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Routes & Journeys

September 30, 2013 By Lisa Lewis

This is the view I have from the back of our tandem. Not too shabby, eh?

This man and I have been on a journey together since 1991. At times the route has been plain to see: work, caring for little children, home responsibilities and time with family and friends.

I would call those parts of the journey the flats; few bumps and fairly flat terrain.

This year has been a different terrain, however. Our journey has taken us into uncharted territory; no map, no direction, no labeled route. Just trust and keep pedaling toward the next turn as the Light reveals it.

This part of the journey has involved leaving. And letting go. And good byes.

And all of that is hard. I have spent too much time looking at the journey from this perspective.

We pedaled into the unknown toward an unknown future.

But I trusted the One to Whom there are NO UNKNOWNS.

And He is faithful.

We moved out of our house and into suitcases and boxes. And after 96 days of nomadic life, in 7 days we will land in a downsized space in a new place because of this

The real Captain of the tandem is taking us on a new route. It has taken us far from family & friends; from familiar places.

We’ve begun the hunt for a new church, new cycling paths, and new experiences while making effort to maintain our established friendships.

Hard but good.

As I was reading today in the new Proverbs 31 OBS book A Confident Heart, this verse jumped off the page:

“Do not call to mind the former things or ponder the things of the past. Behold I will do something new, now it will spring forth, will you not be aware of it? I will even make a road way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.”

He has made a new road way. A new route.

I am known. I am seen. I am loved & cared for beyond what I can imagine.

You are too. Do you realize it? I forget sometimes. Do you?

I know I too often take my eyes off the One Who is doing these new things and instead I look at the ‘if only’ or ‘I wish’ and I lose sight of the Way He is leading and I get off His route and into the weeds. And get a flat tire. Or stuck. I need help.

Psalm 121 says “I will live up my eyes to the mountains; from where shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.”

The journeys of life can feel like they are taking us on routes away from what is known & familiar & safe & predictable.

But the only true journey is on the route which leads toward the Heart of God. That route may not feel safe. (But He is good.) It’s definitely NOT familiar or predictable.

But this journey is taking me right where I want to end up. In His secure, loving embrace with a whispered “Well done…”

Mystery

September 24, 2013 By Lisa Lewis

Mystery.

Life is not completely any one thing. Life is aspects of variety: tangible 3D stuff paired with intangible, illusive, unexplainable mystery.

Some are uncomfortable with the unknown, the Mystery. They fear that which is unexplainable with their senses, denying existence.

Others are completely bored with the rational, concrete, clearly defined and confined.

I think life is in between.

That’s where I want to live and work. In between. Being respectful of both sides and yet living in the tension between the two extremes. I think that is where I meet with God the best. In between.

I love to walk barefoot on the shore. Not the loose sand beyond the reach of repeated pounding waves but the vulnerable and exposed two times a day shore of low tide. It’s saturated sand is cold packed yet soft; if you stand still you start to settle into it like slow moving quicksand. Along the shore of low tide are the hidden from view finds: sea glass and heart shaped rocks that are my treasures.

Walking in silence, listening to the call of birds, the lapping of waves before the turn of the tide, gives my heart freedom to speak from deep to deep. I see the vast gray blue of the water in early light and see the connection of tangible and intangible. God is vast as the sea is vast.

The metaphors come with each new wave along the shore. The gifts from the sea are His love gifts to me; treasures I seek in time spent alone with Him, walking in His creation, crying, laughing, sighing, reflecting. Alert to His whispers, listening deep, listening long.

The rhythm of the waves lapping as the tide changes gives me a connection; my internal rhythm starts to keep pace with the ebb and flow of the waves. Without looking I know when to step out of the way of an incoming wave threatening to wet my bare feet.
I don’t mind getting wet, but the listening trains my movement, my dance along the shore with Him.

The cool of the sand that never sees enough light to dry is somehow comforting to my steps. I stop to gaze at the collection of tumbled items and my feet start to settle into the sand saturated by ocean left behind; it oozes up between my toes. The rocks and shells mixed together make finding gifts a challenge. Another metaphor emerges: treasures from Him must be sought, sifting through the distractions, softening the gaze to see past the myriad of clutter to find the one piece of sustenance to take away from the shore, the reminder of His love. A piece of glass, the uniquely heart- shaped rock are the tangible treasures that speak of the Mystery that is relationship with the One Who created all things.

What’s one thing that helps you connect with The Mystery?

What is Essential?

