This month has been full to the brim. Maybe for you, too? It’s hard to believe we’re on the last day of September and just about to step into October.
I’ve missed the What I Learned Posts and a chance to reflect back over the month. But September has been full of lessons.
Small, even Imperfect Steps can get me Unstuck
If you follow on Instagram, you saw this post about our little blue house. Dan grew up here. My kids’ earliest memories of visiting their Nana are here. This house has stories.
When his mom moved into a retirement village, we bought it as a rental. It was Dan’s thing. If the tenants called, if a repair was needed, Dan usually took care of it. That was just our division of labor.
That labor is now mine and when the tenants moved out last year, I got decision paralysis. Partly because I was on overload and partly because it was outside my experience, I just let it sit unrented. As each month rolled over, I’d heap on a bit more self-reproach.
Can we just admit there are things that paralyze us? A hard conversation, a looming task, a scary undertaking?
I’ve learned moving forward doesn’t require perfection. Small steps and imperfect steps can move me from paralysis to progress. And those first imperfect steps? They feel HUGE. The next ones get easier and easier.
We have painted, scrubbed, hauled, mowed, repaired and updated and we are *this* close to done. If sweat is the cologne of accomplishment, we’re winning. Praying this lesson takes deep root for the next first, the next hard thing.
God will supply all of our needs out of His riches in Christ Jesus.
I will never stop proclaiming this and I’m pretty sure we won’t stop getting a good test on it.
In late summer, our kids’ car broke down. It had made it through my oldest four children and I’d already put in my order for it to last through my son’s current senior year. Despite our best efforts, the value didn’t justify the repairs.
So, my son and I began sharing my mini-van. We made it work fairly well – though we weren’t able to always get everyone where they needed to go.
I know that if we don’t have it, we must not need it.
But because things usually break in three’s and because grown kids and growing-up kids keep me on my knees anyway, I was asking God how this whole single-mom, chapter-2 thing was going to work out. Sometimes we just need to know it’s going to work out.
God has it all worked out.
On a routine afternoon, having schooled the kids and just sitting down to my keyboard – I got a call. They’d heard we were out a car. They had one. Could they give it to us?
I still tear up over that because every single time – every single time – God is faithful.
… and you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one word of all the good words which the LORD your God spoke concerning you has failed; all have been fulfilled for you, not one of them has failed. Joshua 23:14
I am Jealous For Marriage
We had a family-wide celebration of my mom’s 75th and dad’s 80th birthdays this month. Our celebration included a video with their pictures of growing up, getting married and living 50+ years together.
That is the stuff of life. It’s the deep beautiful that only comes after pressing through dry stretches and exhausting seasons when love is nowhere in sight but you’re just plain committed to commitment.
I miss that. We’d made it through those stretches and seasons and we were headed for our own 50+ years.
When my September facebook feed was full of wedding pictures and couple photos from friends taking the 5-day marriage challenge, I scrolled through missing it so much.
But I realized I’m not jealous OF marriage; I’m jealous FOR marriage.
I want to celebrate you. I want to throw my hat up for you. Those couples pressing through the arid and difficult season, dying to self, committed to covenant when the feelings aren’t cutting it — the fruit that comes after is the deep beautiful stuff of life.
I miss it. I believe it’s the best of the best. And I am rooting you on.
What did September teach you? I’d love you to leave a comment and let us know.
Lisa, thank you. The month of September has been my month of paralysis, a month where I have wanted to quit everything I’ve committed to.
So, with your encouragement, I will make October the month of progress, KNOWING that God does indeed supply all of my needs in Christ Jesus.
Lord willing, I’ll publish the next 2 Kid’s Books in my series! No more fear or procrastination…
Thanks again for the boost of encouragement,
Jennifer
Jennifer, how exciting! Can’t wait to hear how God uses your October. 🙂
Lisa, just so you know you are celebrated too. The Bridegroom holds you close to His heart and longs for the day when you will never be out of His presence. I long for that day where celebration is real and unending and I know you do too. Blessings through this hard thing we call life and may His strength continue to sustain you and may your words reach many thirsty souls…
Thank you, Rene…God has tenderly taken care of us.
Love this – each and every God- providing moment you’ve detailed. He’s so good! I’m praising Him from here concerning the car. And those paralyzing, “I’m feeling overwhelmed” moments? Your words cheered me in God ways. Thank you, friend. Have a beautiful weekend!
He is! A Surpriser! Have a great weekend as well, Kristi.
Thanks Lisa for your encouraging words .my September has been challenging. God has been faithful to me and I have also faced very trying times.but I declare whatever blessings I didn’t possess this September they will locate me in October in Jesus’s mighty name.I know God has so much planned for me I have learnt that even while going through tough times God knows and he sees and that’s comforting enough and that with every trial he provides a way out.blessed October
In September I learn to Lean into the Lord and trust his ways. He makes sense outo of nonsense and no sense. God bless you this and every month.
Yes, He does know and see and He cares more than we could ever imagine.
Lisa, thank you for your transparency. Your youngest children cannot truly grasp it right now, but the Lord is building their faith in His goodness, provision and faithfulness! As a child, I saw my parents living out faith in the same way you are living it out with your children and now, as an adult, I can reach back into the past and remind myself of God’s faithfulness and perfect timing – when it seems like somehow He has “shown up late to my party”!
September has been the month of reality setting in. With this month has come the stinging reality that my life and role as a mom has changed – suddenly and drastically! It’s been a month to be reminded – sometimes daily- that He is the one who holds my identity. Who I am in Him will never change and the new normal is right in the center of His will. Even the good things can be hard things.
This month has also been the month of studying the armor of God. Bible studies like that ALWAYS bring about opportunities to practice what you’re learning. (Yippee!)
You are such a blessing and encouragement. I love you!
I can only imagine the whiplash-fast change you’ve had in the last month. So much to learn in the new season, though….thank you, Jamie for your sweet encouragement.
September taught me that I need to do a better job of showing and telling others how much I appreciate them. I always feel appreciative on the inside, but I don’t always show it. I just assume they know. But when I tell someone how thankful I am for what they’ve done for me, it brings us into a closer relationship:)
That’s a great lesson, Kristine. Thank you for sharing…you’re encouraging me in this as well!
After the death of a marriage, I wandered in the shallow world. I stumbled upon a beautiful Christ centered man a year later. He brought me out of the empty promises of the world and into the Bible…God called me back. We married on September 23rd. God bless you Lisa. I keep you and all survivors of divorce, death, and illness in prayer.
Thank you, Jennifer. God is perfect…I’m daily trusting Him and His path for us.
Greetings Lisa,
Thank you so very much for sharing your heart with us. I have been working through a death of a marriage due to my husband’s infidelity….broken covenant on many occassions…..God is good and is always with us, helping us through our situations. My first husband went off to Heaven in 1994. My 3 children and myself were devastated as well, but The Lord is forever faithful. My heart’s desire is to bring Glory to God no matter what. Jesus Is Lord and we can trust Him every moment of every day. I declare and decree that as for me and my Household we will all serve the Lord and we will fulfill our destinies. Every Blessing to you.
Oh Lisa! Friend, you are one of my heroes! I can’t imagine how you do it all. Christ in you, the hope of glory. What did I learn? Trust and peace in the midst of an incredibly busy month. Also letting God enlarge my heart to love more people and to love them well. Trust God with those I love. (My kids. Their friends. My girl in Ankara.)
Love coming to your blog, Lisa.
Betsy, good lessons, friend. It’s a privilege to watch you walk out your faith. Xo