simply His

Made to Crave

By Lisa B on January 10, 2011

Today is a big day. Actually a huge day. Today is the day Lysa TerKeurst will do her first webcast on her new book Made to Crave. If you haven’t heard about it yet (where have you been hiding?), check out the Made to Crave website and just view that web page tonight at 8 pm EST to see Lysa live!

I have been working on a lot of things for this webcast and the site. I know the devil wants to interfere with it all because of the message and how good it will be for people. Please pray for the webcast, the people involved in putting it on, and that the devil would be out of the technology.

And if you would, say a little prayer for me. I’m supposed to be flying out today for a meeting tomorrow but the big eastern snow storm is headed this way. I’m praying that either I make it out ok or the flight or meeting is canceled — just so I’m not stuck trying to work on the webcast stuff from an airport. That’s no fun!

I hope and pray you all have a blessed day and if you are in this big snow storm, that you stay safe and warm!

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| Filed Under: Personal

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

By Lisa B on January 3, 2011

I hope all of you had a wonderful CHRISTmas, and safe New Year!

I have been thinking a lot about this blog and what I would like to do with it this coming year. I’m still not sure I have any solid answers, but I do know that when I think back on 2010, I was hard-pressed to remember what happened. So, my memory must be going. I definitely want to write more here this year and leave stories here that I can look back at and remember. I also hope to see the spiritual growth in myself.

Meanwhile, I told my friend Amy Bayliss that I would join her and 7 other bloggers in 31 Days of Ministry Online for January. I’m off to a shaky start with my part, 31 Days of WordPress. I decided to put that over on the other blog I started on my professional site. Check out the series there if you are the least bit interested in WordPress.

Provided doing the 31 Days doesn’t kill me, I hope to be back here writing before the month’s end

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| Filed Under: Holidays

What do I do with excellence?

By Lisa B on December 3, 2010

As the email disappeared from my screen, I wondered how it would be received. Surely this blogger, this pretty famous Christian author, would have quite a few people who could help fix her blog. I mean, I know I put a pretty compelling line in there — you know, the one where I’m not a creepy stalker (like a stalker would admit it?) and promise not to destroy her blog.

I was drifting, wondering what I was supposed to be doing for God — how am I supposed to be serving him with my time and talents? That seems to be an ongoing theme for my life though.

Then the email came back. It had her username and password for her blog and a big ol’ thank you so much for fixing this.

That was how I got started with Lysa TerKeurst and Proverbs 31 Ministries. There were a few things I would fix here and there, but this past year and a half has seen me doing more and more for them. They affectionately call me their Tech Dudette. I kinda like that

A couple of weeks ago, I had the privilege of attending a meeting with Lysa, LeAnn (Queen Bee of P31), and a few others to talk about the redesign of the P31 main site. I had looked at all the content, all the sites that P31 has in different places and was simply overwhelmed at how best to pull that information together and organize it effectively.

Lysa brought up the question, “what do we [Proverbs 31] do with excellence?” This question totally caught me off-guard. When she posed that question, things became suddenly clear for me. There were ideas that had come and gone. There were other ideas that were maybe hanging on by a thread, but those weren’t what we needed to focus on. The ideas that P31 does well, those are the ones to concentrate on.

The question haunted me for a few days. What do I do with excellence? When I thought about how that question is phrased, I could immediately say I develop sites in WordPress with excellence. Do you know how major that is? I have never, ever liked titles or really to tell someone that I’m an expert at something. I would never tell you that I am the best or the most experienced with WordPress, but I can say that what I do, I do to the very best of my ability — with excellence.

What this question also has done for me is let me know it’s ok to let go of things that I’m not so good at or that I don’t enjoy as much. I should just concentrate on what I do with excellence.

So, what do you do with excellence? Maybe it’s taking care of your home — I definitely lack in that skill. Maybe it’s cooking — you know I’m the Queen of Take-out.

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| Filed Under: Admin

Giving Thanks

By Lisa B on November 24, 2010

When this week started out, I thought of all the normal things I’m very thankful for …

… my home, no matter how dirty, keeps me warm and dry

… food, that I’m not going hungry

… freedom, the freedom we have in America is something some take for granted

But today I’m thinking about what I’m really thankful for the most … and that’s life.

I’m thankful for …

… the life behind every one of the Twitter avatars that come up in my stream. Some of you I have never even met in person, but each of you have touched me in one way or another.

… the life behind every one of the Facebook pictures that I’m friends with. Most of you I’ve met and yet, you still want to be my friend.

… the life of my closest Skype buddies who I’ve yet to meet. Y’all are a great support to me when I feel like pulling my hair out.

… the life of all my Proverbs 31 Ministries sisters. I’ve just recently become really involved with this ministry and every one of you have welcomed me into the fold with open arms and most importantly prayers.

… the life of every one in my family. From parents, in-laws, sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, great-neice, great-nephew, cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents — even the ones who have passed from this world. They’ve all had an impact on who I am right now.

… the life of Duck and Doodle. Duck is my best friend, my provider, my caretaker. Doodle is my best daughter who’s growing up too quick. She’s beautiful, smart and artistic.

… the life God saw fit in talking me out of taking 7.5 years ago. If it weren’t for His love, there are many of you I would not know today.

most importantly, I’m thankful for …

… the life of Jesus and that He would give up His life for me is sometimes unbelievable. I am so unworthy. I went to Women of Faith a few weeks ago with my best friend from college and her mom. It was a great weekend of reflection and catching up on 16 years worth of life. Looking back at how I was when she and I hung out, all I could think was I’m a totally different person now. Jesus is that difference and I’m eternally grateful for that.