September 13, 2013 By Lisa Lewis

Our college freshman texted and asked for a care package with a batch of our family’s chocolate chip cookies. What a sweet request! (no pun intended) There was one problem: I didn’t have anything I needed to bake them for him. All of my kitchen is packed in boxes while we are in transition!

Three weeks have passed since his sweet request. What self-respecting mother waits three weeks to send her son cookies?!

Battling discouragement because of our self-inflicted nomadic life style, I determined to send him homemade cookies. I set off to buy the ingredients, the basic tools and bake a batch of cookies. How hard could that be? I’ve baked them at least once a month for 14 years for heaven’s sake!

No recipe. No baking utensils. No ingredients. I was up for the challenge.

You might simply use the Toll House Cookie recipe on the back of the chocolate chip bag. That’s straightforward. But he wanted our family recipe. Which is in a box, within a box, in a storage unit. So I had to shop from memory.

There’s a story about the recipe (aren’t family recipes like that?). Years ago our oldest son took a cooking class and was challenged to make a significant change to said Toll House recipe and see if the results were edible. He did and they were and continue to be. We call the recipe Matthew’s Chocolate Chip Cookies. No other cookies will do in our house.

Do you have a recipe memorized? I wasn’t sure if I did. But I was bound and determined to give it my best.

Here’s how they turned out. They don’t look like they normally do.

Was it the missing ingredient? (compared with Toll House I left out one thing!)

Or was it the missing gas oven and Pampered Chef stoneware and cookie scoop?

Or was it more than one thing?

What’s the excuse?

We sacrificed our Vegan diet to taste test before mailing.

Texture was different but flavor was yummy.

I mailed them today; the jury is still out on how they really turned out.

I almost let the discouragement and frustration with my circumstances keep me from making every effort to bless someone I love dearly.

Does that happen to you? Do you let one thing keep you from taking the step to bless someone?

Your house isn’t as clean as you’d like it so you don’t invite the new neighbor over for coffee.

You’re too busy to bake for your family so it’s store bought again.

I was faced with the question: what is essential? Will my son stop loving me if the cookies aren’t like he expected them?

Maybe.

Hopefully not.

What is essential in the big scheme of life? (I like to ask myself this question to keep me from spinning out of control)

How you answer that question may be different for you than me, but knowing what is essential is the journey of the spiritual life. I know of these two sisters who initially had different answers to the question of what is essential.

True confession: I am like Martha. I try to be like Mary. Really I do. But I get worried and bothered by so many things…

Like whether or not I have the right tools to bake a batch of cookies. It was enough to make me cry. Then I heard Jesus’s words in my ear…

Lisa, Lisa, you are worried and bothered about so many things, but only one thing is important… slow down and be with Jesus. That stopped me in my tracks. Being with Jesus is my answer to what is essential. Being with Him first makes all the rest of the stuff get in the proper place; after Jesus.

Letting go of what I think is essential and taking on what Jesus knows is essential is a daily transformation. A challenge for sure. But so worth the effort!

Oh and about those cookies. What do you think is one ingredient that can be left out and they’ll still turn out ok? Let me know your answer in the comments!

Deep Breath

September 11, 2013 By Lisa Lewis

This is a view of San Luis Obispo this past Saturday as my husband and I walked across the Jennifer St. Bridge to meet a friend for dinner; our last dinner as residents of SLO.

*sigh*

The SLO life has been my life for 28 years. That exceeds many people’s lives (including my two sons).

Since then we have moved. I wrote about this process a couple of posts ago, but my focus now is not what is behind but what is ahead.

God promises and He comes through. The prophet Isaiah told of things to come:

“I will lead the blind by a way they do not know,
In paths they do not know I will guide them.
I will make darkness into light before them
And rugged places into plains.
These are the things I will do,
And I will not leave them undone.”

Some will tell you this prophecy is for the nation of Israel but when I read what Jesus promised and I look at what Paul also says in 2 Corinthians 4:6

I think God is telling us He will make things new in us and through us.

But I can get in the way; I can hinder the work of God in my life. I have done it many times over many years. *ouch*

This time I said Yes. Our gracious, merciful God has done big things!

My dear husband has been the humble servant of his family for 2 decades (and change). He has taken jobs that allowed us the stability of one home as the boys grew; but his career path really needed to lead out of SLO and far beyond. We tried the long distance commuting life for a time a couple of years ago but that wasn’t good; too tiring and draining rather than life giving. He was patient; not demanding his own way or that his needs be met. His leadership is gentle. He is truly a humble man. I am blessed.

