Lyli Dunbar's Blog, page 62

4 Habits that Prevent Burnout

 

Are you tired?  Are there some days when you’d like to disappear, rather than get out of bed to deal with your to-do list?   I must confess that I almost burned out on ministry.  I lost my passion and joy.  For a long time, I thought I had it all together.  I was juggling many responsibilities and doing it with flair.  But, one day those tasks started to get heavy – the weight of all that I was carrying became too much, but I still struggled to let go.  Everything seemed too important to surrender over to someone else, so I trudged on burdened down by own self-imposed expectations for ministry.

Looking back now, I see where I failed to make healthy choices about how I would use my time, talents, and treasure.  I invested in Kingdom business, but I did not invest in myself.  I forgot that I am important to the kingdom as well.  I am God’s holy temple, and I am called to be a steward of my physical, social, mental, and spiritual well-being.

If I could sit down with 20 year old me, I would tell her that there are essential habits that will prevent ministry burn out.

I am so honored to be sharing over at Rebekah Hughes blog as part of her weekly Titus 2 Tips Series.
To read the rest of this post, head on over here.

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Eyes Wide Open (Thought-Provoking Thursday)

Photo Credit:  Hans Braxmeier, via Pixabay

A few months after our wedding, we were chatting about the adjustment of sleeping with a person who is your total opposite in temperament.  The conversation took place after dinner at the home of our friends and fellow newlyweds, Curtis and Monica.  My Bruce falls asleep the minute his head hits the pillow — he is in bed my 9:30, and up at 5 AM.  As a devoted and submissive wife, I wanted to follow my husband’s sleep pattern.  The problem was that I am a seasoned night owl.  Many nights, I found myself laying in bed for over an hour, tossing and turning.  After Bruce was snoring happily, I often sat up in bed to read.

I was whining about how well rested I was to our friends.  Since they’d married about a year before us, we were hoping that they had sage advice to offer on how to meld our sleep patterns.

Curtis is a creative type and night owl like me, so I wondered if he got up to work on projects after Monica drifted off into slumber.

Unlike my comatose, hard-working man, Monica is apparently a very light sleeper.  She is in tune with the noises and movements of her home.  If her husband twitched in the darkness of the bedroom under the covers, she would awaken.   No covert nocturnal operations were possible in that home.

Bruce is very amused by my sleep pattern because I am a bit of a cat napper.   I dislike going to sleep early, but I often drift in and out of slumber quite easily while we sit on the couch watching television.  I will actually drop my head and snore quite happily for a few minutes, and then he says I wake up and start typing on my laptop just as if I had never closed my eyes.

Sometimes I wonder if God is cat napping.  I mean, theologically, I understand that He is all-knowing and ever-present.  I know this in my heart of hearts.  But, then something heartbreaking happens to someone I love, and I wonder if maybe God wasn’t paying attention.  How could this tragedy have happened on His watch?

Tonight, I found a verse that encouraged my broken heart:

God keeps an eye on His friends,

His ears pick up every moan and groan.

Psalms 34:15, MSG

My Abba doesn’t drift off to sleep on the job.  He is in tune with my every noise and movement.  His eyes stay wide open every moment of my life.

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

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Everything Beautiful

 

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

The post Everything Beautiful appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

A Lifetime Guarantee (Thought-Provoking Thursday)

Photo Credit:  Copeland Photography

All day long today my left hand felt lighter.  This morning, I placed my wedding rings in the protective care of my husband — he volunteered to “take one for the team” and drive to the mall as the rings were overdue for their bi-annual inspection and cleaning.

I’ve never had such nice jewelry.  Marriage does have its perks!  I’ve worn those beautiful rings on my left hand every day for five years, and today just felt odd without them.  I missed their weight.

When I got home from work, I learned that the rings had not made it home from the mall.  My wedding set is on an extended vacation for two weeks because they need to be rhodium plated to prevent further yellowing.  I guess my white gold rings are kind of gold-plated.  It’s like a really expensive ring set from the Cracker Jacks box.

After church tonight, I sat down to read through Psalms and came across a passage that reminded me of what true treasure is:

God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold,

    with a lifetime guarantee…

God’s Word is better than a diamond,

    better than a diamond set between emeralds…  (Psalms 19:9-10, MSG)

God’s word is solid gold, girls.  Only the enemy gives counterfeit gifts from the Cracker Jacks box.

