Tag: 30 Days of Lists

Summer is for . . .Doing (and Being)!

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17 ESV)

photo-013There’s a time to be still, and a time to be active.

As I close out the 30 Days of Lists series, I smile because today’s prompt is “My To-Do List.” An interesting prompt, as I wonder what to do in July. What shall I focus on? I found this little book (pictured above) for a quarter at a garage sale. A fun book to thumb through as I explore how to BE fifty!

What shall I do with myself now?

I have ideas, like start reading from my summer book list or start writing to the prompts from the two websites that I signed up for, and savor the Scriptures from the Virtual VBS.

But whatever I choose to do with the rest of my summer, I want to do it with the Lord Jesus as my teacher and guide. I am thankful that He is rekindling my appetite for His word, His presence and writing down my journey with Him in my journal.

I am thankful for lists, for prompts, for companions, for travel, for activity, for solitude, for silence, for music. I am thankful that I can BE still, as well as BE active.

I appreciate To-Do Lists that keep me on track, but I also like the practice of keeping a To-Be list. I have found that when I am true to my created self, reflecting the love and grace of Jesus to those around me, my To-Do list takes on a whole new level of joy and anticipation.

I notice myself living and breathing and moving by the prompts of the Holy Spirit dwelling within.

Thanks for joining me on this 30 Days of Lists! I am going to take a few days off, and will be back to let you know how I’m DOing soon!

BE . . . enjoying your summer!

What’s on your To-Do List? Have you ever considered keeping a To-Be List?

 

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Summer is for . . . Learning!

Teach me to do your will,
    for you are my God.
May your gracious Spirit lead me forward
    on a firm footing. (Psalm 143:10 NLT)

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I love learning new things. A couple years ago, I realized that it helped me to have a focus for each month. This year I’ve noticed that each month a certain word pops into my mind, and that becomes my lens for the month.

Words so far have been: explore, perspective, pace, hope, benedictions and lists.

For July, I am leaning towards “learn” as my guiding word. I want to discern God’s will for this season of life, continue to develop my journal keeping practice, to discover more techniques for art journaling and to decide what direction to take with blogging and my souldare business plans.

Below are some resources that have come across my radar, as possible ways to keep my writing and art journaling skills honed.

My dear friend, Carolyn Sonntag, gave me a Scripture memory journal.

I’m continuing the 2015 ICAD Challenge by Daisy Yellow.

Writing challenges:

FLOW: 30 Day Journal Project by Lisa Sonora

The 30 Day Journal Project is a FREE challenge to help you tap your creative source and make something you love. #30DAYJOURNAL

The Warrior Writing 28 Day Challenge by Laura Probert (recommended by one of my art students)

What do you enjoy learning about? How does learning feed your soul?

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Summer is for . . . Reading!

In that day the deaf will hear words read from a book,
    and the blind will see through the gloom and darkness.
The humble will be filled with fresh joy from the Lord.

(Isaiah 29:18-19a)

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My summer reading list tends to be ambitious. I am a book nibbler. And so books that I never finish keep making it back on to my list each summer. Slaughterhouse Five captures my attention, and I like the voice of the narrator, but for some reason I put it down before finishing. I’ve never read the complete trilogy of The Lord of the  Rings, although I have seen the movies and remember fondly finishing The Hobbit in seventh grade. My first long book followed by Little Women sealed my  love for reading great stories.

I like to dip into fiction and non-fiction. Therefore my list includes a little bit of each.

Besides the books pictured above, which include a devotional and the Literary Study Bible, I will be reading through Jesus Calling and The Language of Letting Go. I try to read from each of these and the Scriptures daily. My journaling friend, Dawn, just recommended a great resource for a Bible reading plan, where you read a different genre from the Bible each day of the week.

My love for journaling has been rekindled through Dawn’s enthusiasm for the topic, so I was searching Pinterest for some resources and journaling prompts. One blogger includes a list of books about journaling in the linked post.

To me keeping a journal and reading go hand in hand. I write about what I read. I can process what a Scripture means to me through writing about it. I record quotes in my journal or a favorite verse from the Bible. If a word catches my attention, I grab my favorite dictionary to look up its meaning. There’s nothing like a dictionary dig to satisfy this word loving heart of mine.

What books do you want to read this summer?

 

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Summer is for . . . S’more Lists!

