Maybe I just don’t remember a Thanksgiving celebration quite so impactful, but this one certainly goes to the top of my favorites list. As I surveyed the faces, I recognized the presence of countless miracles gathered in one room. In particular, God used the miracle of Uncle Jim to teach me perhaps one of the … More Uncle Jim’s Thanksgiving
No one has it easy. This world is rock hard and dimly lit. We’re all struggling individually and as couples to keep our eyes focused on Jesus. Yet, when we come together the light of Jesus in each of the ten of us makes the room bright. … More Better Together
Just recently, even though our circumstances have not changed, a door stands illuminated at the edge of our waiting room. I don’t think I’ve ever noticed it there. I imagine Jesus, who embodies light, has placed a spotlight on the door of acceptance. As I ponder life with Him, I realize it’s time. He is beckoning us to walk through this door. … More The Door of Acceptance
God has much to say to me about the way I speak, my tone and the appropriate use of speech for love and blessing. Very early in my discipleship a friend directed me to the book of James. Knowing how much I love the gift of gab, my heart was pricked, and I began to take seriously the many reproofs regarding an uncontrolled tongue. … More I Have a Voice
The thing is we know it’s a lie. We know it’s stinkin’ thinkin’. Yet even when we agree that the wheel isn’t making us stronger, we find it difficult to step off. We want to BE STRONG! … More Be Strong?
Fretting might be the easiest “go to” activity in a waiting room. However, God says don’t fret – don’t worry. Then He offers all of these other activities to take the place of worrying about circumstances we can’t control anyway. … More Actively Waiting
I know. Most of us are actually very scared right now. Some of us are more bold and brave and will message the two people as a reach for a hand. Others of us, are asking Jesus to make the introductions. And a few of us are considering whether they want to ask Jesus to open even a window let alone a full door for relationship. … More Open, Reach, Do It Scared
No, I am really curious. Seriously, I want to know. What is it that you experience through your five senses that would cause you to volunteer or apply or simply jump in the middle? … More What Makes You Want to Join?
The extraordinarily beautiful and prosperous fruit tree which has grown up in the middle of this practice is a body of faith. We are none the same, but frequently gathered together to share in the abundant fruit of the Spirit of God. We have needed it – desperately needed this – during the most challenging season of our lives. The prayers of the saints have been powerful and effective, but even more so tenacious for us (all of us) to witness breakthrough after breakthrough. … More None the Same; Gathered As One
My questions about God were many and constant. In rare, unguarded moments of conversation with high school and college friends, I wondered aloud if God was interested in the details of our lives. Most people with whom I chatted seemed to think that the only answer to my ponderings was a sincere – No – for a variety of reasons. … More Does He Notice Me?
As a child who had not read the Bible and had rarely attended church, how is it that I could have such a simple faith in God and His Sovereignty? … More No Other
Did you listen? The video. Did you listen? If you didn’t take time to listen to the video, will you? Please? What did you hear? The surf. As you listen to the surf, what are your impressions bubbled to the surface? Did you listen for the full 28 seconds? Or did you quickly move on … More Listening Up Close and Personal
Before I loose you to resignation or hopelessness. Let’s ponder on the good news. Please. Stop. Sit back down. Relax for a moment. Take a deep breath. Your problem isn’t going anywhere while we take a look at the really good news. … More Problem? No Problem!
By the third day, our beach observations had made an amusing connection. We looked out onto the water at the mass of surfers quite numerous divided into several “small groups” with an occasional loner off to one side or the other. My man and I laughed as we identified ourselves according to social surfers and the loners. … More Community is a Gift
Do you ever wonder, while feeling particularly lugubrious on occasion, why God doesn’t just crumple up His creation and start over? … More Why Doesn’t He?
Resisting the temptation to feel alone as I peddled down the bike trail, I turned my attention to Jesus. Remembering the words I frequently tell others, I made a decision to put my eyes on Jesus and shine. It was going to be a great bicycle adventure! … More A Song Pours Forth
What I plan will change. And when I think for a moment I control my days, I’m guaranteed a lesson to confirm the opposite is true.
Read more @ http://www.lisabrittain.com … More Want a Guarantee?
So, now how about making the move with me. Click here and when you get to Eyes on Jesus and Shine at http://www.lisabrittain.com go ahead and click your way into the site. To subscribe simply click the Subscribe button and complete the form. That way we’ll be able to stay in touch and continue to encourage one another on our journey home. … More Pause/
The best Saturday of my Life This day, May 21, 1988, at 2 PM in the afternoon marked the fulfillment of many years of dreaming and months of planning for yours truly and groom. After a week of South Florida spring rains and my incessant begging of God for a sunny wedding day, my perfect … More Saturday Share with Lisa
Continue over at my new website…
http://www.lisabrittain.com
At the end of our five weeks together, we joined in fellowship around a table to share a meal and discuss some of our gleanings from our time together. One woman suggested that we continue together through the summer by writing creatively on one word. She asked if I would be willing to send out ‘a word’ a week for each of us to ponder and write about.
