Do Not Depart

Encouragement and Tools to Abide in God's Word

You are here: Home / Archives for Lisa Burgess

About Lisa Burgess

Lisa looks for God in ordinary people and in everyday moments, then shares where she finds Him on her blog LisaNotes.com. She is a wife to Jeff and a mother to two girls here, one in heaven.

Why It’s Good to Be a Roadie – A Metaphor of Jesus as the Way

by 16 Comments

Christianity was once called the Way, (literally, the road).

Followers of the Way were the first roadies, those who traveled with Jesus. Today, Christians still travel with Jesus.

Join us today as we continue our series, #MetaphoricallySpeaking.

It's Good to Be a Roadie

Are We Lost?

I’ve never been late to a wedding before. Would this be the first?

GPS said it would take 47 minutes to drive to the 5:00 pm wedding last Saturday afternoon. We left our hotel room at 3:30pm.

That would give us plenty of time. Right?

Until I couldn’t remember if I’d put on deodorant (sad but true). We were an easy 40 minutes ahead of schedule, traffic was light, and Dollar Generals were plenty along the way. I asked for a 5 minute stop to buy a tube of deodorant.

Still 35 minutes ahead of schedule, back in the car, we followed GPS to its end.

But we landed at a strip mall.

This was not the beach resort we were aiming for. This was not our friend’s wedding venue.

Where was the wedding??? We frantically rechecked the address. We texted other friends. We even stopped to ask for directions.

But we were still driving around in circles.

A Traveling Metaphor

If you’ve ever been lost, you know the panicked feeling you can get. You don’t know where to go next. You don’t want to miss your turn or take a wrong exit.

I hate feeling lost.

I wonder if that’s one reason Jesus used a road metaphor to describe Himself.

In deep conversation with His disciples prior to his crucifixion, Jesus told them not to worry, but He would be leaving soon (John 14). And they could come later.

Confused, Thomas replied, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” (John 14:5)

Jesus replied, “I AM the way…” (John 14:6).

Both Thomas and Jesus used the word “hodos” for “way,” which means a road, a traveler’s way, a journey.

Jesus is a road?

Metaphorically speaking, yes.

Jesus is the paved road between us and the Father, between death and life, between sin and grace.

To get to the Father, to life, to grace, we have Jesus.

Jesus Is the Way

Jesus didn’t have to leave a trail of breadcrumbs to get back to the Father after He left heaven; He knew the way back.

And He chose companions for the journey.

His disciples were the original roadies along the way (hodos). The kingdom movement itself was called the Way more often than it was called Christianity in the book of Acts (Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 24:14, 22).

And what about today’s travelers? Jesus is still the way for us, too.

He doesn’t draw out a highlighted path for us on our roadmap of life, but He goes with us every step.

He nudges us to turn left here, take a right there.

We don’t have to see the full road ahead of us from beginning to end. We can’t see the complete highway in real life either. We just keep driving, and the road keeps appearing. Even in deepest fog, we can still see the very next foot ahead, if nothing else.

Likewise, Jesus always gives us the very next step we need, just when we need it. He even corrects our missteps and wrong turns and fender benders to create beautiful new paths for each of us, individually and collectively.

Keep Moving Along the Way

In our search for the wedding venue, we finally decided to ditch GPS and go with our gut. Instead of turning around one more time, we forged ahead and stuck to the main road, even though it didn’t look right.

When we finally saw the first little blue sign pop up—”Wedding Parking ahead”—and another and another, we breathed a sigh of relief. At 4:50, we parked the car and waited for the shuttle to drive us to the hotel.

At 4:55, we entered the main doors, took a left, rode the elevator to the 2nd floor, and poured out into the ballroom for the wedding.

By 5:00, we were seated in our chairs, out of breath, but just in time. We’d made it.

We hadn’t been lost after all; we just hadn’t gone far enough.

So it is with Jesus.

As our Way, Jesus never abandons us in a roundabout or leaves us destitute to decay on the side of the road. He wants us roadies to stick close to Him as we tour the kingdom.

Jesus will never leave us or forsake us.

He will get us where we need to be, each day, as we keep moving along the Way.

Followers of the Way were the first roadies. Today, Christians still go on tour of the kingdom with Jesus. #metaphoricallyspeaking

Click To Tweet

When’s the last time you were lost? How did you find your way?

Please share in the comments.

