Author: Lisa Preuett

I am a wife and a mom, but most importantly a follower of Jesus Christ. I am truly blessed beyond measure and it is my goal to live passionately for Him. The insight He shows me is not just meant for myself, but is to be shared with whoever needs encouragement, inspiration, and hope to walk this journey of faith together.

Remembering God’s Blessings

Lisa Preuett

Psalm 77: 11-12 “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds”

These words from Psalm encourage us to remember the mighty deeds of God. Meditating on all that God has done seems like a wise thing to do. But if you read the beginning verses of this chapter, you’ll see the reasoning behind the urgency. When the psalmist penned these words, he was in distress. In fact, in verse 2 he says this: “…my soul refused to be comforted.” He goes on to explain that his spirit feels faint and that he’s too troubled to even speak.

But here’s the crucial turning point. Don’t miss this! Instead of wallowing in his turmoil and focusing on his despair, he chooses something else. He decides to focus on the goodness of God in days past. He fixes his heart on the miracles and mighty deeds of his Lord. He remembers how God redeemed his people. And he doesn’t just briefly mention this in these two verses. If you keep reading, he dedicates the entire next chapter(Psalm 78) to recalling in detail all the wondrous acts of God.

So what exactly does this mean for us? I think it’s powerful insight for us to notice that he wrote these things down. He didn’t just tuck them somewhere in the back of his mind. He intentionally wrote them down! By the time he gets to the end of Psalm 78, his focus is no longer on himself but is on the goodness of God.

What if we followed his example? What if we too decided to record the deeds of God in our own lives?

Our family started what we call a blessing journal several years ago. We began writing down answered prayers. We also recorded any blessings–especially the unexpected ones–in this journal. Some days we would simply write down things we were thankful for. Over the years, those once blank pages began to fill up with powerful testimony of God’s provision for our family.

But do you know when our blessing journal became most powerful? It became most powerful when our family was walking through difficult trials. Trials when we were discouraged, in distress and in need of comfort. Sound familiar to the words of our writer in Psalm 77?

Something amazing happened when we would pull out that blessing journal. We would read back through the pages of times when God provided, blessed and comforted us. We were reminded of his faithfulness, goodness and his ultimate sovereignty. Reading through the journal didn’t change our current circumstances, but it changed our perspective. 

One specific time that still strikes me  is when my husband was in a season of  disappointment. He was feeling quite discouraged and doubtful. I pulled out our blessing journal and turned back to pages which described God’s provision for our family in a previous difficult season. After reading those pages and remembering God’s faithfulness, my husband’s spirit was lifted!

And just like the writer of Psalm 77 and 78, the reminder of God’s faithfulness changes our perspective and redirects our focus.

Recording God’s blessings in a journal not only reminds us of his faithfulness, but it can be a powerful tool for our children.

We would let our children record their own answered prayers in the family journal. An answered prayer for a lost pet to come back home and success on a difficult test at school were recorded in their own handwriting. And there have been many times my daughter has read through our journal of God’s faithfulness in the years before she was even born. One day she asked me this profound question: “Mom, one day when I’m older, will you give this journal to me to keep?”

That moment really hit me hard! In a sense I believe she was asking permission to hold on to our family’s journey of God’s provision for a future time when we will no longer be here. What a legacy to leave her! A written testimony of God’s goodness. Things she would forget at some point if they were not written down.

I challenge you today to do the same thing we have done. Begin recording the prayers God has answered. Write down in ink the blessings He’s showered upon you. Date them so you know exactly when God intervened.

It may not seem like a big deal to do this when all is well in your world. But I promise you this: your written stories of God’s provision will leap off the page and pour strength and hope into your heart during your weary days of distress. Do it for your sake. Do it for your children’s sake. And above all, do it to bring honor and glory to the one who deserves it most…your faithful God!

Psalm 77: 11-12 “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds.”

blessing journal

Leave a comment and give me your feedback to let me know how you’re doing on starting your own blessing journal.

Blessings to you!

Lisa Preuett

http://www.reststopforthesoul.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Brother is a Hero

Lisa Preuett

When you hear the word hero, who do you think of? Maybe you envision your favorite super-hero like Superman or Batman. A victim in distress cries out for help, and just in the nick of time, the hero steps in to save the day. Or maybe you think of policemen, fire fighters or soldiers rescuing people in an emergency.

