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  • an illustration of what it looks like to "let go and let God." People raising their arms in a roller coaster
    Faith

    Why Letting Go and Letting God Take Control is Difficult (and How to Start Today)

    / February 2, 2023

    I sat strapped into a plastic seat. In front of me was nothing but air. The view of the Smoky Mountains dressed in autumn finery would’ve been an enjoyable one if I wasn’t…

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  • Woman holding slice of watermelon in front of her to look like a smile
    Decision-Making,  Faith

    How to Choose Joy

    / June 10, 2021

    Last month I drove to the beach with my husband sitting beside me in the passenger seat and my two kids strapped into their car seats. Josh and I took turns driving, but…

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When I meet with God in my writing, the theme that When I meet with God in my writing, the theme that emerges again and again is the idea of his presence with his people: -in the past (in the garden) -now (as we wait for Christ's return), and -in the future (when our days on earth are done) God's presence is what gives us peace and comfort. But today as I finished writing a blog post on the topic of peace, I felt an unsettled irritation. I stepped away from my keyboard and settled onto my knees. As I talked to God, I felt him pose a question. Why does it matter? The themes that I write about—awakening to God’s presence, laying hold of an eternal perspective and God’s promised peace—why should we care about these ideas? And then I could see the source of my discomfort. If I'm not careful, I'll give off the idea that individually pursuing God is the whole picture of the Christ-life. Pursuing the peace of God is not the end-game. Following Jesus is not all about filling your own cup. It’s about being rooted in the peace, joy, and love of God *so that* we may love others and serve as Jesus served. For several years, anxiety, confusion, and depression held such a grip on me that taking care of myself felt like more than I could manage some days. But as I found ways to connect with a church community, family, and friends, self-forgetfulness began to feel like freedom. I still had lots of work to do alone with the Lord (and still do), but a relationship with God does not exist in isolation. We are conduits of his love, care, and truth to one another. And that’s why I write in this space. I want to see God’s kingdom come. I want to make much of God's glory. I want to participate with God in setting you free from the snares that try to tear away the peace that is yours in Christ. And I want to show you that life in community with God’s people is life as he intended. So as we come awake to God's presence, lay hold of his peace, and view our stories from an eternal perspective—let's remember this—it's for the purpose of loving others well and following Christ's example of humble service.
One practice that helps me rest in the peace of Go One practice that helps me rest in the peace of God is prayerful journaling. It's a time when I welcome God's presence and ask for his help as I process the events of my day. I used to sit down to journal and flounder. What do I write about? What types of things should I reflect on? I knew I wanted to sort through my thoughts and ideas in a cooperative process with the Holy Spirit, and I knew I wanted to walk away from my journal feeling thankful and at rest. Over time, I put together a six-part journaling template to foster peace, contentment, and growth. For years, I used it as my own personal tool, but now I'm sharing it with you. Click the #linkinbio to download the journaling toolkit. It includes the template and lots more. Then, drop a comment and tell me what you think. I'd love to know how to improve this resource for you. #christianwriter #journalingforjesus #christianliving #christiangrowth #christianwalk #womenoffaith #faithwriter #faithjourney #keepwriting #writersofinstagram #writersofig #writingcommunity #writinglife #journaling
With today being Swap Ideas Day, I thought I'd sha With today being Swap Ideas Day, I thought I'd share a genius writing prompt I stumbled upon. In her book “Writing the Sacred Journey: The Art and Practice of Spiritual Memoir,” Elizabeth Jarrett Andrew gives us this starting point: "Write down a question that you wish you knew the answer to. Then write a memory that helps explain the origin of the question. What happened that made this question important? As you write, pay attention to how the story illuminates the question." Usually, when I start with a question, I throw out potential answers or solutions. I fumble around trying to find wisdom among the bits of information. It never occurred to me to ask where the question originated or why it matters to me in the first place. I'm happily discovering that's where the more interesting story is found. That's my (borrowed) idea. Now swap with me! Do you have an idea to share? #swapideasday P.S. I found Elizabeth's quote in the Writing For Your Life newsletter. I'm not affiliated with them, but if you're a writer, you should consider subscribing! They're always sharing nuggets of writerly wisdom. #writersofig #writersofinstagram #amwriting #writinginspiration #writingprompt #faithwriter #christianblogger #writer #questagram #instawriters #writingcommunity #hopewriters #hopewriterlife #storytelling #writingtime #writinglove #writingtips
It's fitting that Labor Day, the day that traditio It's fitting that Labor Day, the day that traditionally marks the end of summer, coincides with Read a Book Day! If there's a better way to greet fall than snuggling up with a book, I don't know what it is. (I do know it sure beats unboxing allergy medication. Thanks fall. 🙄) Here's what we're reading today. TWO Max Lucado books! I haven't picked up any of his books in years, and now I find myself doubling up. I'll pretend like the children's book is for my kids, but my heart needs this message as much as they do. Have you read any of these? And what book are you reading on #readabookday? #laborday #welcomefall #readabook #readersofig #maxlucado #leifenger #youarespecial #peacelikeariver #anxiousfornothing