Yesterday he started here in a dream job for an engineer.God saw my husband’s humble way and provided this opportunity out of the blue. He wasn’t looking for them; they found him. He was ready. He was thrilled.

And because God has been at work in me to let go and say yes to whatever He has for us we are now living in a new area. Which is big and crowded and different.

Guess what?

God is bigger. And right here with me. And He is the same yesterday, today and forever. God is trustworthy.

If you read this and think “I could never do that” you’re right. I didn’t do it either. All I did was say I am willing. And I begged God to do the rest.

The adventure with God continues. Want to come along? Let me know what God is doing in your part of the world!

No More Excuses

August 30, 2013 By Lisa Lewis

It’s Friday. Friday is usually a day to ease into a slower pace for the weekend.
Today I am putting a stake in the sand and declaring:
NO MORE EXCUSES!

For longer than I like to admit I have succumbed to the Resistance. Steven Pressfield writes about it in The War of Art, and Do The Work.Check his work out here

I have accepted the lies of ‘you have nothing to offer’, ‘why bother’, and ‘not good enough’ for too long.

I choose this day to place that stake in the ground, to take back the territory that has been given me and begin again. In earnest.

No More ‘I Can’t’

Trusting Who has made me and discovering what He’s made me for is my focus.

A New Ending.

What have you been believing that is keeping you from living a purposeful, intentional Christ-centered life? Leave a comment so I may join you in the battle through prayer.

Learning to Let Go

August 28, 2013 By Lisa Lewis

If you’ve been stopping by for any length of time you know I have the habit of facing hard things. I don’t do that because I am masochistic. I truly believe that God calls each of us to change. I also know how much easier it is to simply live life on auto pilot without really engaging in the process of change.

As a Christ follower you can call change by several names: becoming more Christ-like. Sanctification. Transformation. Dying to self. Learning to Let Go. John the Baptist said it this way: “I must decrease that He might increase.”

I started this post in May. I am finishing it in August. I have experienced the lessons of letting go quite a lot in these 3 months. Our youngest graduated from high school and then took a 3.5 week tour through Europe with a friend; we rented out our home of 15 years; we have moved 3 times so far since June; we deposited our son in his dorm 3000 miles from home; we will be leaving our church community of 18 years and moving again 2 times before the end of September. I mention all this so you know I have some ‘cred’ when I tell you what I’ve learned in the process.

You can take Jesus at His Word. When He said ” I am with you always” He means always.

He showed Himself trustworthy years ago when I didn’t know what trust was supposed to look like. He showed Himself faithful to me when I ignored Him. Jesus has lovingly restored me after my denials just as He did with Peter.

He walked with me through the heartache of letting go: of loved ones when they passed from this life; of the home where we raised our sons; of the sons as they moved on to their next season of life with us as cheerleaders from a long distance; of familiar places, sights, sounds and smells; of my daily routine, just to name a few. So thankful Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.

The most amazing thing happens when I open my clenched fingers to let something or someone go: Jesus is there to take my hand in His. While my fingers have been squeezed tight around a relationship or a thing or my way I haven’t been fully able to cling to Him. The stuff has gotten in the way of a closer walk with Jesus.

Now I want you to know that just because He has asked me to let go in so many ways does not mean that is how He will work in your life. I do know God wants our whole hearted devotion and if there is something or someone that has a higher priority in your time and attention than God does, He may ask you to let go so you can receive a greater thing: a closer, deeper relationship with Him.

He is my constant. He asked me to let go of things that I held dear in little ways as I’ve walked with Him. Serving others instead of myself; giving away items that I treasure; keeping my mouth shut when I want to say ‘I know better’; I learned to let go first of little things before He called me to these big things this year. Because I have gotten to know Jesus well and because He has been Who He says He is, it is easier to let go. Jesus wants to be your constant too. He loves you so much. Will you let go and let Him in?

Of Change & Learning

August 18, 2013 By Lisa Lewis

A great question and ponderous statement were posed to me the other day, one through a book and the other a tweet. Both are thoughts that have run through my head recently but now spoken, I see the opportunity to share reflections for others’ benefit.

The ponderous statement comes from the book “What Happens When Women Say Yes to God” by Lysa TerKeurst. At the end of chapter 3 she encourages the reader to respond to this statement: “Soon, saying yes to God will no longer be a discipline of your heart but rather the delight of your life.”