Because He Is in Our Midst {Memorize Isaiah 12:6}

by Leave a Comment

This is our final week in Isaiah 12 together, leading up to Resurrection Sunday. We pray that you’ll continue to keep these words fresh on your lips and in your heart as you celebrate our risen Savior this weekend and beyond.

Isaiah 12_6

MEMORIZE

Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 12:6

REJOICE!

Our final verse in Isaiah 12 brings us to an exuberant and joyful conclusion!

In verse 6 we are encouraged to give excited praise because of who is among us. God’s presence is in our midst. What better reason to sing for joy!

As Charles Spurgeon said,

“Come, my heart, wake up, and summon all the powers which wait upon thee! Mechanical worship is easy, but worthless. Come rouse yourself, my brother! Rouse thyself, O my own soul!”

As you honor Jesus this week, remembering his death and resurrection, rouse your soul to praise God for His goodness and grace in your life.

If there is anything worth getting excited about, it is that the Lord Himself is actively engaged in the very center of our lives, every day and every night.

Thanks for memorizing with us these past 6 weeks.

The Lord is in our midst. What better reason to sing for joy! #Isaiah12 #HideHisWord

Click To Tweet

What Has God Done for You Lately? {Memorize Isaiah 12:5}

by Leave a Comment

This is Week 5 of our 6-week memory challenge to learn Isaiah 12 during Lent.

Isaiah 12_5

MEMORIZE

Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth.
Isaiah 12:5

TO CONSIDER

If you’re old enough (or if you listen to oldies), you may remember this Janet Jacket song, “What Have You Done for Me Lately?” from 1985.

The video starts with Janet and a friend talking about Janet’s boyfriend.

Janet: “He does a lot of nice things for me.”

Friend: “I know he used to do nice stuff for you, but what he has done for you lately?”

It’s a question we can ask ourselves this week, too, as we meditate on Isaiah’s words for our memory verse.

What has God done for you lately?

If you can’t think of anything, maybe it’s time to pay closer attention.

As we enter our 5th week of Lent, we’re coming upon Jesus’s grand welcome into Jerusalem riding a donkey.

Many there had likely heard of a lot of “nice things” that Jesus had done for people in the region. But we know how the story goes: the crowd will turn against him soon. They will forget the good things He had done.

Let’s not forget what He has done and continues to do for us.

Let’s make it known this week.

What has God done for you lately? Make it known. #Isaiah12

Click To Tweet

What has God done for your lately? Share in the comments.

4 Actions to Take with God {Memorize Isaiah 12:4}

by Leave a Comment

Welcome to Week 4  of our 6-week memory challenge to learn Isaiah 12 during Lent.

Isaiah 12_4

MEMORIZE

And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted.”
Isaiah 12:4 (ESV)

TO DO THIS WEEK

Make a quick comparison between Isaiah 12:1 and Isaiah 12:4.

verse 1
You will say in that day: “I will give thanks to you, O LORD, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me.”

verse 4
And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted.”

These two verses have this in common: you will say in that day and give thanks to the Lord.

But Isaiah is now building on the original thought by adding more. Don’t just give thanks; also call on God’s name. Tell people about Him. Honor Him with your words.

During this season of Lent when we are emptying out ourselves to make more room for Christ, let’s continue to not only memorize the words from Isaiah 12, but also to participate in these four actions.

  1. Thank God
  2. Call on Him
  3. Tell others about Him
  4. Honor Him

God isn’t a prize sitting on a shelf. He is a living, active Being who wants to engage in your life and to be shared with others.

Collaborate with Him this week.

Don’t just learn the words; take the actions. Here are four things to do after memorizing Isaiah 12:4.

Click To Tweet

Pray for the Children of El Salvador

by 4 Comments

Pray for the children of El Salvador

I’ve received a new photo of Jose once a year in the mail since he was 4 years old. I see his growth. I get a small glimpse into his world. He’s now 13.

But this year I got a picture of his mother.

And it hit me hard. She’s a real person. With a real heart. A mother’s heart. Just like mine.

José is our sponsored child in El Salvador. It’s a country that holds memories for me. I went there in the summers of 2011 and 2012 with my church. We partnered with the church already there, hosting VBS-style events in their public schools, building structures, meeting families.

I still have friends there. And some of those friends are now here in the U.S.

But I never saw José there. And I’ve never seen his mother. Until now in this photo.

Walk with me now in El Salvador. You’ll like what you see. But it may also scare you to death.

This is why we need to pray for El Salvador.