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9-11 ESV)

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Eating s’mores around the campfire is one of my favorite summer treats. Writing lists is one of my favorite ways to quickly collect my thoughts on paper. Thinking about what I’d rather be doing is one of my all time favorite ways of passing time.

This afternoon I am passing time by catching up on my “30 Days of Lists” quest, which has ushered me into the early days of summer.

Here are the lists from the past few days:

A Few of My Favorite Things (Or a Gratitude List): I love summer! Sitting by the pool, drinking ice cold lemonade, riding my bike, relaxing in our hammock, boating the Mississippi River, spending time with my husband, extended family and friends, being outdoors, reconnecting with the Creator of the Universe in His creation, a more relaxed pace . . . these things and more generate thankfulness in my heart.

Reasons that I Make/Like Lists: Listing things is a way of listening for me. My idea generating mind needs a concrete way to document my thoughts quickly; lists help me capture ideas, lists bring me joy as I notice the variety within a topic, lists help me remember what to do, what to buy, what to pack, what comes next. Some lists are linear like a weekly calendar, others are random like “why I like lists.” I make lists to keep track of things, to remind myself of the abundant life I have been given, to celebrate milestones, to celebrate God’s grace, to celebrate life. Lists are an easy way to manage unruly thoughts that chug through my mind over and over again. Lists help me download information. I make lists to capture my vibrant imagination. Listing things is a way of seeing for me.

Things I’d Rather Be Doing Right Now: reading a book, watching a cooking show or a good movie, eating popcorn, drinking ice cold lemonade, making a list of what vacations I’d like to go on or of what books I’d like to read this summer, enjoying a custard from Ted Drewes, visiting the zoo to see the new polar bear exhibit, riding my bike, lounging in my hammock, thinking about new things I’d like to put in a list

What are a few of your favorite things? Why do you make lists? What would you rather be doing right now?

I just thought of another reason that I like lists; they’re FUN!

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Summer is for . . . Playing!

God’s love is meteoric,
    his loyalty astronomic,
His purpose titanic,
    his verdicts oceanic.
Yet in his largeness
    nothing gets lost;
Not a man, not a mouse,
    slips through the cracks. (Psalm 36: 5-6)

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As summer begins, life keeps bumping into us. If I had it my way, summer would be exempt from problems, bumps, bruises or major life changes. No one would be grieving or hearing bad, sad or mad news. Summer to me would be a lot like heaven. No more tears or fears or worries.

But real life has it’s ups and downs, and sometimes life feels like an inside out, backwards shirt or a burnt upside down pineapple cake.

I would like to return to following my 30 Days of Lists prompts, but these next ones seem frivolous compared to the painful situations buffeting my heart. Watching and waiting with friends who are facing hard times. Watching my own heart spiral down, when I listen to the news or think about how life changes.

But somehow, even in the midst of the harder moments, thinking about happier times and “play” can lift my heart. I don’t need to spiral into a gloomy mood. I can rest my head on my Savior’s shoulder, so to speak. And He reminds me that He is actively absorbing all the pain of this world. And He’s not asking me to bear it alone.

Today, I spent time looking for colorful images to cheer up a friend who is facing cancer treatment. And I hesitated to add the word play. She might not feel like playing, but I know her heart longs for it. So I pray today that she embraces the joy of the Lord, even in the midst of this sidetracked summer.

I head back to the lists, so we can all dream of the adventures God may have in store for us whether we face rainy days or billowy, bright sunshiny days.

Road Trip Must Haves: healthy snacks, water, fruit, boiled eggs, road atlas and the GPS, loom knitting, books, music, comfy clothes, conversation, travel games. (Rest stop rule: Must be able to see the golden arches before we pull off highway for a pit stop.)

Recipes to Try: Here’s a link to Summery Recipes on my Pinterest boards.

A Quote about Summer:

What summer list of lists would be complete without some ideas for summer recreation: water-park, backyard bible club, water balloons, go-carts, cupcake bake-off, ride bikes, explore the woods, picnic in the park, library day, s’more frappe day, memorize Scripture, read a good book

And lastly, a little poem I penned called Today I Saw

peas dangling
ready to be plucked
from the vine
dancing in the breeze
against the chicken wire
fence
that keeps bunnies from
the cabbage, beans and
squash plants
a few weeds to pull-
cilantro gone to seed
herbs and vegetables
straining towards the
summer sunshine
after the spring rains

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