I agree that all of the above fit the description of hero, but today I put the spotlight on someone else… My brother, Jeff. For those who don’t know him, he is the epitome of a servant leader. He always puts others’ needs ahead of his own. He loves with actions and not just mere words. He recently went above and beyond the command to love others.

Jesus commands us to love our neighbor and goes on to say that our neighbor is anyone in need. Jeff’s brother-in-law,Chris, had a very desperate need. Fighting against the disease of diabetes, Chris stood  at a critical crossroad recently. Functioning only at 15%, his kidneys were failing miserably. He was to the point that unless he had a kidney transplant, he’d have to begin dialysis immediately. Unless a family member or friend was an exact match, his name would be added at the bottom of a  long waiting list.

Time was running out.

Enter our hero, Jeff. Just in the nick of time. He saved the day. He didn’t step in to fight anyone. He stepped up to fight for someone. He was a perfect match to donate one of his kidneys to Chris.

When you hear the word donate, maybe you think of someone writing a check to their favorite charity. Maybe you think of digging through your closet to give outgrown clothes to Goodwill. But donate takes on a much deeper meaning when you give a part of your body to someone else so they can live. There is no physical pain in writing a check. There is no physical pain in giving away household items.

But having your body cut open and a surgeon removing an organ? This involved physical pain. It’s a pain I can’t identify with. But for a short time just two days after the surgery, I got only a tiny glimpse of my brother’s pain. It seemed that merely breathing was painful to him as he sat propped up in a chair, hardly able to keep his eyes open (even with a football game on TV). Witnessing this moment brought tears to my eyes. Tears of JOY for seeing up close what real love looks like.

I can’t think of a better example of sacrificial giving. An example of selfless love. Love in its purest form.

We live in a society where the word love is used so flippantly. Many people say they love someone, yet it’s all about what the other person can do for them. This false love is manipulation in disguise to satisfy selfish desires.

True love goes way beyond this. True love gives freely with no thought of self. True love doesn’t have strings attached.

Jeff didn’t give Chris his kidney to get something in return or to manipulate him. Jeff gave his kidney to Chris because of love. Period. Nothing else. Just pure love.

A love that says I care enough about you to give you a better quality of life.

A love that says I sacrificially give part of myself to you.

A love that says despite the pain, you can count on me.

So how can someone love like this? Where does this kind of love come from? It comes from God above–who demonstrated unconditional love to us when Jesus hung on a cross. He endured our pain knowing that in the long run, it would give us hope, a new life and a fierce passion to love others like He did.

And when we love deeply like this, it points others to Jesus. This is the kind of love He calls us to give.

I’ve never been more proud of my brother. It doesn’t surprise me that he did this. This is just who he is. He’s a real hero in my eyes. Jeff  doesn’t like to be in the spotlight, but the reason I can truly call him a hero is because of the inner light permeating from the core of his heart. That light is a reflection from his hero…..Jesus.

John 15:13 “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

chris and jeff at hospital

 

Please pray for continued healing for both Chris (left) and Jeff (right).

Blessings to you!

Lisa

http://www.reststopforthesoul.com

 

 

I Want an Exact Answer!!

Lisa Preuett

Math appeals to my daughter because each problem has only one correct answer. Cut and dry. Two plus two equals four. No need to waver back and forth. You’re either right or wrong.

But when it comes to something subjective that involves reflection or opinion…..she can fall apart. In response to simply reading a few paragraphs in a book and giving a summary in her own words, the drama begins…..

“I don’t know what to put down for my answer!” “I don’t know what to do!” “I’m not sure about this!” “I’m just gonna leave it blank!”

What I think is going on is this: She’s really asking the question “What if I get this wrong? What if this isn’t right?” “What if I fail?” 

I get frustrated with her and tell her to calm down. I try to explain the difference between an exact answer and an acceptable answer. Math is absolute….one correct answer. Writing a one sentence summary of a paragraph will look different for each student. But all the answers will be acceptable.

After the drama settles down, she makes an attempt. Sometimes the first word can be the hardest. But once she steps out and starts writing, it makes more sense. It comes together. And she can finally accept the fact that her answer will be different from her friends. Her unique answer reflects who she is.

