Lyli Dunbar's Blog, page 61

Crossroads

Crossroad

I’m in the valley of discontent

Where my passion brews, and my heart is rent.

The way stretches dark and long

As I march on wearily to an unknown song.

I pray for a clearing, a cliff or a peak

As relentlessly onward a haven I seek.

Where is it leading?  Where will I go?

What will result if the journey end in “no”?

What is He asking?  Am I allowed to request?

When will the flood come to turn the tide of this test?

The bridge looms ahead — to cross or to burn.

My feet on the road must yield and not turn.

Poem written August 9, 1994 and found in a box unpacked this weekend.

I am sharing “Crossroads” and joining like-minded sisters at Coffee for Your Heart, Words of Life Wednesdays, Tell His Story, A Little R and R, Testimony Tuesday, Rich-Faith Rising, Sharing His Beauty, Playdates with God, Unforced Rhythms, Still Saturday and Give Me Grace.
Photo Credit:  Miguel Saavedra, via Free Images

 

 

 

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Make An Investment (Thought-Provoking Thursday)

Photo Credit: Markito, via Pixabay

 

Do you ever look back and wish for what might have been?   Sometimes, I do.   Just this morning, I was reading in Job, and I must admit that I could echo his sentiments.

“Oh, how I long for the good old days,

    when God took such very good care of me.

He always held a lamp before me

    and I walked through the dark by its light.

Oh, how I miss those golden years

    when God’s friendship graced my home,

When the Mighty One was still by my side

    and my children were all around me,

When everything was going my way,

    and nothing seemed too difficult.  (Job 29:1-6, MSG)

If things aren’t going my way, I tend to cry “woe is me” like Job.  I forget why I am here.  I don’t see the bigger picture, and I forget God’s grander purpose.  But, today I was reminded when I read up on Job’s story in one of my favorite reference books:

When life is difficult, it is normal to look back at the “good old days” and want to turn back the clock. But that approach is selfish (note how many times Job says “I” and “my”) and only adds to your pain. It makes enjoying happiness more important than experiencing holiness. Job listed some of the blessings he had enjoyed and some of the services he had performed for others, and all of that should have prepared him to face his trials with confidence. The past must be more than a memory; it must be a ministry. Today will soon be a yesterday. Are you using today to grow in the Lord so you are prepared for tomorrow? Is life an investment or just enjoyment?

Warren Wiersbe, Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary

 

Something to think about…

I am sharing “Make an Investment” and joining like-minded sisters at Three-Word Wednesday, The Weekend Brew, Spiritual Sundays, Recommendation Saturday, Faith-Filled Friday, Essential Fridays, Counting My Blessings, and Thriving Thursday.

Looking for more thought-provoking posts? Check out the ones written by my blogging friends in today’s 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 Make An Investment (Thought-Provoking Thursday) appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

Make Every Effort

Let us therefore make every effort

to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.

Romans 14:19

I am sharing “Make Every Effort” and joining like-minded sisters at Still Saturday and Give Me Grace.
Photo Credit:  Karla31, via Pixabay

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4 Ways to Respond to Ferguson with a Missional Heart

A young man lost his life on the streets of Ferguson, Missouri. His parents are grieving, and his community is in crisis. A law enforcement officer is in seclusion in fear for his life. His family also hurts, and his brothers in uniform are on the defensive. As images of demonstrations appear on television, we grieve as well. Incidents like this remind us that we still have much ground to travel on the road to social justice and racial equality.

As Christ followers, how can we respond to this painful reality in a way that honors our Savior? If Christ were walking the streets of Ferguson today, how would He respond to demonstrators? How would Christ advise local law enforcement? I don’t have all the answers to those questions, but I do have 4 suggestions from Scripture on how to respond with a missional heart…

I am honored to be sharing over at Missional Women today.   Head here to read on and then pray for God to show us the way.

The post 4 Ways to Respond to Ferguson with a Missional Heart appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

Spice It Up (Thought-Provoking Thursday)

Photo Credit: Kai Stachowiak, via Pixabay

 

I love a good bowl of chili.   The combination of beans, ground beef, tomatoes, and spice sits well in my stomach and comforts my spirit.  This is a “go to” dish for me that I throw together “easy peasy.”  I don’t really have a defined recipe.  I just basically throw things in the pot, and the end result always seems to come out yummy.

Well, not always.  Most of the time.

I must admit that there was one sad day that I ruined the chili.  I was putting together a batch quickly, and I reached for what looked like the chili seasoning and added a liberal dose.

Except it wasn’t chili seasoning at all.  It had the same appearance, but not the same taste.

Have you ever ruined something by adding the wrong flavors?  It’s such a disappointment.

++

Recently, I faced a similar disappointment in ministry.  On the surface, two colors appeared the same tinge of vibrant and healthy, but once poured out, the seasonings produced two very different “flavors.”   It reminded me of this quote by Ken Sande from his book The Peace Maker.