A younger me would've said inner peace is somethin A younger me would've said inner peace is something that happens—a feeling that comes over you and pierces your heart. I would've probably told you there's not much we can do to pursue it or avoid it. It's supernatural and beyond our control. Today, I would shake my head at that younger self. While it's true that emotions come and go, it's false to assume that I can't do anything at all to influence my grasp of God's peace. Today, I would say something like this: Pursue God. Prioritize him before all else. Sit in his presence. Even when you don’t feel it or experience it, God’s promise of peace is real and true. Set your mind on the good news of the gospel, and as your understanding deepens, so will your peace. What's been your experience? #peaceofgod #peacethatsurpasses #nothomeyet #inlightofeternity #princeofpeace #lisazdean #christianliving #christiangrowth #christianencouragement #faithjourney #livinginlightofeternity #heavenlyminded
Today I'm thinking about fear and all the ways I'v Today I'm thinking about fear and all the ways I've let it trick me into thinking it keeps me safe. In her book, Unafraid, @susiedavis says, "I didn't like fear, but I felt fear was essential to feeling safe. Fear was necessary for survival. Fear was my savior because fear protected me." The persuasive thing about fear is that it wraps itself up in logic and common-sense safety measures. Finding where reason ends and fear begins is often a tricky task. There's a smudgy middle where my own watchfulness is wise but then blurs into becoming my source of safety. Psalm 55:22 says, "Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you." The cares don't sustain us and wrap us in protection. God does. How can you tell when you're sliding into fear? When does locking the door become motivated by a feeling of terror rather than common sense? When does praying for your children become a desperate plea of mistrust rather than an open-handed surrender? #unafraid #fearisaliar #Godisprotector #Godsustains #susiedavis #Psalm55 #lisazdean #powerfulpeace #inlightofeternity #christianbook #writersofinsta #christianliving #nothomeyet #christiangrowth #christianencouragement #womenoffaith #faithwriter #faithjourney
I was minding my own business. It was a good day. I was minding my own business. It was a good day. Clear blue skies overhead and contentment within. Then I had the nerve to open that one LinkedIn email. I made a split-second comparison—woah, that's what she's doing now??—and the storm clouds started to gather. Big, thunder-cracking storms have a way of sneaking up on us, don’t they? We can be all sunshine and joy when the LinkedIn email pops up or the doctor calls or the critique comes. I sat in the storm of my own self-pity. And then I remembered another storm—a powerful one that formed over the Sea of Galilee many years ago. The disciples knew who to ask for help because they had learned something about Jesus's power before the first bolt of lightning lit up the sky. ✨ He uses times of calm to teach us where to look in times of trouble. The disciples believed they were perishing and Jesus diagnosed their lack of faith. ✨ The storms of life don't test our survival; they test our surrender. Jesus calmed the wind and waves immediately. ✨ But even if our storm lasts longer, we can trust he is using it to grow our dependence on him. I know that on a sunny, summer afternoon, the skies can darken quickly, but I also know where to look and who holds my trust. And that makes all the difference. If you know someone who is walking through a storm right now, pass on the encouragement and tag them in the comments! #luke8 #stormsoflife #peace #peaceofgod #christianliving #christianblogger #comparison #hopewriterlife #peacebestill #christianencouragement #faith #hope #christianwalk #womenoffaith #faithwriter #christianinspiration #goodnewsfeed #christianblog #lisazdean #christianwomencommunity #nothomeyet #inlightofeternity #livinginlightofeternity
What do you think about when you hear the word “ What do you think about when you hear the word “peace”? For me, words come to mind like: 😶‍🌫️ stillness 🤫 silence 😌 calm We walk into a hushed spa or garden, and we say it is peaceful. No loud sounds disrupt the quiet. We come upon a still pond, and we describe it as peaceful. No rocks break the surface, and no wind stirs up the water. Nothing is acting on the pond, so it is peaceful. I think you and I can attest that in this broken world, hushed atmospheres and still ponds are only temporary. In fact (bear with me while I geek out and dust off a fact from my engineering days 🤓), the second law of thermodynamics tells us that entropy, which is a measure of disorder, is always increasing. In other words, our world is always moving toward chaos and decay. This is the scientific explanation for why I have to pick up the same toys from my living room floor five times a day. 🤣 But jokes aside—real brokenness is found in every aspect of creation because of the fall. So it only stands to reason that the peace of God, which acts against the sin and darkness of this world, must be a very powerful force, not passive and empty as we may assume. Have you ever thought about peace as being powerful instead of passive? #peace #peaceofgod #powerfulpeace #hopewriterlife #writersofinsta #christianliving #nothomeyet #christianity #christianencouragement #womenoffaith #faithjourney #christianinspiration #goodnewsfeed #lisazdean #christianwomencommunity #inlightofeternity #livinginlightofeternity
When I took this picture, I was struggling with a When I took this picture, I was struggling with a decision. To text, or not to text? I had just left our weekly women's Bible study, and I was thinking of my new friend who vulnerably shared something she's working through with God. As I drove, I thought about times in the past when I felt a little raw and regretful after pouring my heart out in front of someone and then walked away not knowing how it was received. So I considered texting a word of understanding. Would it encourage? Or would it embarrass? When I got home, I typed and re-typed my message before hitting send. Not only did she graciously respond, but she taught me a lesson along the way. She told me she thought God had prompted me to ask the question I had asked which resulted in her sharing what she shared. Here I was, thinking to encourage her, but she ended up encouraging me! She was too busy spotting where God was working in her life to worry about how she appeared to others. I'm quick to see God in a sunset or a baby's smile. I'm slower to see his hand at work in a person's prompting or the formation of my own thoughts. But he is there too. And because of our text exchange, I was able to see what I didn't see before. Where has God shown up for you this week? #hopewriterlife #christianliving #friendship #christianencouragement #nothomeyet #jesuslovers #womenoffaith #thingsilearned #faithjourney #christiancommunity #goodnewsfeed #lisazdean #christianwomencommunity #remindersfromgod
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