simply His

Complete Failure

By Lisa B on January 16, 2012

Have you ever felt like a complete failure? No? What’s your secret?

With all good intentions (story of my life), I tried as best I as I could to unplug between Christmas and New Year’s. I had to take care of a few little things for clients, but those I had planned on. For the most part, I didn’t accomplish anything else I had thought I might get to do — writing blog posts for here…writing blog posts for DIY Ministry…writing ebooks…and that was just Day 1

I knew I would be busy as soon as I said I was coming back. The client work was already piling up. Starting off the year behind. That was no different. And then to top it off I’ve been sick the past week. You would be proud of me though — I did take 2 full days “off work” to sleep and try to kick this virus’ booty.

Sharing all of this to say, I still don’t have my stuff together. I know deep in my heart that to fight the slow fade, I need to be spending more time with God. I need to read at least one scripture a day … and not the kind of read that just glosses over it like I’ve already read that one a million times. I do want to share scripture here but realistically I know I will not be able to do one a day like I had hoped. So I’m going to share one of my favorite scriptures with you and ask that you share one with me in the comments. Then if 6 of you leave scriptures in the comments, I’ll have one to read every day this week

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” — Matthew 6:33

Really I just need to concentrate on the first part “seek first the kingdom of God.”

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Share Your Thoughts >> 2 Comments | Filed Under: Personal, Scripture

Merry CHRISTmas and Happy New Year!

By Lisa B on December 23, 2011

I just looked back through my archives to see what I’ve written about Christmas before. I wrote this in December 2009 and it is a copy somewhat of what I wrote December 2008. Sad thing is? I could write it today. I feel burned out. I’m sure you know how that feels. Well, I’ve told everyone I’m unplugging next week, and I seriously hope I can do it.

Just step away from the keyboard lady…

Anyway, I’ll be back the first of the year with verses for each day. Duck, Doodle and I wish you and your family a very Merry CHRISTmas and Happy New Year!

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| Filed Under: Holidays

Fighting the slow fade

By Lisa B on December 2, 2011

If my life had a theme song, Slow Fade from Casting Crowns would be it. Here’s the video if you aren’t already familiar with the song:

Before I continue, let me make something clear. The video depicts a husband having an affair and leaving his family. That is not why it would be my theme song. Duck and I are very happily married (15 years now). Showing how an affair can break up a family is just one illustration of the song they could have given. So let me explain why it would be my theme song.

It’s a slow fade when you give yourself away
It’s a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It’s a slow fade, it’s a slow fade

For me, the slow fade happened after I accepted Jesus in my heart. I invited Him in to be a part of my life, every minute of every day. Then little by little (the slow fade), I started taking back a minute here or there. Thinking about what I wanted to do instead of what God would want me to do. Then little by little, I got mad with God over some things that happened and started taking back more minutes from Him.

Until one day shortly after I turned 30, I was in a bad place. The farthest from God I had ever been except when I lived without Jesus. I knew I had Jesus and no man could ever take that away, but I had spent so long believing little white lies that I was ready to leave this world and be with Jesus.

The journey to that place did not happen in one minute. One day. Or even one week. It was a slow fade. A choice made to sleep in late and not read my Bible. A choice to not go to church that Sunday and stay home to do laundry. A choice to think about how I could solve my own problems instead of talking with God about them. A choice to think God was punishing me for something I had done wrong.

That was 8 years ago. I started doing some things that helped me fight the slow fade and get back to the point where I was close to God again. I wish I could say that I’ve stayed there … close to God … but I haven’t. I have felt myself fading back and it’s extremely frustrating. I know what I need to do, yet I just don’t do it.

I decided to turn this blog into a place where I share with you some of my struggles and how I am fighting the slow fade. One of the biggest lies that the devil can feed us is that we are alone in what we’re thinking, what we’re feeling, and what we’re going through. The truth is we are never alone. I don’t want you to feel alone so if you can relate to my struggles, then we can pray for each other and help each other fight the slow fade.

One of the most important tools for fighting the slow fade is scripture.

For the word of God [is] living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. — Hebrews 4:12 (NKLV)

I have gotten away from reading my Bible. Starting January 1st, I will be posting a scripture here. I may comment on it. I may not. I don’t think my words are all that important, but I may want to share something about the scripture. So, if you would rather not have another email to deal with, please unsubscribe. You will not hurt my feelings — really. I don’t pay attention to the numbers anyway.

Now tell me something about you. Can you relate to the slow fade? What is one small thing you could do today to refocus on Jesus?