God whispers to my heart in that moment: Sometimes you want an exact answer for something, Lisa. You want to know precisely step-by-step how to handle something. You stand still and become paralyzed because you’re afraid of failing. 

There are some things in God’s word that are absolutes. If we were to ask these questions, there would be an exact answer:

Should we murder? NO

Should we steal? NO

Should we commit adultery? NO

But what about this one: Are we commanded to love our neighbor? YES

But what does that look like? Will everyone’s answer look the same here?  Or will each person follow through according to the gifts God has given them?

Here are some ways we can show love: Help someone with yard work. Invite a friend over for coffee. Write an encouraging note. Write a check to meet a financial need. Give a hug. Take the time to listen. Spend quality time with a loved one. Buy a special gift. Wash someone’s car. The list goes on…..

There is not just one way to show love. Love according to how God has wired you. Love with a passion that only you can give. Let your unique love flow through you to the people in your corner of the world.

The way in which you show love will look different from those around you. Not everyone will have the same exact answer for this command to love.

But to do nothing?  To stand still–as if paralyzed–for fear of getting it wrong? That would be a wrong answer for sure. To do nothing is to disobey this greatest command from Jesus.

So what about you, dear friend? What are you doing to show love? Are you standing still waiting for an exact answer? Waiting for God to tell you step-by-step what to do for someone? I urge you to pray and step out of this mode of thinking and simply ask God to open your eyes.

To see your children in front of you.

To see your neighbors you might rarely speak to.

To see your co-workers.

To see those friends from the gym.

To see those homeless people with the cardboard signs.

To see the single moms who are barely making it.

And yes….even the people who have wounded us.

When our eyes are truly open, we can then choose to love freely from our heart. We can love with the gifts God has blessed us with. It is far better to love by stepping out in fear of the unknown–even if we stumble–than to stand still doing nothing….waiting for some magical answer to appear before us.

We are all called to love. And when we each follow through with our unique way of loving, this is the body of Christ! And that is a beautiful thing to be a part of.

Mark 12:31 “…and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

chalkboard

 

 

When Change is Hard

Lisa Preuett

This is a season of transitions. A new school year for my 5th grade daughter. A new school building in a different location.  A new job for my husband.  A new women’s Bible study. Everything…is…NEW!

Transitions are HARD. Even though you transition to something good, it can still be challenging. Why is that? After much reflection on this, I’m come to the conclusion that transitions are hard because you’re trading familiar for unfamiliar. Predictability for unpredictability. Same old routine for a new schedule.

What used to work doesn’t work anymore. What used to fit doesn’t fit anymore. What used to make sense might now seem chaotic.

Transition is the gradual period of time in between 2 seasons of life. Making the transition from one to the other involves CHANGE.

Change is HARD!

Just as the seasons change, so our lives change as well. But the seasons don’t change overnight. We don’t go to bed one summer night and wake up to trees completely splashed with vibrant fall colors the next morning. No. The seasons change gradually….one leaf at a time. You start to notice a little bit at a time. A tree seems to have one drop of paint on it that can barely be noticed. A few weeks later the same tree appears to have more colors than it did before. One morning you wake up and the weather is a bit on the cool side. Just a tinge. Not anything drastic. But you notice a difference. It’s very gradual.   And before you know it, the warm-humid days stop altogether and you realize the cooler temps are more consistent.

This is TRANSITION!

I’m so thankful that when God brings change He doesn’t expect us to completely change overnight. He shines His light on our heart to reveal something that needs to be addressed. Then He ever so gently whispers to our soul something that needs to change. These are some of the whispers I’m hearing lately from Him:

That behavior isn’t working for you. That attitude isn’t getting you anywhere. Those words aren’t building anyone up.

 We know something needs to change. But it starts with transition. Gradually we step out and trade a familiar behavior with something better. Maybe it’s just a tinge. Just a hint. Maybe nobody even notices anything different at first. But gradually over time as we genuinely surrender an area of our lives to Him, a new pattern emerges. And before we know it, we’ve transitioned into a new season of life. What was hard at first now comes natural. What seemed inconsistent now becomes a new norm.

With everything around us constantly changing, it points us to this simple, yet profound truth: Jesus does NOT change. Ever.