Something to think about…

I am sharing “Turning Point” 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 A Lifetime Guarantee (Thought-Provoking Thursday) appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

Filled with Joy

Casa Dunbar – Est. 7.18.09

I am sharing “Filled with Joy” and joining like-minded sisters at Still Saturday and Give Me Grace.

The post Filled with Joy appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

Turning Point (Thought-Provoking Thursday)

Photo Credit

Has been.  Washed up.  Played out.

Maybe you know someone who fits this description.  Someone close to you.   Someone you love has lived a dark story line full of pain and loss and foolishness.  A happy ending seems unlikely.

Maybe right now, your own life is more of a melodrama than a fairy tale.  Conflict and opposition keep you from turning the page to a peaceful and satisfying resolution.

Friend, I want you to remember that every thrilling narrative involves an ordinary person who overcomes extraordinary odds.

When you least expect it, your turning point will break through, and the Master Storyteller will transform a dead-end tragedy into a supernatural legend.

God rewrote the text of my life

    when I opened the book of my heart to His eyes.

Psalms 18:45, MSG

Something to think about…

I am sharing “Turning Point” and joining like-minded sisters at The Weekend Brew, Spiritual Sundays, Recommendation Saturday, Faith-Filled Friday, Essential Fridays, A Group Look, 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 Turning Point (Thought-Provoking Thursday) appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

4 Seeds Sown in the Heart of a Serving Single

 

When I graduated from college, I took a job at my alma mater teaching language arts at the Christian high school. My days were consumed with lesson plans, stacks of papers to be graded, and lots of adolescent drama. I loved working with the teens, but my real desire was to be a stay at home mom.  I envisioned reading bed time stories and tucking in little ones with a kiss and a prayer. The problem was that I was not married.  In fact, I was not even dating. I was a single gal with lots of free time on my hands…

I am delighted to be sharing “4 Seeds Sown in the Heart of a Serving Single” at Missional Women this week.

 To read the rest of this post, head over here.

The post 4 Seeds Sown in the Heart of a Serving Single appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

Behind the Scenes

 

Photo Credit: Weatherbox, via Free Images

If you are a theater buff like me, you love to get a peek backstage.  The pretty set and lights up front are nice, but if you are a true thespian, you want to get a look at the script, talk to the set designer, and see how the costumes were constructed.  You want to know how the magic was created.

For the realists in the crowd, we see the glitter and the glam, but we want to look behind the scenes.  How did that really happen?

Over the last few weeks, several of my bloggy friends have been peeling back the curtain and allowing their readers to have a behind the scenes look at their writing process as part of a blog hop.  Now, it’s my turn — I am following Lori’s lead and giving you a peek at the nuts and bolts of this blog.

Why do I write what I do?

Writing in this space helps me to remember.  I don’t want to forget those quiet moments when God whispers tenderly to my spirit and brings truth to my attention.  As I pursue Him in the every day, He is teaching me life lessons.  I hope that capturing these snapshots of my faith walk here will be an encouragement to my readers.

How does my work differ from others of its genre?

I’m not a mommy blogger, nor am I looking to build an audience in order to sell an upcoming book.  I am just a girl who loves Jesus and is trying to live a life of faith.  I don’t care about word count or SEO or total page views.  I just want more of Him.

What am I writing or working on?

Over the last few months, I’ve trudged through a dark valley.  My goal was to persevere, keep my eyes on my sweet reward, and make it to the other side.  Once I put some distance between me and the mire, I hope to write an e-book for my subscribers and fellow wilderness travelers.  I have no outline or drafts or plan yet, but I am starting to flesh out the title — perhaps the cover will read Lessons Learned While Limping.  What do you think?

How does my writing process work?

Writing is art, and there are many ways that I approach the canvas.  Some days, a theme develops as I am doing daily life, and I turn it around in my mind and then flesh it out in words and sentences to create a portrait.  The next day, I  may see a captivating image that sparks my creativity, and the words and story flow from that visual.   When I find no inspiration, I turn to my muse, Peterson’s The Message, and read until the words jump off the page and into my heart.