I wish you a very happy Thanksgiving. May you remember everything that you have to be truly thankful for in this life. Please feel free to share what you’re thankful for in my comments area. I love y’all.

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| Filed Under: Blessings, Family, Holidays, Personal

Lessons from a Doodle

By Lisa B on October 22, 2010

She’s not much of a Doodle any more, but seeing as how that’s what I’ve used for her nickname here, I should probably continue to use it. She’s getting tall — up to my eyes and probably could wear my shoes if she wanted to. This past week and a half, she’s said some interesting things. She’s growing up and I’m not sure I’m ready for it.

1. Care about others. And by caring I mean praying for others. On our anniversary, Duck’s group had been invited to do music during a revival service. The pastor got up and asked for prayer requests and Doodle raised her hand and shared one. She had two, but the pastor didn’t hear her correctly. I told her that was ok because God knew she tried to speak up and hears her prayers. The fact that she spoke up in a strange church where she didn’t know anyone surprised me. But it was absolutely awesome to hear her requests for other people and hear the concern in her voice.

2. Don’t be hard on yourself. We left the house a few minutes later than I would have liked. When we pulled into Bojangles (don’t judge me – she won’t eat anything else for breakfast), the drive-thru line was long. I made some kind of comment about how I messed up and we should have gotten up earlier. Doodle said, “stop being so hard on yourself Mom! Everyone makes mistakes.” Thing is I am often very hard on myself for what I do wrong and I see Doodle reacting the exact same way. Especially when she misses something on homework.

3. Don’t speed. Before we went on vacation, I was late leaving the house to pickup Doodle from school. There’s a side road I take to her school through a residential area. I thought the speed limit was 35 but the cop who pulled me kindly told me I was doing 45 in a 25. So when I did get to the school, Doodle was fussing at me because I was late. When I explained to her what happened she promptly asked if I told the cop that “my daughter is waiting on me and was very worried something bad had happened to me.” Um. No. You don’t tell cops that sort of thing. They don’t really care. This morning I was speeding up on the highway to pass a car and get over for our exit and she reminds me ever-so-kindly to slow down because we can’t afford another speeding ticket.

We can learn a lot from our kids. Some of it you might not want to see (like the bad habits they’ve picked up from you), but all of it we need to see.

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| Filed Under: Family

To God’s Perfect Gift to Me – Happy 14!

By Lisa B on October 12, 2010

I sat here wondering what to write. I went back and read what I wrote on our 12th anniversary and our 13th anniversary. I was really sappy on the 13th anniversary, but I still feel that way about you Duck. I love you with all my heart and soul. I’m amazed at the blessings God gives us just in our relationship and growing us closer and closer. I miss you when you go to work and I dream of the day when we can sit all day in rockers on our front porch overlooking the mountains.

I know you feel like you need to buy me something, but honestly the vacation we just took was all I needed for our anniversary. It was awesome to get away and relax — even getting to relax Sunday watching football all day even if you did beat me in Fantasy Football!

I love you very much and I hope you have a wonderful day I look forward to listening to you sing tonight at the church revival service.

—————–

To everyone else – I highly recommend unplugging, especially if you are an addict like me. The mountains did me a world of good. I feel like I’ve been restarted! I didn’t take many pictures – at least not as many as I had planned. I’ve got scooped back up in work though and haven’t downloaded them off the camera yet.

Thanks to everyone who threw up a prayer for us, asked about our vacation and covered for us while we were gone. I hope to post more about our trip later this week, but who knows. The unplugging thing might just happen at night when it should be family time.

Anyway, we’re baaaccckkkk! And I’m plugged in again – for a little bit anyway

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| Filed Under: Blessings, Marriage, Personal, Priorities, Vacation

The Great Unplugging

By Lisa B on October 3, 2010

It was supposed to be last week. Then the rains came, and didn’t stop. So we postponed it to this week. Tomorrow we’re packing up our motorcycles and heading to the mountains. We’re celebrating our 14th wedding anniversary a little early this year. I’m just thankful we’ll get to go this year. I really missed not going last year.

I’m leaving my computer at home – so no email, Twitter, Facebook, working on websites, none of it. I will have my cell phone to call home, but other than actual voice calls, I’m not going to use my phone. This is major for me. I’m quite the computer addict. I decided to leave you with a list so you may know when it’s time to go on vacation or just unplug for a bit.

5 of ways you know it’s time to unplug

when you dream in code (html, css, php)
when you wake up in a panic realizing you didn’t set your alarm last night, rush into your child’s room to wake them up for school only to realize it’s Saturday
when you get a speeding ticket on a back road because you’re running late to pickup your child from school
when you hear your spouse snoring down the hall, and you’re still working on a project
when your child has to ask you repeatedly for a drink

and one last bonus way to know when you’re ready to unplug, when you feel like this:

Yes, that’s me. I remember the exact moment this picture was taken. I don’t know why I was upset in the first place, but Dad had sat me on the kitchen table. My oldest sister, Sue – who is 11 years older than me and should have known better – snapped this picture of me which made me even more upset. And Dad got mad at me. I couldn’t understand it. But Dad didn’t get mad at me a lot, so it kinda jerked me back into reality and stopped the gushing.

But if you’ve been feeling like this, I pray you get a vacation sometime soon! Or if you can’t do a vacation right now, just get a book that doesn’t make you think and go somewhere away from your house for an hour. Give yourself permission to unplug. I promise Twitter, Facebook, and the rest of the Internets will still be there when you get back. After all, you’ll be here when I get back, right?