Our circumstances are always changing. He remains the same.

Our feelings frequently waver back and forth. He remains the same.

Our thoughts shift constantly throughout the day. He remains the same.

Our loved ones don’t respond the way we’d like. He remains the same.

Are you in a season of transition? Are you struggling with making a change in a certain area of your life? Be encouraged that it won’t happen overnight. Just like the leaves change gradually, your transition will take place one step at a time. Trust God as you navigate into the next season. Most of all, take courage in the fact that our God never changes! The same resurrection power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us….. Today!

Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever”

autumn leaves

Jesus on Facebook?

Lisa Preuett

If you’re an avid participant on Facebook, you know the feeling of excitement when you log into your account and see those red numbers lit up over these three features:

Friend Requests. Messages. Notifications.

Why do we get excited to see a friend request? Well, someone has searched for us and wants to specifically be a part of our social media world. You have a choice though to either accept or ignore this request. Once you’ve accepted, this person becomes part of your Facebook world….a window into your life.

It’s a big deal to get a private message from someone!  One of your friends is seeking you out with a specific message intended just for you.  Someone knows you well enough to ask you a question or connect with you on a deeper level.  You can reply back with confidence that nobody else sees your words because of the security attached to this private feature.

And what about all those notifications? What’s it really mean?It might sound simple, but the more active you are with posting comments and pictures, the more likely it is that people will give you feedback.  Ultimately it’s the evidence of interaction. The more you are actively engaged on Facebook, your social media life becomes more intertwined with others.

Maybe you didn’t realize it, but Jesus has been an avid user of friend requests, messages and notifications way longer than Facebook has been alive.  Now he doesn’t use these exact labels, but the parallels are strikingly similar if you ponder this closely. If He used our “Facebook terminology” it might look something like this:

Friend Requests: Because of what He did on the cross, Jesus has sent out a friend request to ALL people. Each and every person on this earth is extended a friend request from Him. He seeks them out specifically desiring to enter their world, and ultimately their heart.  They have the choice to accept or ignore that request.

Messages: After accepting the friend request from Jesus, your relationship becomes personal.  The Bible is God’s message for all followers of Christ. But the way He speaks to us goes even deeper than that! There are private messages He communicates to us through the Holy Spirit, living inside each uniquely designed follower.

He knows you well enough to meet your deepest longings. And you can pour out your heart directly to him with confidence. Confidence that nobody else knows what you just prayed–with security that He’s heard you.

Notifications: Once you’ve embarked on a genuine journey with Jesus, you get involved with other followers. You do life with them.  You celebrate your joys together as well as grieve through the tough times. You can’t do this alone by any means. You need the body of Christ.

He also calls us to fulfill the great commission…to become fishers of men. This is where we go beyond ourselves and reach out to others. We invite them into our lives. We pour into them. We build them up to go out and do the same. Just as Facebook notifications are evidence of involvement, our ministry to others is evidence of our faith. It’s our FRUIT.

So where are you, dear friend? Have you accepted His friend request?I pray that you have! But if you haven’t, the request is still valid. Call out to Him today.

If you are His child, are you seeking Him with all your heart and soaking up His word?Are you being still enough to hear His  message–that gentle whisper? Are you calling out to Him? Rest assured that He hears you. He knows you. He loves you.

What do your notifications (FRUIT)  look like? Are you walking alongside anyone? Pouring into those who need help? Reaching out to those co-workers who seem hopeless? Building relationships with your neighbors?

Ask God to give you courage to step out of your comfort zone and get involved. He doesn’t suggest this. He commands it. And what He calls us to do, He promises to equip.

Next time you’re checking your friend requests, messages or notifications, let it be a reminder to check the condition of your heart and see if you’re where Jesus wants you to be.

facebooknotifications_616

 

Blessings to you!

Lisa Preuett 

 

 

The Things That Really Matter

Lisa Preuett

It’s a home school day. What lies ahead? Will it be calm? Or full of drama? My daughter drops her pencil on the floor and by her response you would think the world was caving in. Drama……Really? It’s just a dropped pencil for heaven’s sake!

A few minutes later after recovering from the dropped pencil, she makes a mistake on her math paper. It’s only one out of twenty-five, yet by her response you’d think she had missed all of them. More drama….. Really? It’s only ONE problem! Why can’t she focus on the twenty-four problems she mastered?