Introductions

One of the best kept secrets of blogging is that if you are willing to share your heart, you will make great friends.  As part of this blog hop peek behind the scenes, I am overjoyed to introduce you to three women who have encouraged my spirit, challenged my thinking, and inspired me as a writer.

Alyssa

 

 

 

 

I met Alyssa when we were paired together to lead an (in)couragers community group this summer.   The header of Alyssa’s blog says she is “unswervingly holding on to hope.”  Since my blog theme for this year is to “hold fast,” I knew immediately that she would be a kindred spirit.  Her words pour out grace and wisdom.

From Alyssa:   Not a native Texan, but have been here for 16 years. Married to my best friend, John. We have three children-two in high school and one in elementary school. Life is lived mostly in my car–and it looks like it! I volunteer in the women’s ministry at our local church. Although I am a trained teacher, I have been out of the classroom for the last 8 years. God speaks to me in analogies and I’m doing my best to take  time and pay attention.

Natalie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I discovered Natalie’s blog when she joined Thought-Provoking Thursday.  She loves the outdoors, and her words capture the beauty of the Creator in a seamless way that awakened my senses.

Natalie’s Bio:  Natalie is fascinated by the roads we wander and the stories we live. She writes about life’s journey–about faith, family, and adventure—and prays for opportunities to encourage people through the written word and conversation.  She’s a conflicted outdoorsy type who struggles to pull herself away from all the things which cry out for attention indoors. She prefers high heels to sensible shoes and is always on the lookout for a great hiking skirt because she loves the places trails take us and everything she finds to think about along the way.

Maryleigh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blue Cotton Memory was one of the first blogs that I discovered through participating in weekly link ups.  I fell in love with Maryleigh’s poetry and wisdom.  I have no idea if she has a front porch, but I like to imagine that she does, and I instantly felt cozy and welcomed as I read her words.

Maryleigh’s Bio:  Maryleigh is a wife of 30 years, a mom of 5 sons ranging in ages from 27 to 13. She is a seeker of solutions to challenges, the perfect white cake recipe, the washer of the Blue Cotton Blanket, trying to raise sons to be strong, manly men who love God and show the love of Jesus Christ to others through their words and actions. Trying to live grace and joy through the journey, she writes at her blog Blue Cotton Memory.

Q4U:  What motivates you to write?  Who are some of your favorite bloggers?

I am sharing “Behind the Scenes” and joining like-minded sisters at Three Word Wednesday, Words of Life Wednesdays, Tell His Story, A Little R and R, Testimony Tuesday, Rich-Faith Rising, The Soli Deo Sisterhood, Sharing His Beauty, Playdates with God, and Unforced Rhythms.

 

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A Safe House

God’s a safe-house for the battered,

    a sanctuary during bad times.

The moment you arrive, you relax;

    you’re never sorry you knocked.

Psalms 9:9-10, MSG

 

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

The post A Safe House appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.

Aflame (Thought-Provoking Thursday)

 Photo Credit: Leonardo Chamorro, via Free Images

Last Friday, the hubs and I jumped in the car and headed out to see the fireworks with another couple.   We found a cozy spot a while back that is away from the crowds.  We get there early, plop down our lawn chairs, and chat as we wait for night to fall.

I keep an eye on the clock and on the sky.  Never once have I looked up at the horizon and doubted that a spectacular display of fire power is coming.   That would be crazy, right?  On July 4th, I expect a blaze of glory.

Tonight, I was reading in the Psalms, and my heart stopped when I read

Every morning

    I lay out the pieces of my life

    on Your altar

    and watch for fire to descend.

Psalms 5:3, MSG

I am asking God to help me wait expectantly for His fireworks.  I don’t want to be that silly girl on the ground who misses the glory because she is impatiently waving around a self-sufficient lighter.  I want to keep looking up until the blazing light rains down on me.

Lord, I want to be aflame. 

Something to think about…

I am sharing “Aflame” and joining like-minded sisters at The Weekend Brew, Spiritual Sundays, Recommendation Saturday, Faith-Filled Friday, Essential Fridays, A Group Look, 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 Aflame (Thought-Provoking Thursday) appeared first on 3-D Lessons for Life.