The great tweet question was sent out by Trisha Goyer asking: “How have you seen God’s renewing work in your life, and in your family, in the last year?”

My response to both Lysa and Trisha comes in the discipline of writing, not just thinking. Jeff Goins encourages in The Writers Manifesto: “It’s time to begin”.

Some events are milestones and some seem ordinary. Milestones are like the peaks of mountains; visible from great distance. Ordinary events, well, they’re ordinary. As crazy as our culture is we discard the ordinary and seek after mountaintop experiences.

I could list the mountaintop, milestone events of this past year for our family: two graduations, a wedding, job changes, moves, starting college. A full year in anyone’s life. Yet it’s not the milestones that have renewed me. I have learned to delight in the ordinary because that is where I live and meet with God.

My website and coaching business name express my view of life: learning along the Way. The ordinary events of life, moments really, are the stuff of holy wonder. A hummingbird hovering above nectar-filled flowers; a heart shaped rock on a sandy shore. The laughter of sons now grown. The sweet memory of little boy giggles (why can’t I see the keyboard right now?)

God is in both the milestone and ordinary events showing Himself in a variety of ways. I have learned acknowledging His Presence makes all circumstances extra-ordinary. In the day to day of laundry, grocery shopping, meal prep, yard work, working outside the home, family and friend relationships, and whatever else is in a day, hitting the pause button to say Thank You has been the take away of this year.

In fact, I will be so bold to say taking time to give thanks to God is His will for those who name His name.

There are many wonderful authors who are writing boldly, pointing to The Way, but one in particular has been used by God to transform and renew my mind this year, Ann Voskamp. Her chronicles at aholyexperience.com consistently bring me to practical awareness of the hushed life with God moments that are every where. If you aren’t reading her writing you are missing out.

This year of saying Yes to God and His transforming work has brought big change in me and in our family: our moving out of our home and into destinations unknown to us has been a huge area of trusting Him moment by moment. I couldn’t have done any of this without the strong, solid foundation of knowing God through His Word and the testimonies of His children. That foundation has been built over decades of learning new choices and ways of being along the Way.

God is faithful. He is at work both in the world and in me to bring about His purposes. Do you know Him? Do you partner with the Creator for others’ good and His glory? If you do, please share what He’s up to in your part of the world. If you’re not sure about your answers, email me and let’s converse!

Of Journals and Journeys

August 6, 2013 By Lisa Lewis

This is the cover of my latest journal. True confession: I am a journal junkie. I love the varieties of textures, covers, and styles of spines; the lined, unlined, or graphed papers. I like them small enough to travel well or book size for the year’s life progress. I use journals to record thoughts and gather quotes; to write out my prayers and reflections on what God is showing me in His Word. I have a journal to count gifts and a journal to keep work notes. I have been journaling since I was a teen, but there’s not a diary format among the ones I have saved. They chronicle the testament of the faithfulness of a good God who loves well and has been working through the circumstances of my life for my good and His glory. My journals are one of the ways I measure change.

I recently took my dozen saved journals down from the shelf and packed them away in preparation for this part of life’s journey we’re on. It was good to see those covers again, knowing the season of life each one represents, and knowing the season is in the process of changing yet again.

This new journal has a specific purpose. It’s my journal of reflections for an online Bible study I have joined. I’ve never done this. 22,000 women have signed up to Say Yes to God through Proverbs 31 ministries. I am privileged to be taking part in the study; to be reading this book at this time. The cover of my journal is perfectly suited. Listen to this quote from the book What Happens When Women Say Yes to God:

“Outside our comfort zone is where we experience the true awesomeness of God.”

I can testify to the truth of that statement.

When I have my hands open and palms up, not clenched around the thing or attitude or “the way we have always done this” or (fill in the blank), then I’m able to receive what God has in mind.

Our comfort zone keeps us insulated from experiencing the awesomeness of God.

We had a stirring that God wanted us to make some changes in our life as this season of full time parenting came to a close. We listened to the prayer requests of some young professional women and realized God wanted us to be part of His answer for them. How awesome is that? To be used by God in the lives of others?

We rented our home of 15 years before we had a place to move. We trusted God with the next step. He provided in the form of a temporary landing spot while a family traveled around the country this summer.

We prayed for a new career move for my dear hubs. He applied; we waited. He interviewed; we waited. My go to statement for this season has been: “What is unknown to us is not unknown to God.” We have been an anomaly to our friends; why we would pull up roots without a place to go or a plan or a clue has been beyond them. It’s been beyond me too at times! Which is why I’m calling this our Abraham Summer.