Just when I think this girl of mine has exerted all the drama she could possibly muster in such a short time, we have yet another incident. She uses the wrong shade of blue to label a city on her map for geography class. She had meant to use light blue but discovers she’s used a dark blue. By her response you’d think she had used black scribbles all over it! More drama…..again.

With all these dramatic incidents, I plead with her to not get so upset over the little things.

“Focus on the big picture, sweetheart. You’re doing a great job, but you are absolutely exhausting yourself emotionally  when you get upset like this. Save your energy for the big stuff–the things that really matter.”

I shake my head and shoot up an arrow prayer before going about my day. “God, please help this child to stay calm with the trivial things! Why is she acting like this? She is wearing me out!”

Just a few hours later I am working on balancing our bank account. In the busyness of this season, receipts and bank statements have piled up and I am way behind schedule. I optimistically think that I can knock this out quickly. (First mistake…..I set up an expectation.)

I am plugging along at a good pace and then all of a sudden the computer locks up. It freezes. I can’t continue with this task. I yell at the computer screen as if it is a person and can actually hear me.

Come on! What is wrong with you!?

When it doesn’t respond the way I want it to, my frustration grows and I slam my fist on the desk. Wham!

In the still small voice that I know is God whispering to my weary soul, I hear Him say this: Really, Lisa? All this drama over a frozen computer screen? This is a little thing. Save your emotional energy for the big stuff.

A little later I head out the door to run an errand. When I retrieve my phone from the charger, I notice the charger is NOT working. My phone is still dead. Now I must go out of the house with no phone! My frustration level rises….again. By my response you would think the world was caving in.

The still small voice I heard a few hours prior is calling me….again. This time it seems a bit louder. Lisa, this is a little thing. You are too focused on this phone. The world will not fall apart without it. Save your emotional energy for the big stuff.

I finally let the reality of this profound truth sink in. Just as my daughter fell apart over trivial issues, I too squandered my energy on petty frustrations. Things that don’t really matter when viewed through the lens of eternity. From God’s perspective, these little things are really no big deal.

I need to be reminded of what the apostle Paul says about trivial things in 2 Corinthians 4:17: “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”

A dropped pencil, a missed math problem and a map mistake? Light and momentary troubles!

A frozen computer screen and a broken phone charger? Light and momentary troubles! 

So what is this eternal glory Paul talks about? Well, that would be the big stuff.  The stuff that really matters.

Lingering a little longer in my daughter’s bedroom at night to listen to her and pray with her. Eternal glory!

Having coffee with a single mom who needs a listening ear. Eternal glory!

Planning a family night to just hang out and laugh together. Eternal glory!

Yes, these are the things that really matter. But if I exert too much energy on the little things, I’ll be depleted and won’t have anything to offer when it’s really needed.

What about you? What light and momentary troubles are you dealing with this week? If you’re like me, it’s easy to get focused on those things and lose heart. But I pray we will see these things for what they are–light and momentary–and save our energy for the things that really matter.

2-corinthians-4-17

 

 Blessings to you!

Lisa Preuett

Check out my book, Embracing The Race: 40 Devotions for the Runner’s Soul

 

A Modern-Day Proverbs 31 Woman

Lisa Preuett

Are you familiar with the Proverbs 31 woman in the Bible? You might cringe at the mere thought of her…the one who seems to have it all together with a perfect home and perfect kids. Perhaps this passage seems like a foreign language to us because of the culture during which it was written.  I’ve taken a stab at this by writing my own 21st century version.

And in case you didn’t already know, this woman in Proverbs 31 was NOT a real woman! This passage of scripture is a portrayal of virtuous qualities to be found in a godly woman.

Feel better now? Enjoy and be encouraged!

Proverbs 31:10-31

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.

A woman who truly seeks after God is rare in today’s world. If she were paid for all she does, her annual salary would average around $150,000. 

Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.

Because he married a smart woman, her husband trusts her completely to run the household.

She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

She wants to honor her husband even though her flesh yearns to control and demand her own ways. She refrains from “husband bashing” when she’s with her girlfriends.

She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.

She purchases things for her home wisely and creates a warm atmosphere for her family.