The Tom Thumb of the Americas

Here’s where El Salvador is on the map. It’s the smallest country in continental America (smaller than Massachusetts).

It’s sometimes called “the Tom Thumb of the Americas.”

El Salvador map Central America

El Salvador Map closeup

Yet it’s also the most densely populated. And of the 6.5 million people here, almost half live below the poverty line.

The people here are friendly, kind, and generous, despite living in this country also known as the Land of Volcanoes because of its frequent volcanic activity, its devastating earthquakes, and occasional hurricanes as it borders the Pacific Ocean.

But the people in El Salvador are also troubled.

Gang-related crime is high. Gangs (maras) plague the cities as its population shifts from an agrarian society to a more urban one. The government is often corrupt. Inequality is blatant.

3 Things to Pray for Salvadorans

Many in El Salvador know Jesus. It’s not unusual to see religious icons throughout their towns. Roman Catholicism has had an active presence there for decades, with almost half the population identifying as Catholic, 35% as Protestant, and 14% with no religious affiliation at all.

Here are three specific ways you can pray for Salvadorans.

1. Pray for the boys to stay out of gangs.

Gang violence attributes to the abnormally high crime rate in this small country. The best-known gangs are MS-13 and their rival M-18. Many boys are drawn to the gangs when they are young, either by choice or by coercion.

Pray for healthier families, for better employment opportunities, for church involvement, and for young boys like my José to have the courage to resist the economic and social opportunities that a gang offers.

2. Pray for the girls to not become victims of violence.

About seven people go missing in El Salvador every day. Many of them are women. They are often the victims of murder, of sexual exploitation, of trafficking, of abuse.

Pray for women to be valued equal to men, for girls to have affordable education opportunities, for the vulnerable to be protected from exploitation, and for strong leadership to arise among young women in Christ.

3. Pray for the church to unite in protecting the children.

The churches in El Salvador recognize the urgent crisis of stopping the violence in their country. As a result, many are united in their efforts to protect the children.

Pray for the Lord to continue giving strength, wisdom, and integrity to the Salvadoran believers as they come together to take care of their own, breaking any cycles of domestic and social abuse.

The Same Blessings

As I look into the eyes of José’s mother in the photo now on my refrigerator, I see a woman who wants the same thing for her children as I want for mine: health, opportunity, safety, love, even though the challenges they face are unique.

May we stand alongside the mothers (and fathers) in El Salvador, asking God for the same blessings on their children that we ask for our own.

Ask God for the same blessings on the children of El Salvador as for your own children. #ChristianMissions

Click To Tweet

Share your thoughts in the comments.

How Do You Fill Up Your Soul? {Memorize Isaiah 12:3}

by 2 Comments

This is Week 3 of our 6-week memory challenge to learn Isaiah 12 during Lent.

Isaiah 12_3

MEMORIZE THIS WEEK

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
Isaiah 12:3

REFLECTION

We can approach Lent with a feeling of lack, of emptiness. And rightly so. It is a season to empty out our pride, empty out own self-centeredness, empty out our idolatrous tendencies.

But why?

We create the hole so God can refill it with better things, with His things.

God offers us His fullness.

  • How do you fill up?
  • Do you do it with joy?
  • How often do you do it?

God longs to fill us up with His goodness and love, if we’ll come to the well and draw from Him.

His eternal fountain springs forth grace on a daily basis to renew us. We may not always feel Him or be aware of Him or indulge in His presence, but He is always there, always flowing, always available to us.

Soak in this truth as a starting point for your joy this week:

God’s blessings aren’t a stream that can run dry. They are an ever-flowing fountain to saturate your soul.

How do you fill up your soul? Memorize #Isaiah12 with us to draw water from the well. #hidehisword

Click To Tweet

What brought you joy last week? How do you plan to fill up this week? Share in the comments.

 

The Origin of Our Rescue {Memorize Isaiah 12:2}

by 2 Comments

Welcome to Week 2 in our 6-week challenge to memorize Isaiah 12 during Lent.

Isaiah 12_2

MEMORIZE THIS WEEK

This is the verse to memorize this week:

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”
Isaiah 12:2

THINK ABOUT THIS

We’re all afraid of something. The origin of our fears may differ, but we all know what fear feels like.

But the origin of our rescue doesn’t differ. It’s the same source: God.

God is where we gather our strength and to whom we sing a new song.

Because He is strong, we are secure. Whatever fears may come, God is bigger than each one.