God called Abram from Haran (in modern day Turkey) to “Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you;” and Abram went. Out into the desert, on foot or on camel. Over 400 miles. We don’t see him asking questions. He packed up his belongings and headed out to the land I will show you. That’s faith. And that’s trust. We don’t have much record of the development of Abram’s faith in God to that point; we know later that Abraham’s faith was reckoned as righteousness.

Trusting God as I move outside my comfort zone has been very challenging and yet very stabilizing in the midst of a lot of work and chaos that comes with sorting and cleaning and shedding stuff. Those who walk with me have seen and shared my tears. It is scary stepping out into unknown territory, leaving what is familiar to accept the Whatever of the future.

Lysa TerKeurst says the whole of Scriptural commands can be summed up in six words: Whatever God says do, do it.

Radical obedience. That was what Abram, who God later called Abraham, did. Why should we be any different?

The family of our temporary digs will be home in 4 days. We will be off on the next part of the journey by then.

Stay tuned. There are more reflections from the road that will be forthcoming.

What has God called you to do that you’re hesitant to do? What is one step of obedience you can take today?

How Do You Measure Change?

August 1, 2013 By Lisa Lewis

A week ago I was in a different state. Not state of mind, although that is true too, but state in this country. All the way across the country from where I live. A day of flights, layovers and missed shuttle later and I was in a hotel with over 700 women gathering for what turned out to be an amazing 3 day conference: She Speaks. There were fabulous speakers, Lysa TerKeurst, Michael Hyatt, Holley Gerth, to give you an idea, and so much learning that I am still processing it all a week later!

Which brings me to the question, How do you measure change? How do you recognize when something is different when it seems change happens subtly?

The change you’re experiencing may come in seconds like a set of waves at the edge of the ocean.

You may be caught off guard, the change comes and you get wet since you weren’t paying attention.

Or change may happen so slowly that you’re not sure what’s different, you just know something is.

Keep an eye on the shape of this creek…

There is a difference of a week between these two shots. Intense power redirected the path of this creek that leads into the vastness of the ocean. In.one.week.

The week before the creek was winding its way to its goal. Now it is a straighter path.

A week ago I was eager. Now I am reflective. I am full of learning and now slowly processing the impact of change.

How do you measure change? How do you know it’s happened?

Hezekiah on his sick bed cried out to God for more time on this earth; God heard and answered through the prophet Isaiah that Hezekiah would have 15 more years of life. How was that change measured? The shadow of the sun went back up the stairs 10 steps. (read the story here)

The change was measurable. It was recorded for us to read.

How are your changes measured? Through your memory only? Or do you record change for reflection, for your family, for the future generations to look back on?

How are you capturing the changes in your life?

New Life from…Pond Scum?

July 22, 2013 By Lisa Lewis

Ever had one of those days when you long to be involved in something more, something grand, and instead your day is filled with laundry, or diapers, or emails? I have come to the realization that the something more is at hand, always.

“It has always seemed to me. ever since early childhood, amid all the commonplaces of life, I was very near to a kingdom of ideal beauty. Between it and me hung only a thin veil. I could never draw it quite aside, but sometimes a wind fluttered it and I caught a glimpse of the enchanting realms beyond-only a glimpse-but those glimpses have always made life worthwhile.”(Anne of Green Gables, L.M. Montgomery)

This quote from one of my all time favorite book series says it perfectly. This morning was one of those glimpses for me. This may not look like much of a glimpse of ideal beauty; it’s pond scum! But look closely and you may just be able to see the joy that I glimpsed…Those tiny green dots are evidence of hope. It’s not gross. With the proper perspective one may see…New life from the pond scum.

Some days I feel like pond scum. I have been irritable, impatient, demanding my own way and generally no fun to be with. Slimy and gross. And yet, the One who has redeemed my soul from the pit chooses to work through my scum to bring new life. And while He does so He abundantly blesses beyond all we can think or imagine. In fact, if you look closely at the photo on the lower left side there are two, yes TWO, heart shaped rocks just sitting there for us to see. Love gifts just laying around for those who have eyes to see. For us to glimpse the enchanting realms beyond.

God loves us, people! He gave up everything to come here, become like us and then pay for our souls with His own life. How great the Father’s love for us, how vast beyond all measure…

I gladly offer my pond scummy self up to Him to bring forth new life for His glory and others good.

How about you?