She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.

She drives to Costco to stock up on goldfish crackers and chicken nuggets. And she sometimes orders items online to save money, time and above all…her sanity.

She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.

She gets up in the middle of the night to care for a sick toddler who just puked all over the bed. When her alarm goes off she fixes pop tarts “to-go” for her older kids who are about to miss the school bus because she was up all night. Servant girls?? Those would be her children who are assigned daily chores.

She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

She finds a few bargains at Goodwill and sells them on Ebay to make a profit.

She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.

She strategically puts in a movie for her kids while she cleans the toilet, does a load of laundry and unloads the dishwasher. If there’s time left over she’ll quietly slip away to go to the bathroom for a few minutes of peace to herself.

She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.

She earns extra income from holding a yard sale. She sleeps at peace (for the most part), yet is ready to bound  out of bed at a moment’s notice when she hears her little ones crying out for her.

In her hands she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

If she has sewing abilities, this is a rare blessing! But if she’s like most, she frantically sews a button on her son’s only clean pair of pants 15 minutes before he heads out the door for school. Anything requiring more work than this is dropped off at a dry cleaners or seamstress shop. 

She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.

She picks up a few extra items at Kroger for her neighbor whose husband just lost his job. Her friend recovering from surgery needs someone to watch her kids for an afternoon, so she gladly accepts with a compassionate heart.

When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

When she wakes up to the first snow on the ground, she pulls out the coats, gloves, boots and hats that she got on sale at Target. She’s also combs through clearance racks to purchase spring and summer clothing for next year.

She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

She shops at Wal-Mart to find a deal on a new comforter. She shops for clothes at consignment stores trying to stay within her family’s tight budget.

Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

Her husband walks into work feeling loved because he had a date with his wife last night. He brags on his wife to his buddies during his lunch meeting.

She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.

She gets an idea on Pinterest for a unique scarf and creates a website selling them to her friends.

She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.

She may physically be exhausted but her inner strength comes from God. She can laugh at the days to come (and often laughs at herself) because her confidence and hope come from the Lord.

She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

After many moments of humility, she graciously gains wisdom. Her time in prayer and God’s word overflows from her heart when she instructs her children.

She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.

She makes sure the diapers don’t run out, keeps groceries stocked in the fridge, attempts to keep the never-ending laundry caught up and oversees homework when she’d rather collapse on the couch and take a much deserved nap.

Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.

When her kids get up, they plead, ” Mommy…..play with us!” Her husband quickly kisses her while rushing out the door whispering, “Babe, you rock!”

Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.

Many women hold masters degrees and will walk into fortune 500 companies sporting their high heels and business suits. But you are just as important,sporting your PJ’s with spit-up smeared on the front, rocking your little ones and reading them a story.

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

 Our youthful skin gradually turns to wrinkles. The number on the scales inches up while metabolism slows down. So she doesn’t obsess on her outward appearance, but focuses instead on feeding her soul…where true beauty is found in God’s eyes.

Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Her hard work will pay off in the end because she has loved deeply through thick and thin. No matter what others say, God knows and sees everything she does and loves her relentlessly.

 

Proverbs-31

Blessings to you!

Lisa

Check out my book Embracing The Race

Where Strength is Found

Lisa Preuett

Sometimes I feel worn down. Extremely weak. Physically, emotionally and spiritually. All of the above. Strength seems far away. Non-existent. Yet I feel I must DO something to gain strength.

To gain strength physically I exert myself full force into a weight lifting session or a 3-mile run. After I DO those things, my physical body will gain strength, stamina and endurance.

To gain emotional strength I can DO something to lift my mood. Dive into a favorite book. Put on an upbeat CD to re-focus my attention. Or maybe even convince myself that something sweet like ice cream or chocolate will soothe my frail emotions.

But to gain spiritual strength, what is my first response when I feel weak?  I can DO some things that will perhaps make me feel better: Go to church. Turn on the Christian radio station and sing my heart out. Go to my Bible study. Call a trusted friend and unload my concerns.

These are good things, yet all of them involve me doing something. According to Isaiah 30:15, there’s a different message to those who are feeling weak and in need of strength:

In quietness and trust is your strength. 

