I usually try to pull together some thoughts and get them sent out the first of each month in the form of a blog. I won’t be doing that this month. For us all December is such a busy month. I’m trying to decide what to buy grown kids and a Scrooge for a husband.

I have a trip planned to see that precious grand baby this weekend, so Christmas will come early in South Carolina. I’ve been prepping for that, buying little-kid toys for the first time in over a decade. Too. Much. Fun!

If all that wasn’t enough, I am trying to complete the manuscript for my new, nonfiction book this month. Almost there! Now that I’m on the down-hill slide, I can better establish a timeframe for publishing. Though I had hoped for a February release, it will instead be Spring of 2019 before I have the print version ready. If all goes as planned, we will have preview chapters available in February, the month of love.

All that said, I’m hoping your hectic month is filled with peace that only Jesus can bring. It takes effort on our part to stop and breath and remember that Jesus is the reason for this season. So in between Hallmark movies, shopping, and planning for family gatherings, grab hold of small moments of peace and joy by leaning into Jesus.

Many blessings to you and yours this season.
Grace and peace,
Lisa

I can be one of those people I hate most – a know it all. I get so entrenched in what I believe and wonder how anyone else might not see things the way I do. If it helps, I’m getting better, or at least I’m getting better at hiding it. In my early adult years, I had to prove I was right. These days, I’m more able to let things slide, especially the inconsequential issues.

What changed in me? One phrase: Do I want to be right, or do I want to be like Jesus? Not that Jesus didn’t speak the truth; He absolutely did. I notice, though, in His dealings with people how He would lay out the truth and then allow them to process His words. He didn’t scream and yell to make His point. I sincerely believe He wasn’t making backhanded comments on Facebook or calling people out on Twitter. He spoke the truth in love and left it there for the person to grapple with on his or her own.

I think of the case of the rich young ruler found in Mark 10. When he asked Jesus what must be done to inherit eternal life, Jesus began by listing a few of the Ten Commandments. The man said he had done all of those things. In his mind he had followed all the laws and figured that would be enough. Then Jesus took the conversation to the next level by peering into the man’s heart and challenging what was most important to him, his money. In the account Mark tells, the young man went away sorrowful.

What happens next is Jesus using the moment to teach His disciples. He didn’t run after the guy, trying to hammer home His point or guilt the man into falling in line. That’s not what love does. Love speaks the truth and then loves the one who may not yet believe that truth.

We all come to understand deeper revelation at different times. So when we know something, especially a spiritual truth that someone else hasn’t been enlightened to, our only option is to tell and even show what we believe when possible. Beyond that, it is the work of the Spirit to open the eyes of the person in disagreement with you. Or maybe the work of the Spirit will open yours. I can’t count the number of times I’ve dug in on a matter only to be led towards a new or varying perspective over time.

I just know this: When we care more about being like Jesus and less concerned with being right, love wins every time.

Love is victorious when we love unexpectedly. I have seen the result of that in two cases recently when the surprised person was moved nearly to tears by unexpected love from someone of whom they expected the worst reaction.

Love declares a win when we look more like Jesus and less like a know it all. We can know it all and know little of love.

I pray I learn to love more unexpectedly and demonstrate it more willingly. Just because someone doesn’t believe what I believe, love freely given may win them back. That’s a lesson we could all stand to learn, especially us know it alls.

It’s okay to know stuff. Just be kind and love one another until they get a clue. 😉

Blessings to you and yours,
Lisa

Recently, the road in front of our house was repaved, a long overdue project. Prior to repaving, the crews widened the road a little, so now our narrow and often treacherous road is safer. The first few days I drove on the newly paved road, I was excited – chalk that up to a less than adventurous life. Soon, though, within days of the new pavement, someone lost a paint can out of the bed of their truck and left a big splatter of blue paint on the road just a few doors down from me.

Now, my fresh new road is smeared and doesn’t feel quite so fresh and new. I know the painter or do-it-yourselfer didn’t mean to lose that paint can. It wasn’t intentional, but still, they were careless and paint happened.

I’ve considered that splatter in regards to life. Just when things are going well, someone comes along and splatters your life with unwanted drama or takes advantage of your kindness or wounds you with their careless choices. Those things happen all the time, leaving us with a mess to clean up. Some messes can’t be cleaned and leave a lasting residue right where you have to look at it each day.

When it comes to the road, time will fade the color. Years from now that blue spatter of paint will wear away and leave only a hint of color. Given enough time, a road crew will come along and repave altogether.

It’s the same with life. Time doesn’t heal all wounds, but wounds eventually scar over. It may take years or decades, but the hurt that others cause will become part of your past. If you’re wise, you will choose forgiveness early on even when forgiveness isn’t sought by the offending party. Forgiveness frees you. Forgiveness allows the splatter to fade faster. In the long run for the believer, repaving will come as we spend eternity in a place where blue paint spatters no longer matter.

It’s sad to say, but I’ve been the blue paint splatter in the lives of others. My choices and actions have hurt the people I love. Most likely, you’ve done the same. Now, I try to be more aware of how my words and actions can cause harm. I still fail and imagine I always will, but I am working toward the goal of greater kindness and wiser choices. May the same be said of you.

Paint happens to us all. We splatter. We get splattered. What we choose to do with it makes all the difference in whether the paint mars our lives or becomes part of some greater masterpiece of color.

What can you do with this today? Consider the blue paint splattered around your life. Are you harboring damage-causing bitterness? Have you splattered the lives of those around you? These are questions which should lead you to pray and ask for direction. I’m in a position now where I need to consider some actions of my own. I’ve prayed but still don’t know what steps to take to make amends. In that case I will continue to pray. I want to choose obedience, but since I don’t yet see what that requires of me, I will wait. I do commit, however, to be obedient when the answer comes. I pray you will do the same.

If you have a paint splatter to share, I am always interested in hearing back from you.