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| Filed Under: Personal

Welcome to my new digs!

By Lisa B on November 28, 2011

This weekend I managed to get my new design up. If you’re reading this in email or on Facebook, then click here to view the website.

I hope you like it. It’s really me, and I haven’t been able to say that about any designs really! You’ll always find me in jeans, with a Coke, and my phone is probably not too far away I am always leaning on God and trying to remember in the busyness of life that I just need to be simply His.

Of course time got away from me and I didn’t write all that I had wanted to write. Tip: Don’t wait to write! Ever! If you have the thought, get it written down because I did not. And when I had the time to write, the thoughts, they left me! I’m sure I’ll be making slight adjustments here and there

My new tagline is “fighting the slow fade.” I’ll write more about what that means this week.

Come hang out with me! You can see the many places to do so in the right column over there. Of course, Pinterest and Google+ are new to me and I don’t know how much I’ll use them. I’m somewhat regular on Facebook and Twitter though. Hope to see you around!

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| Filed Under: Admin

Happy Thanksgiving

By Lisa B on November 23, 2011

Hey y’all,

Seems like my posting here has been non-existent. (Sorry Duck! I know that’s how you keep up with me!)

I have come up with a new design and I’m going to take this weekend to remodel around here. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and come back to see me next week to check out the new digs!

And if you happen to have a smart phone or iPad, I highly recommend you check out this free app to help count your blessings!

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| Filed Under: Blessings, Holidays

Taking my own advice

By Lisa B on October 25, 2011

Taking my own advice is really quite difficult. One of the things that I am passionate about is sharing with bloggers that they should pray about every aspect of their blog. I can so easily tell others to pray about their blogs without having prayed for mine. So a few weeks ago, I started praying. I haven’t been writing here like I could be and part of that was not knowing what I should write about.

God’s been faithful in that He’s revealing His purpose for me and even given this non-graphics person an idea or two for changing the look. And then there’s Relevant. It’s a blogging conference for Christian women but I know it’s going to be so much more. And I’m getting rather nervous about flying out Thursday to go there for the weekend. I’m going to be rooming with my buddy, Amy Bayliss, and we have so much to talk about

If you’re going to Relevant, I wanted to share a little about me especially in case we meet in person — I feel it’s only fair to warn you of these things! I wrote this originally in July 2009, but it’s still true today:

Maybe you click … maybe you don’t

And no, this post doesn’t have anything to do with the internet, or websites, or ads.

Many of my bloggy friends are going to BlogHer next week. The week after, some of us will be at She Speaks. I’ve seen lots of tweets, blog posts and comments about how everyone is feeling before going to these conferences. My post is going to be primarily about She Speaks, but I’m sure you can get some helpful information for BlogHer.

Maybe you click …

Last year I sort of organized a lunch at Chili’s the day She Speaks started. I say sort of because evidently I didn’t make the right Chili’s known to everyone — half of us were at one, half at the other. God blessed me with meeting Robin at my Chili’s. Robin has a gift ya’ll. She’s outgoing and smart and witty. She can talk to anyone about anything and has such a warm Southern spirit. She makes you feel relaxed and before you know it, you’re telling her your life story. I don’t know of anyone that wouldn’t click with Robin — but that’s because of her, not me. I pray you’ll meet at least 3 people who you click with at the conference.

Maybe you don’t click …

Over the weekend I met many ladies. I dare say I never clicked with any of them like I did Robin, but I did click with some of them. Some of them I felt so awkward around! One, who I will not name (even though I’m pretty sure there’s no way she’d ever read my blog), just said “oh, I know who you are.” That was it. I went totally out of my comfort zone and introduced myself, and that was the line I got back. She walked off and continued clicking with the other ladies there. What I’ve come to realize is that it may not be me, so I shouldn’t take it personally.

Reasons we may not click …

I’ve learned a lot about myself at BlissDom back in February. Here are some reasons you and I may not click if we meet at She Speaks. Maybe it’ll help you to look at meeting people from the other side.

1. I am a Southerner. I not only talk slow. I listen slow. Seriously. If you come up to me, introduce yourself and you get a blank stare? I may just be processing what you said 2 sentences ago. Give my brain a few seconds to catch up. I’ve met some Northerners that I really have to focus and listen. My brain has to slow down what they are saying before I can even try to carry on a conversation. If you happen to be a fast talker? Try to slow it down a little when you meet me, ok? I’ll work on listening faster, promise.