I don’t see any action verbs that stand out in that verse. Shouldn’t I be doing something to gain strength? How can being quiet bring strength? And what about that word trust? How do you know someone is in the act of trusting? You can’t see it. Where is the action here??

The action is being accomplished by God Himself. When we are still and quiet in His presence, His strength becomes ours. When we truly trust God, our burdens are lifted from us. He takes them from us–in His strength. We don’t have to DO anything outwardly in our own strength. He does it all.

Quietness and trust go hand-in-hand. Being still before Him with a surrendered heart allows us to soak up His presence. And when we do that, it is easier to trust. When we know Him more intimately through His word and prayer, we can confidently trust Him. That is where our strength is gained. Not by anything we do, but by being in Him.

What’s that look like in day-to-day life?

I don’t always get this right. In fact, I frequently get this wrong and have to be humbled before I start to “get it”.

In the midst of a drama-packed melt down from my daughter, shouldn’t my strength come from yelling, lecturing or punishing out of anger?

In quietness and trust is your strength. (Lisa, pray for your daughter and trust ME with her short comings.)

In the midst of a disagreement with my spouse, shouldn’t my strength come from arguing, complaining or even taking things into my own hands?

In quietness and trust is your strength. (Lisa, let go of your pride and trust ME with your husband.)

When I’m sitting in traffic on Bardstown Road and only going two miles in 30 minutes, shouldn’t my strength come from honking my horn or mumbling ugly words under my breath at complete strangers who can’t hear me?

In quietness and trust is your strength. (Lisa, take a deep breath and accept the situation as it is. Trust ME to calm your anxious heart.) 

Because of my sin nature, I am prone to try and DO something to gain what feels like strength in the heat of the moment. Yet those things all lead to disappointment, discouragement and even defeat. But when I quietly come before God and trust Him, I gain peace, hope and ultimately……STRENGTH.

So where are you feeling weak, dear friend? From where are you drawing your strength? Are you trying to muster up strength by doing things you think are productive? Are you impulsively reacting to a situation in which you feel weak? How do you handle the inner battle of your heart to DO -vs- BEING QUIET? Feel free to leave a comment! We’re on this journey together.

May we all embrace the truth and power of these words:

Isaiah 30 15

 

God is Faithful

Lisa Preuett

After trudging through the valley of unemployment for two and a half months, I praise God that my husband will be starting a new job this week! When the rug was pulled out from underneath us unexpectedly on June 23rd, we had no idea how many days, weeks or months it would be until God opened the door for a new job.

But God knew.

When we began walking this unknown  path, we trusted God to lead us one day at a time. Although we had no control of what was happening, we trusted that He was in control. To be honest, there were days our flesh struggled with this lack of control. Without control, we often feel helpless. Worried. Frustrated. Don’t we all just want a glimpse of what is ahead–a  little reassurance of what is coming? But God doesn’t always give us previews of the future. In fact, He rarely shows us what is around the corner.  That’s why it’s called faith!

The scripture I clung tightly to during this journey was Psalm 62:1-2: “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my fortress; I will not be shaken.”

The day I posted my reaction to my husband’s job loss, we were most certainly shocked, but not shaken: https://reststopforthesoul.com/2014/06/24/shocked-but-not-shaken/

This was a true test of resting in God alone. Our flesh finds it much easier to rest when things are predictable, structured, and familiar. We grow accustomed to incoming paychecks. We feel secure when the savings account balance increases. But when the paychecks stop and the account gradually decreases, it is a wake-up call as to what your true rest is in. When our eyes were fixed on trusting God and not fixated on the numbers, we found true rest!

God was faithful and He provided.

The blessings showered upon us during this time were priceless. Here’s some of the highlights:

*The very day he lost his job opened up the opportunity for him to join us on a trip to visit our son.

*My husband got to spend the majority of the summer with his wife and daughter. How rare is that? Most dads and husbands only get a couple of weeks vacation at the most to spend uninterrupted time with their families.

*We enjoyed multiple boating trips that we wouldn’t have been able to take if he’d been working. He usually travels for his job and is too exhausted to do a lot on the weekends. (We got the boat just weeks before he lost his job!)

*He had time to start (and finish) multiple projects around the house that are usually put on a “wish list”.

*We went on a mission trip to Beattyville in the Appalachia Mountains through our church and someone anonymously paid the balance of our expenses.