It is easier to accept your limits if you have a Biblical view of success.

The world defines success in terms of what a person

possesses, controls, or accomplishes.

God defines success in terms of faithful obedience to His will.

The world asks, ‘What results have you achieved?’

God asks, ‘Were you faithful to My ways?”

I’ve thought a great deal lately about how my life flavors this world.  Lord, may I always be a tangy addition that livens up the ministry menu for my sisters.   I don’t want to leave a bitter taste in anyone’s mouth ever.

But I have my eye on salt-of-the-earth people—

    they’re the ones I want working with me;

Men and women on the straight and narrow—

    these are the ones I want at my side.

Psalms 101:6, MSG

Something to think about…

I am sharing “Spice it Up” and joining like-minded sisters at Three-Word Wednesday, The Weekend Brew, Spiritual Sundays, Recommendation Saturday, Faith-Filled Friday, Essential Fridays, Counting My Blessings, and Thriving Thursday.

Looking for more thought-provoking posts? Check out the ones written by my blogging friends in today’s 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 Spice It Up (Thought-Provoking Thursday) appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

Together

 Always be humble and gentle.

Be patient with each other,

making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit,

binding yourselves together with peace.

Ephesians 4:2-3, NLT

Lord, unite our hearts in love and show us the way.

 

I am sharing “Together” and joining like-minded sisters at Still Saturday and Give Me Grace.
Photo Credit

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The Perfect Password (Thought-Provoking Thursday)

Photo Credit: Sanam Maharjan, via Pixabay

 

I understand the need for passwords.  I really do.  It’s just that I have a terrible memory, and sometimes I don’t have a pen handy to jot the secret code down for future reference.  This is only a problem when the website has password requirements.  If I have to choose a password with upper and lower case letters, a special character, and a number, my brain can’t retain the complexity of it all.

I’ve locked myself out of accounts trying to remember my password more than once.  I’ve sat in front of the computer and groaned because I was denied access to information and resources that I desperately needed.

Tonight, I was reading in the Psalms, and I learned that God has a password.  This secret code allows us to enter in to a storehouse of God’s supernatural provision and power.

Enter with the password: “Thank you!”

    Make yourselves at home, talking praise.

    Thank Him. Worship Him.

Psalms 100:4, MSG

Simple praise is a key that provides access to the very throne room of God.  Lord, help me to remember.

Something to think about…

I am sharing “The Perfect Password” and joining like-minded sisters at Three-Word Wednesday, The Weekend Brew, Spiritual Sundays, Recommendation Saturday, Faith-Filled Friday, Essential Fridays, A Group Look, Counting My Blessings, and Thriving Thursday.

Looking for more thought-provoking posts? Check out the ones written by my blogging friends in today’s 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 The Perfect Password (Thought-Provoking Thursday) appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

All the Days of My Life

 

 

I am sharing “All the Days of My Life” and joining like-minded sisters at Still Saturday and Give Me Grace.
Photo Credit: PDP, via Pixabay

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Validation (Thought-Provoking Thursday)

Photo Credit: Kriss Szkurlatowski, via Free Images

This week, I am back on track.  No more take out pizza.  I will eat lettuce and veggies and chicken.  Yes, I will.

After putting together an impressive salad bowl for dinner, I reached into the fridge looking for my favorite salad dressing.

I pulled out all the bottles of half-empty vinaigrette, lined them up on the kitchen counter, put on my reading glasses, and started looking for the expiration date on each one.

One by one, the bottles got discarded in the trash bin as my husband groaned.  He is not a big believer in expiration dates.  He’ll eat anything that isn’t moldy green.

I must admit that some days I feel like an outdated dressing.  I wonder if I missed my window — the one where I pour out and add flavor and zest to the feast.   Maybe I sat on the shelf too long, and now I am spoiled.

Have you ever felt like that?

Tonight, I was reading in the Psalms, and God reminded me that He is not a big believer in expiration dates.

Open up before God, keep nothing back;

    He’ll do whatever needs to be done:

He’ll validate your life in the clear light of day

    and stamp you with approval at high noon.

Psalms 37:5-6, MSG

Don’t let this world tell you that you are no longer effective.  God’s mark is on you.  Keep pouring yourself out.

Something to think about…

I am sharing “Eyes Wide Open” and joining like-minded sisters at Three-Word Wednesday, The Weekend Brew, Spiritual Sundays, Recommendation Saturday, Faith-Filled Friday, Essential Fridays, A Group Look, Counting My Blessings, and Thriving Thursday.

Looking for more thought-provoking posts? Check out the ones written by my blogging friends in today’s 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 Validation (Thought-Provoking Thursday) appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

Complete Victory

 

No, in all these things we have complete victory through Him who loved us!

Romans 8:37, NET

I am sharing “Everything Beautiful” and joining like-minded sisters at Still Saturday and Give Me Grace.
Photo Credit:  David Mark, via Pixabay

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