Because God is strong, I am secure. Memorize #Isaiah12 with us. #HideHisWord

Click To Tweet

3 Uses for Your Mouth {Memorize Isaiah 12:1}

by 2 Comments

Isaiah 12:1 ESV

MEMORIZE THIS WEEK

You will say in that day: “I will give thanks to you, O LORD, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me.”
Isaiah 12:1

MEDITATE

Our mouths can get us into trouble. With our mouths we can tell lies, speak harshly, and complain often.

But our mouths can also bring God glory. When we are giving thanks to the Lord with our words, we are using our mouths wisely.

As we begin memorizing Isaiah 12 over the next six week, let’s pray for wisdom to intentionally use our mouths to do the following:

  • Speak truth
  • Thank God
  • Breathe in grace

Find all three of these in Isaiah 12:1. What a beautiful opening to this chapter we are memorizing!

Are you using your mouth for these 3 things? Words we’re memorizing from #Isaiah12

Click To Tweet

Name one thing you can thank God for this week. Share in the comments.

 

6 Things You’ll Learn about God as You Memorize Isaiah 12

by Leave a Comment

 6 Things to Learn About God Isaiah 12

Have you signed up yet for our Bible Memory Challenge?

We start reading it daily this week, and start memorizing verse 1 on February 21, 2021.

Sign up here. We’ll email you resources and a weekly reminder for six weeks.

Isaiah 12 Sign up here

6 Things to Learn About God

How can you grow your faith by renewing your thoughts on God in Isaiah 12?

Here are six things to learn about God in the six verses of Isaiah 12.

  1. God isn’t angry with you.
  2. God is safe for you to trust.
  3. God brings you freedom.
  4. God gives you joy.
  5. God is worth telling others about.
  6. God is great, right here, right now.

If scripture memory (and especially a whole chapter) is new to you, you’ll appreciate how easy this chapter is to learn. It flows well and contains memorable images.

And you won’t be alone. Almost 100 people have already signed up to memorize alongside you.

Honor God with us in this season of Lent as we put positive thoughts about Him in our head and spend time with Him. Become more aware of His presence and strengthen your faith with us.

The challenge only lasts 6 weeks, but the benefits can last a lifetime.

 Isaiah 12 Invite

See 6 things to learn about God in 6 verses for 6 weeks #ScriptureMemory

Click To Tweet

 

3 Ways to Maximize Your Written Words—They’re Doing the Heavy Lifting

by 16 Comments

“The less we interact face-to-face, the more our written communications have to do the heavy lifting.”
– Jennifer Aaker

 

The In-Person Losses

I had put it off for days.

Two women I know, friends of my in-laws, had both recently lost their husbands to COVID. After multiple years of marriage, these were heavy losses. Neither were able to hold funeral services.

I wanted them to know we were praying for them as they grieved. But it required effort on my part. I needed to go to the store for sympathy cards. I needed to make phone calls to get their home addresses. I needed to chase down postage stamps, not to mention collect my thoughts and write out a message.

So I kept delaying.

The past twelve months have left us hungry for in-person conversations. We miss hugging each other and laughing together and even the occasional run-in conversations in the church parking lot.

Yes, we can still make phone calls and hear each other’s voices. And yes, we can even see each other on screens and chat. But we still long for more connection.

But until we’re able to resume more normalcy, our words minus our bodies will have to continue pulling double-duty. Our words are doing some heavy lifting.

If there is ever a moment in our modern era for Christians to use our written words generously, this is the time.

3 Ways to Maximize Written Words

How can we maximize the use of our written words? How can we pack them full of love and meaning?

1. Put time into your words

Writing out words of sympathy or love or just general hello’s requires our time. It doesn’t have to take a lot of time, but however quickly you write, writing words is still slower than speaking them.

Maybe that’s a reason they’re so valued by the recipient though. When someone receives a written message from you, they understand that you gave your time to make it happen.

Think about how long it took the scribes of our scriptures to write out even one book of our Bible, one stroke at a time, one quill and drop of ink at a time. But aren’t we glad they gave their time to do so.

Spending time writing down words is a loving investment.

“See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand.”
Galatians 6:11

2. Pack your words with thoughtfulness

Not only is it physically effortful to write out words, it also requires us to think. Perhaps we can fly by the seat of our pants when we’re in conversation with someone, but when we are writing out a message by hand, our words feel heavier. They require more thought, more intention.