Obviously, I said, “Of course, I would love to do this summer creative writing with y’all!” And here we are with our first word:
bittersweet … More A One Word Ponder: bittersweet
Welcome to Saturday Share! The purpose of this weekly feature is to provide a space for regular people to share their real-life encounters with Jesus. It’s about living in the middle – on the way to the finish line. Our race isn’t finished as long as there’s still breath in our lungs. I believe we … More Saturday Share with Ruth Snell
That’s me! That’s what I need. I need a renewal of my mind. In fact, it occurred to me as I read these words this morning that most of the conversations I’ve enjoyed with friends lately have included these words from my mouth. I’m declaring it openly. My mind is tired. I recognize that my thoughts are often fractured. … More Are you IN?
Truth. Outside of my immediate family, I’ve never been so challenged to speak the truth in love, keep short accounts, and forgive with extravagance. Leading multi-faceted people in one unified direction is not for the faint of heart. Honestly, I was humbled by my consistent need to ask forgiveness for myself. My knees and my heart were raw in a good tenderized kind of way by the end of my term. … More Saturday Share with Me: Life and Truth With Motherly Love
Perhaps making your bed in the morning is beyond your capacity as you prepare for the day. Or you just never developed this habit. Either way, I want us to walk together as we unpack the need for making sacred space. … More Saturday Share with Mary Geisen
Rejoice, rejoice and press on…
How does one do this? I’m honestly asking. How does a finite person of limited power and ability choose not to look at the circumstances? What will cause my eyes to turn to things above? … More Five Minute Friday: Turn
Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all and is in all. Colossians 3:11 other: a: being the one (as of two or more) remaining or not included; held on with one hand and waved with the other one b: being the one or ones distinct from that or those first mentioned or … More The Other Side
When I saw the train I slammed on my brakes, but they locked up and that’s when a full-fledged panic plunged deep into my heart. I knew then what was ahead of us. I was certain I was about to meet my Maker and take my children with me. My husband was about to lose his entire family with one single blow. … More Saturday Share with Jēnna Shook
Go back to last weeks post by clicking here. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ So, just in case, this is my one chance to cross paths with you, I want you to know: You are loved. You are not lost. You can go home. Your story matters. You can go home to God, the Father. Seek the Lord while He may be … More If I had only one chance – week 3
Release When I ponder the word release today my thoughts go right to my parents and their garden. It’s a fairly small plot of land, but for six years they’ve planted and tended and reaped a great harvest of vegetables. All of us who live nearby have benefited too from their garden as they have … More FMF: Release
It perhaps seems odd that I chose this quite manly devotional book for a book review. Except for the fact that I am surrounded by men in my family. Therefore, I have experienced much of football firsthand with all the smells and laundry, the commitment of time, money and energy and the reward of team … More Book Review: Always Fall Forward by Todd Gerelds
There’s a multitude of “rock and a hard place” scenarios my mind could ponder. Sometimes the outcome doesn’t seem quite as assuredly joyous as the birth of a baby. The rocky place of unemployment and serious health concerns in which we currently find ourselves offers decidedly daunting outcomes. None of the options are appealing right now, and there’s a temptation to throw hands in the air and just settle. … More He didn’t settle
Welcome to Saturday Share! The purpose of this weekly feature is to provide a space for regular people to share their real-life encounters with Jesus. It’s about living in the middle – on the way to the finish line. If we still have breath to tell our stories then our race isn’t finished. I believe … More Saturday Share with Anna Smit
Even in the routine, following Jesus is anything but routine. Does that sound like just another catchy phrase to put on a picture and post on Instagram or is this a true statement? I’m pondering this idea of routine early this morning before the routine of my life begins. As I meet with Father in prayer … More Looking beyond the routine
Dreams came true, prayers were answered, miracles happened, and before I knew it, everything was different. Our family is united, it’s whole, we are a team. There’s a little smirk I get on my face when I talk about it as if I’m giving myself a pat on the back. … More Saturday Share with Brad Milford
There is a longing in all of us to be found. We want to be seen and heard. Even when we’re hiding we hope someone will come and scoop us up into loving arms make everything good again. Our hearts were designed for love, for intimacy, and for belonging. … More If I had only one chance – Week 2