*My mom decided to treat us to an unexpected vacation in Florida to wind down our summer.

*The amount of money he received from unemployment was more than enough to pay our mortgage payment.

*God blessed us through his previous job to be able to save money for this “rainy season”. (And over the years He’s given us wise advisers such as Dave Ramsey who encourages people to put away money in an emergency fund when job loss occurs.)

*God has strengthened our faith!

*This season of uncertainty has given us a front row seat to witness that God is faithful and can be trusted.

If you are in a season of uncertainty, I want to encourage you to trust God wholeheartedly. Surrender your frustration, worries and fears to Him. Rest in Him alone. You might not know what’s around the corner.

But He does.

And because He loves us, we can trust Him. We will not be shaken.

God is my rock

 

 

There’s a Snake in My Boat!

Lisa Preuett

My husband docked our boat at the marina just as he always does. As avid boaters, we have this routine down to a science. While my daughter and I were in the restroom, Jim made final preparations so we could take off quickly upon our return. One of the last things he usually does is retrieve a comfy chair-pad from the storage compartment under the  back seat of the boat.  As he lifted the lid of the storage compartment, he jumped back rather quickly.  His eyes widened in disbelief and fear spread over his entire face. He announced to me with a quick gasp, “There’s a snake in there!”

At this point, even when I heard the word snake, I was envisioning a small snake. The kind of garter snake we sometimes find on our wooded property. Jim suddenly asked for help from three men docking a boat next to ours. Now most men do not usually ask for help for anything they think they can handle on their own. This was suddenly a red flag to me! If he’s asking for help, this must be a big deal. Everything happened so quickly it was a blur. For a second before all this chaos broke out, I thought I’d grab my phone (which was in the boat) and take a quick picture to capture this moment in time. It didn’t happen.

My husband–along with three other strong men–were struggling to corner this snake in the storage compartment of our boat. The snake continued to slither this way and that way, stubbornly refusing to be caught. Before I knew what was happening, Jim had courageously grabbed that snake by its tail and slung it with all his might into the lake. As he pulled it up out of the boat, this snake was completely stretched out in mid-air. It was no small garter snake by any means.

More than likely a rat snake…..about five feet long!

The strong men who’d at first agreed to help Jim, now quickly shrunk back in fear, almost knocking each other into the water. And of course I contributed my part in all this chaos, letting out a blood-curdling scream.

Why are we so afraid of snakes? Why do these unique creatures stop us in our tracks, leaving us feeling paralyzed?

In the beginning before the fall of mankind, it is speculated that the snake was a beautiful creature. After sin entered the world God said to Satan, “Because you have done this, on your belly you will go, and dust you will eat all the days of your life.” (Genesis 3:14)

God continues to give more detail about the future effect of snakes on mankind when he says, “I will cause hostility between you and the woman, between your offspring and her offspring.” (Genesis 3:15)

I couldn’t agree more with those profound words because there was much hostility between the humans on the dock and a pesky snake in our boat last week!!

Moses exhibited fear when God miraculously turned his staff into a snake  “…so he threw it on the ground and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it.” (Exodus 4:3) Did you catch that? Even though God was right there with him, Moses still fled from the snake! (This verse should be comforting to those three strong men who shrunk back when Jim yanked the snake out of our boat!)

But there is one last scripture I’d like to focus on when it comes to snakes. This one trumps all the other ones I’ve mentioned so far. Isaiah prophesies about what our lives will be like when Christ reigns in Heaven.

Isaiah 11:8 “The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand in the viper’s nest.”

Cobras and Vipers! Really? Can you imagine? An infant playing near a snake–and not just any snake…..a cobra! The thought of a mother watching her child play with a snake is something I just can’t fathom. Playing with a snake as if it were a kitten or puppy.

But that is something as Christ followers we have to look forward to. In God’s perfect kingdom where every creature is restored as it once was in the Garden of Eden. And best of all, God will live among us–face to face. Powerful truth like this gives me a renewed hope. It confirms my faith. It satisfies my soul.

Take comfort in the fact that God dispels all fears and nothing will be feared in Heaven.

(In the meantime, the Preuett family will continue to check their boat carefully for any signs of snakes!!)

1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out all fear…”

rat snake