Because our written words last longer, we want them to mean more.

If you’re received a letter from a deployed spouse or a hand-written letter from a grandchild, you don’t read it only once. You read it again and again, and delight in each word. You value seeing the thoughts of your loved one.

As we write our words, let’s give them the proper heart and attention they deserve. They will be special to the receiver, whether they are written in cursive on beautiful stationary or typed on an iphone and sent as a text. The thought still matters.

Write what is important. Write about what matters most.

“Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”
Proverbs 16:24

3. Weight your words with personality

Look back at the last five texts or emails you sent. How much of your personality is there?

Often when we send off a quick email, we stick to the basics: Can’t do it; yes, we’re available; thanks for the info. And if it’s a strictly work relationship, that’s appropriate.

But when our written words are going to someone we care about, let’s care about adding an extra touch. Sharing a bit of our personality—maybe a spot of humor or a shared past memory—will bring a smile to our receiver.

When the apostle Paul was writing letters to churches and individuals known in our New Testament, he included more than just the facts. We see tidbits of his personality too: bring me my coat and books; I yearn for you all; I prayed three times for the Lord to remove this thorn. These personal touches help us to know Paul.

When we get personal with our written words, we are strengthening the bonds of our relationships, too.

Sharing our written words are intentional acts of authenticity, vulnerability, and love.

“I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write.”
2 Thessalonians 3:17

God Blesses Their Arrival

I finally stopped delaying and bought, wrote, and mailed the sympathy cards to our two women friends. Having been on the receiving end of sympathy cards, I know they matter.

What I didn’t expect was the sweet notes we received back.

Both their cards included the traditional “thank you for thinking of us,” but they also each contained a touch of their personality and a glimpse into their personal pain.

The first card included this:

“I miss him so much and still can’t believe he is gone. He was everything to me and the family.”

And from the second friend:

“He loved to read and learn. We appreciate you remembering him with a library donation. It means so much for these difficult times.”

Their personal words made me cry. But they also made me feel included in their journey. And extra motivated to continue praying for them in the weeks ahead.

I’ve read both their cards several times since receiving them. I’ve kept them on my dresser as a reminder to pray.

Written words can do the heavy lifting of extending love in a physically-distanced year. Give them the time, thoughtfulness, and personality they deserve.

Write them down and send them away.

God will bless them in their arrival.

See 3 ways to maximize your written words. They’re doing our heavy lifting. #wordsoflife

Click To Tweet

Have you texted or emailed anyone today? Do you still send “real” mail? Share your thoughts in the comments.

 

Sign Up for Our New Bible Memory Challenge for Lent! Isaiah 12

by Leave a Comment

Want a memory challenge for Lent?

Sign up today to memorize Isaiah 12:1-6 with us beginning February 17, 2021!

Isaiah 12 Invitation

 

Memorize Isaiah 12:1-6

Isaiah 12 (read it here) is a beautiful message about the Lord as our strength and song. Focus your thoughts on these truths through the six weeks of Lent.

When you sign up, we’ll send you a welcome email with links to resources you can use to memorize Isaiah 12. Once the challenge begins, we’ll send you a short email once a week to remind you of the verse we are learning.

We memorized this short chapter six years ago. If you joined us then, refresh your memory now. And if it’s new to you now? This is a great chapter to add to your memory!

Click to see the full schedule here.

Isaiah 12_2021 Schedule

It’s easy. It’s refreshing. It’s joyful.

Sign up here.

Isaiah 12 Sign up here

Sign up today to memorize Isaiah 12 for Lent! 6 weeks, 6 verses. #Isaiah12 #HideHisWord

Click To Tweet

Questions about the memory challenge? Ask us in the comments.

New Bible Memory Challenge Coming for Lent

by Leave a Comment

We are putting the finishing touches on our next Bible Memory Challenge!

It was be six verses only. We will memorize through the season of Lent, from Wednesday, February 17, through Saturday, April 3, the day before Easter.

We’d appreciate your prayers for us as we prepare, and we will be praying for those who will memorize with us.

Watch for details and registration coming soon!

New bible memory challenge

 

Printable Resources to Memorize Isaiah 12 in 2021

by Leave a Comment

Isaiah 12 Resources 2021

UPDATED FOR 2021

Have you registered yet to memorize the 6 verses in Isaiah 12 with us for 6 weeks?

We start on Wednesday, February 17, 2021. It’ll be easy, beneficial, and all for God’s glory.

