could leap over tall buildings, but on other days, I relate strongly to that woman in the 80’s commercial who said, “Help, I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up.”

I’ve had to accept that I have limitations.  This is not so terrible when I get the parking space up front at the mall, but it’s no fun when I can’t go roller skating with my friends.  (I will roller skate in heaven).

When my husband and I were dating, one of our first “outings” was to the Museum of Science.  I honestly don’t remember much from that day — I walked around and pretended to be interested in the exhibits because my husband is a science geek.  As long as he was holding my hand, I was happy.

The most memorable part of the day was when he saved my life.

The museum is a two-story building, so after we wandered around and ran out of places to explore, we decided to head back downstairs to the front exit.  So, we climbed on to the escalator.

Escalators and I are not friends.  I struggle to keep firm footing on a regular carpet, so scaling down a moving and breathing mountain of stairs is a risky venture.

I asked my man to go first.

I watched the rolling stairs carefully with my eye and tried to measure the rhythm.  One, two, three.

I reached forward with my left leg onto the escalator and then dragged my right prosthetic leg toward me.

The problem was that the right leg didn’t land on the same step as my left leg, so I was straddled.  As the escalator started to descend, I lunged out of balance.

I fell forward into a solid mass.  In front of me, my man was in lockdown mode.  He had braced himself on that escalator like a tank.  He was not going to budge.

In my weakness, I fell right into his strength.

You see, I didn’t need to fear.  I was protected by a shield of love.

Tonight at the midweek service, Pastor Doug said something that reminded me of my close call on the escalator.

When someone stands next to you who is strong,

all fear evaporates.

Then, we sang a new worship song — an anthem to God and a call to courage.  His love makes me brave.

As I bask in the love of the Omnipotent one, I remember that no weapon formed against me will prosper.

I remember that the God of Angel Armies is right by my side.

I remember that My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever.

Are you straddled in a precarious place right now?  Go ahead and lean forward.  His grip of love will never let you go.

Something to think about….

 

I’m sharing “Be Brave” and joining The Nester and friends for #write31days.

To see all of the posts in this series, head on over here.

 

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Hold Fast in Hard Times — Pray As You Go (Day 22)

I have a friend who is a hero.  For over two decades he served as a fire fighter.  Daily, he was on call to fight fires and help others to safety.  In order to do that, he had to study up on fire fighting techniques, and he stayed in shape.  He also wore a protective suit and worked with a group of men who supported one another like brothers.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about what I can learn from my fire fighting friend.  I don’t know about you, but I’ve faced some fiery trials recently.

Let’s face it, we are in a war.  Opposition is a part of life.   Daily, we need to arm ourselves as we wade out into the trenches.  We must prepare for battle just as a fire fighter is ready to face the inferno.

Heroes who are willing to face the flame are few and far better these days.  But, in the Old Testament, I found one man who faced opposition and fiery trials with great wisdom.   Nehemiah was a great leader who stood tall despite overwhelming obstacles and opposition.

I think the key to Nehemiah’s success was that he was a man who feared God.  His heart was broken over sin, and he moved with passion and purpose to right a wrong.

Nehemiah understood that without God’s strength, he could do nothing.   He was fully surrendered to God’s leading.   He prayed through every course of action, and he surrendered every conflict to God as his Defender.

Nehemiah moved forward through the flames with confidence because He believed that God’s promises hold true in the midst of impossible situations.

Let’s purpose pray through the fiery trial and go down fighting on our knees.

When you pass through the waters,

    I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers,

    they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire,

    you will not be burned;

    the flames will not set you ablaze.

Isaiah 43:2, NIV

Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome,

and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.

Nehemiah 4:14, NIV

I’m joining The Nester and friends for #write31days and sharing “Pray As You Go” with like-minded sisters at Coffee for Your Heart, Tell His Story, Spiritual Sundays, Recommendation Saturday, Faith-Filled Friday, Essential Fridays, and Thriving Thursday.

To see all of the posts in this series, head on over here.

 

The post Hold Fast in Hard Times — Pray As You Go (Day 22) appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

Hold Fast in Hard Times — Prepare for Rain (Day 21)

During my first week as a school teacher, I was introduced to many different protocols that helped to create a healthy and safe learning environment for my students.  One of those was explained in a handout titled “Rainy Day Procedures.”

If inclement weather was in the forecast, we had a precise plan for how to re-direct our day.  I knew how to respond to the storm — there was no uncertainty about how to proceed.  The plan brought calm and confidence.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about how I need to have a similar plan for the storms of life.    Weather is subject to change, so in the VLOG below, I share some thoughts on how to not be caught unawares by sudden downpour.

 

 

 …examine all things; hold fast to what is good. 

Stay away from every form of evil.

I Thessalonians 5:21-22, NET

 

 

I’m sharing “Prepare for Rain” joining The Nester and friends for #write31days and linking up with like-minded sisters at The SDG Gathering, Testimony Tuesday, and Rich-Faith Rising.
To see all of the posts in this series, head on over here.

The post Hold Fast in Hard Times — Prepare for Rain (Day 21) appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

Hold Fast in Hard Times — On Duty (Day 20)

Swim at your own risk.

I live in Florida, and there is not always a lifeguard on duty.  We’ve been instructed to not enter the water alone, but to always have a buddy.

I read up tonight on swimming safety, and I learned that drowning is a quiet event.  Swimmers in distress are not flailing around or making noise — they are quietly struggling.  Often a change in current will catch them unaware, and rather than swimming parallel to the shore, they unsuccessfully try to swim to dry land and grow tired.

Lifeguards are trained to spot struggling swimmers.  Lifeguards recognize a change in water current.

I don’t know about you, but as I wade alone and face the tides of life, I am often caught unaware by the undertow of temptation and turmoil.  I am thankful that I have a community of friends who are coming alongside me and matching my strokes of faith.  We aren’t meant to face the torrent alone.

As I suit up each day and plunge into the waters, I am never alone.

My Lifeguard is always on duty.   If the waves start crashing in, there is not a doubt that He is coming to my rescue.

 

 

The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love Me.

    I will protect those who trust in My name.

When they call on me, I will answer;

    I will be with them in trouble.

    I will rescue and honor them.

Psalms 94:14-15, NLT

 

 

I’m sharing “On Duty” joining The Nester and friends for #write31days and linking up with like-minded sisters at Sharing His Beauty, Playdates with God, and Unforced Rhythms.
To see all of the posts in this series, head on over here.

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