2. I am an introvert. I don’t know exactly when it happened. Maybe I have always been one but when I was a teenager I wanted to be the life of the party. I get overwhelmed easily. I know this and I am going to work in some quiet time for me and God into this conference. Instead of feeling like I’m going to miss out on something, I’m going to sit quietly and regroup before going back around people. What this also means for you who meet me also goes along with #1 above — if you come up to me and start talking and you get the “deer in headlights” look, it’s me — again trying to process everything that’s going on. That might be a good time to ask me if I need some quiet time

3. I am different. Not that drastically different — we all are similar in many ways. But maybe we don’t have anything in common. It’s possible. You may be a city girl — I’m a country girl. You? beach. Me? Mountains. You? Pepsi (yuck!). Me? Coke. That doesn’t mean that we can’t talk, but we may not click like you’ll see others do. There are going to be roughly 550 – 600 women at She Speaks (1,500+ at BlogHer). You will see ladies clicking together and forming what will be very deep, life-long friendships. You may long for that. I know I do. But for whatever reason, you and I don’t click? Don’t take it personally. Be kind and courteous and just move along to the next person.

Back row Baptist …

In all of my examples above, it was you coming up to me — did you notice? I am very happily a back row Baptist. The kind who likes to hang out behind the scenes most of the time. I may be sitting in a corner or the back row of the conference room. Don’t let that stop you from saying hey — that’s hi for you Northerners and no, it’s not just for horses! I’m going to do my best to force myself out of my comfort zone and make the first step. I’m also going to do my best to remember not to take it personally if I don’t click with someone. Maybe that person isn’t the one God wants me to develop a relationship with today. That’s ok.

One more thing …

Lots of ladies are worried about what to wear. Honestly I know She Speaks has said “no jeans” sort of thing, but I am not a fashion person at all. I am not going to remember what you wore to the conference. What I will remember is your smile. Is there hurt in your eyes or excitement? Did we click? What did we talk about? Those are much more important things that what you wore — to me anyway. I’m not concerned at all with outside appearances but with the heart of the matter. There will be tons more ladies there like me than you would think. So don’t stress it. Bring your best. God sees you. He loves you. He has big plans for you. Don’t worry about what you’re going to wear — I’m pretty sure that’s biblical

I talk about She Speaks, but you can apply it to Relevant just the same … except there are only going to be about 200 women there so the chances of you meeting everyone increase

Looking forward to meeting some of my online buddies in person for the first time … and seeing old online buddies again!

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| Filed Under: Conferences, Relevant 11

I’m a giver.

By Lisa B on August 26, 2011

I don’t say that to brag, or to have people pump me up. It has its downsides too.

I wanted to clarify something I wrote yesterday (I don’t think very highly of myself).

Duck…Mom…I didn’t mean to hurt your hearts. There are lots of thoughts running through my head and sometimes they aren’t very pretty — that’s just the truth. The other part of the truth is those lies come from the devil. (Mom, you can’t take any responsibility for that!) The ones that whisper who do you think you are to want to talk to Ann? You don’t have anything to offer her. Best just leave her alone.

In truth, I let those thoughts talk me out of meeting her and it’s entirely possible I missed out on a blessing from God. I do that sort of thing a lot when I’m not doing my quiet time or reading God’s word. I become lazy in focusing on the Truth and fall for the lies.

Duck and I had a great conversation last night. He told me how much he loved me and how I’m beautiful on the inside as well as the outside — “you have a heart of gold” he said. I needed to hear him say those things to me — to remind me — but it was also a little uncomfortable for me to receive those words.

You see, I’m a giver. My comfort zone is in giving. I would much rather give something than to get something. I want to help people, and I feel uncomfortable at time receiving even money for my work. I have been working on that and getting better

When I was talking with Duck last night, I realized that in my head, I was helping Ann by not going to talk to her. I was helping her get to her hotel room and sleep a few minutes earlier by not having to meet me or talk with me. That way of thinking is so engrained in me.

God’s been working on me though to get me out of my comfort zone of giving and wants me to receive His blessings and be thankful for them. So I’m continuing with my thankfulness!

10. awesome parents who I have always known love me no matter what I do

11. a warm hug and encouraging words

12. a daughter who actually said thank you this morning for her breakfast

13. listening to Duck help Doodle with homework

14. sweet comments from online friends I haven’t heard from in awhile

15. Sudafed

16. grocery store where we can get food to prepare for the storm coming

17. cooler weather signaling my favorite time of the year

18. Cokes