RESOURCES
Prepare your resources now to memorize better later. Here are the four most popular versions that our memorizers use. But memorize in any translation you prefer.

Download and print.

For active community, join our Facebook group.
Practice the verses using Bible Memory.
Share tweets using #Isaiah12 and/or #HideHisWord.
Post on Instagram with #Isaiah12 and/or #HideHisWord.

Hiding-Isaiah-12

 

Because God Is Present, I Can Let Go of the Future

by 15 Comments

Is God Like GPS?

We needed directions to a church building that was 100 miles away. I reached for my phone. I plugged the address into my Waze app. I hit “Go now.”

I had options with the app. I could look at the overview. I could see various routes. I could share my drive. I could get turn-by-turn directions.

This is how I want God to work, too.

But does He?

God is present_pin

God Directs One Turn at a Time

In everyday life, I’d like objective evaluations for each option. I’d like to determine who will be with me at each stop along the way. I’d like to see every step-by-step direction in advance so I could adequately prepare.

I admit I’m a little uncomfortable not knowing what tomorrow will bring.

I’d like to see my whole life at once. (Or at least I think I would.)

But this is not how God works. No play-by-play is given. It’s not what He promises us.

Instead of working like the GPS on our phones, God has promised us something better.

Today Is Where God Is

God promises He’ll be with us right now. Today. This day, every day, right here.

It’s how He traveled with the Hebrew people, leading them out of Egypt, through the wilderness, and into the promised land of Canaan.

  • With a cloud by day and with fire by night, He gave them directions one day at a time.
  • With manna for the day and not for the week, He fed them daily when no other food was available.
  • With today’s shoes on their feet and shirts on their backs, He never let their clothing wear out for 40 years.

He wanted their attention in today.

God wants our attention in today, too.

Today is where God is. It’s where His provisions are. It’s where He tells us to wait on Him (Matthew 6:34), to seek His presence (1 Chronicles 16:11), to find our joy (Psalm 16:11).

Today is where our assignment is (Ephesians 5:15-16).

Today’s work is what we are to do. 

Does that mean we don’t remember the past or we don’t plan for tomorrow? No, God commands those things as well. They are important.

  • He wants us to recall His past deeds of faithfulness.
  • He wants us to look ahead with hope for the good things He has planned.

But the past and the future aren’t to dominate our present.

If today is where God lives with us, this is where we need to dwell, too.

Re-center on God in This Day

On our way to the church building using our phone GPS, I pinched out the screen so I could see the roads ahead. The app was now showing Interstate 65 as orange, which indicated slow traffic. As I zoomed out trying to find the roadblock, I lost track of where we were now.

I hit the “Re-center” button. It focused me back on my current location. And it advised us to take the next exit to avoid the slower traffic so we could still arrive on time.

I have to hit “Re-center” every day with God, too. I can zoom out so far into next week and next year that I lose my orientation of where I am today.

But when I come back into the moment, I find God is still here. He’s still with me. He’s still giving me the very next turn, right when I need it.

God knows exactly where I am, where He wants me to end up, and how to get me there.

God is always with us today. And for us, it’s always today. When tomorrow becomes today, we can know that God will be there, too.

Because we know God is always present, we can let go of the future.

“I tell you, now is the favorable time; now is the day of salvation.”
2 Corinthians 6:1

Because God is always present, we can let go of the future. Focus on today’s work today. #letgoandknow

Click To Tweet

Because “Uncertainty” is my One Word for 2021, I’m working hard on accepting God’s grace for today. How does God help you stay in the moment? What is your today’s work?

Please share in the comments.

Wait for It—Expect a Surprise from Jesus (+ a Christmas Recipe)

by 12 Comments

I pull out the bent recipe card. It gets removed from my recipe box only once a year.

I have my sister-in-law’s name written in the corner of the card: Bonnie. She must have introduced the recipe to us, but I remember it most because my mom would bake this delightful dessert every Christmas.

And I would look forward to its goodness.

It’s called Miss Miriam’s Surprise.

But none of us know why. I suppose Miss Miriam originated it, wherever and whoever she is.

Sometimes when I make it I rename it: Caramel Chocolate Bars. It seems more descriptive. You know what you’re going to get with a name like that.

But Miss Miriam’s Surprise? Who knows what that might taste like?

Expect a Surprise

In any given year, we can’t predict what surprises will come. In 2020, least of all.