Prodigal, what does it really mean? I’ve pondered long over this English word and its meaning for a number of days now. Knowing how the word is most often used I felt sure I knew the definition. So, without looking it up in a dictionary, I wrote out my own definition of the word prodigal. … More Lavish Grace & Steadfast Love
Perhaps winter has dragged on a bit… and you’re ready for something energizing and exciting to get your heart pumping and the blood flowing through your veins with enthusiasm to feel alive and on purpose again, then I’ve got an answer. Buy a copy of Breaking Cover by Michele Rigby Assad and read it cover … More Book Review: Breaking Cover
Obesity is so painful. We’re out of control and you can see it so we hide! We hide and eat. Then we’re too tired to do much else. Our world’s shrink down to only what we have to do. Our bodies hurt, and so does our soul. We simply struggle and pretend to get by. Certainly NOT the abundant life, huh? … More Saturday Share with Jessica Dudley
We sat together, a group of women ranging in age from young mommy to less young with grown children (like me), around several tables pushed in to make one. The chatter was bountiful as we brightened our doodle sheets with many colors. The word LOVE was sketched vertically down the black and white page our … More O Lord, I’m tired…
I thoroughly enjoyed this book by Lincee Ray. I actually like green beans so she and I disagree there, but otherwise, I found myself nodding along in agreement. Lincee’s writing style is humorous and down to earth. She comes across as real and vulnerable. Each time I sat down to read another chapter I felt … More Book Review: Why I hate green beans
You might argue that I don’t know you. I don’t know where you’ve been. Maybe you would counter with the truth that I don’t know what you’ve done in the past or how you are living today. I pretty much know the arguments by heart because most of them were my own arguments to refute the idea God could love me. … More If I had only one chance…
Welcome to Saturday Share! The purpose of this weekly feature is to provide a space for regular people to share their real-life encounters with Jesus. It’s about living in the middle – on the way to the finish line. If we still have breath to tell our stories then our race isn’t finished. I believe … More Saturday Share with Bettie Gilbert
For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 2 Corinthians 7:10 esv The word set out for us to ponder today is {regret}. I get that word. I know it. I’ve known it and have held it or rather IT has held me. And I think that … More FMF: Choosing Redemption Over Regret
One way He has been doing that in this past year has been through a Titus 2 woman on the other side of the world. A Grandma of faith who has learnt through deep wounding of her own, how to open her palms and release basket after basket. This woman has taught me that there is Strength to be found in confessing my pride, anger, bitterness, and unforgiveness. In repenting before my sisters and brothers in Christ. … More Saturday Share with Anna Smit
For a long, long time I wanted to blame the enemy for wreaking destruction. I’ve given into the temptation too and blamed most of the people who love me most, including my Father who loves me best. Yet, I am the one who had a choice to believe in the goodness of God and trust in His faithfulness. I am the one who bought the cheap lies and allowed the enemy to leave my secret heart in ruins. … More Beauty: A broken heart and crushed spirit
We were so carefree back then; singing and dancing without a care for what anyone thought. These are the memories which have caused me to run to Jesus recently asking Him what happened to my freedom to laugh big and sing loud. When did I become so inhibited? … More A Friend for All Seasons
Doesn’t it make sense I would ask for the fruit of love, joy, and peace to be evident in my life? Surely no one would question me asking for a bumper crop of kindness, goodness, faithfulness or gentleness? And don’t we all ask for a bushel more self-control in our lives? … More FMF: Why would I ask for that?
But this is where my heart gets encouraged. Young Hezekiah, rather than grumbling, blaming, punishing or shaming, rolled up his kingly sleeves and got to work on a restoration plan. He reminds me of young friends in my city who have a heart for renewal and restoration, as well as a revival in the hearts of God’s people. … More Renovation Anyone?
The #31days2019 writing challenge has been quite an interesting adventure. I’ve participated in this annual October event for a number of years, and not one year has been like another. In fact, I’m pretty sure that’s part of the draw for me. What’s unusual about this year is that I’ve given myself a whole lot … More Consistently Pondering
Trees were an important part of my childhood. Some of my fondest memories are wrapped around the enormous ficus tree, which lived in the center of our cul de sac. The Ficus branches were enough for all the children on the street to claim their own. And with seniority came the right to move up … More Grounded Deep
Embracing Life in the Midst of the Unexpected
Gaining a heart of wisdom
Helping you pursue a life fully devoted to Jesus
Bringing encouragement and inspiration for your day!
Seeds of Strength Hope & Encouragement
sensing the sacred in the everyday
Finding a new heart while walking through chronic illness (Ezekiel 36:26)
Waiting for Sticky Notes