A year ago, who knew we’d be wearing masks and canceling large gatherings for Christmas, or worse, praying for the sick and mourning our losses? These aren’t the types of surprises we like.

But despite our frustrations and pains with those surprises, we can also be watchful for another surprise: the good surprise of how Jesus will show up in our midst.

Even when the days are darkest, we can trust that the Light will glimmer for us somewhere. Maybe He doesn’t show up in the spot we look first. But we can remain hopeful that good is always on the way because God is always with us.

“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:21-23

Wait for Your Surprise

When I make Miss Miriam’s Surprise again this December, I have to set aside the clock. I know it’s going to take longer to prepare than I plan for. I typically get tired of unwrapping all the caramels. And I get a tad frustrated that the dough is hard to spread.

But I can expect that a good surprise is coming when I pull it out of the oven. When I put that first bite in my mouth, I know the expectation was worth it. It tastes like Christmas to me. It’s a treat that doesn’t fail.

It’s the same with Jesus. Sometimes we have to wait a little longer than we expect to see what He’s up to. But His gifts are always worth the wait.

Just wait for them. Wait for Jesus. His surprises are the best kind.

“The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.
It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.”
Lamentations 3:25-26

Miss Miriam’s Surprise

a.k.a. Caramel Chocolate Bars

Ingredients

  • One 11-ounce bag of Kraft caramel candy squares
  • 2/3 cup evaporated milk
  • 1 box German chocolate cake mix
  • 3/4 cup butter
  • 6 ounces chocolate chips
  • 1 cup nuts (optional)

Instructions

  1. Mix cake mix with 1/3 cup evaporated milk and 3/4 cup butter. Stir in nuts (optional). Refrigerate half of dough.
  2. Press unrefrigerated half of dough in 13×9 greased pan. Bake at 350° for 6 minutes. Remove from oven.
  3. Immediately sprinkle chocolate chips on cooked dough.
  4. Remove plastic wrap from caramels. Melt caramels with 1/3 cup evaporated milk. Pour on top of cooked dough.
  5. Drop refrigerated cake mixture by spoonfuls over the caramel and cooked dough.
  6. Bake 15-18 minutes. Cool 30 minutes before cutting.
Wait for it. Expect a good surprise from Jesus! (+ A Christmas recipe) #JesusChristEmmanuel

Click To Tweet

Do you have a favorite Christmas recipe? What’s been a pleasant surprise you’ve received this year? Please share with us in the comments.

Watch Where You Step {Matthew 7:14}

by 3 Comments

When You Need to Be Careful

This has been a dirty season in our backyard. Flocks of geese have been flying through, landing in the lake behind our home. And using our grass as their personal restroom.

We have to be careful where we step.

While I’m free to wander outside barefooted, not watching where I step, I’d rather not. I don’t want to follow in the popular path where the geese have walked.

Sometimes it feels tight and restrictive to be so intentional about where I step.

Walk with Jesus

In our memory verse this week (our final verse!), Jesus said to His followers on the mountain:

“For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
Matthew 7:14

Jesus was telling them to watch where they put their feet. Be mindful of their steps. Watch where they put their minds, who they walk with, how they take their steps.

Sometimes the gate feels very narrow. Remember Balaam and his donkey (Numbers 22) on the road to Moab? The donkey became hemmed in on all sides. There was no way to turn, either to the right or to the left. Balaam was angry at her. Balaam couldn’t see the angel of the Lord standing in the narrow place between the vineyards, with a wall on either side.

But God’s narrow path saved Balaam’s life. Had the donkey not turned aside from the angel, Balaam would have been killed.

Boundaries are beneficial.

When our own narrow paths feel burdensome, we can trust that God is guiding us as well. We never walk alone. God is always with us. Jesus is the Way itself that we travel.

Walking with Jesus not only leads to life eternal, but is life-giving, each step along the way.

“How blessed all those in whom you live, whose lives become roads you travel;
They wind through lonesome valleys, come upon brooks, discover cool springs and pools brimming with rain!
God-traveled, these roads curve up the mountain, and at the last turn—Zion! God in full view!”
Psalm 84:5-7 (The Message)

Are you watching where you step? It makes a difference. #Matthew7

Click To Tweet

Thanks for walking with us through Matthew 7:1-14 these past 10 weeks. We hope you’ve benefited from our time together in these words of Jesus. May His truths continue to guide all our steps.

Find Us on Facebook


Recent Posts

Archives