Have you ever been going through something in your life and keep it to yourself? Can anyone relate? In the midst of chaos, hurts, trials, and challenges you leave the house for work and errands.

You look forward to the routine and being busy? Only a trusted few know how your heart is racing, breaking, and hurting so you're able to face the day and accomplish the list of tasks on the table. It's not that you are devastated or crushed, you just have heavier things weighing on your mind, right? Anyone out there ever feel like this? Maybe I'm alone, but I don't think so.

Have you ever been moving through the day feeling like, "I got this." and then BAM! Someone approaches with encouraging words to help you through a difficult time. You shake your head because you thought you had it together. Guess what, you probably did, or do. BUT God knows what you need, He knows what I need. God brings people into our lives with the words we need to hear, at the moment we need them - if we are open to hearing from Him.

As you go through your day with life's burdens on your shoulders, I pray you know God loves you and holds you in the palm of His hands. You are not alone and don't have to wear a mask. It's okay to put on a smile and not share with everyone yet I encourage you to trust someone with the weight. Most importantly, give it to God. He is faithful and will carry you through it. Notice I said "through it". 

Some of these journeys are necessary in life and we learn from them, grow stronger, and are better able to help someone else down the highway. I pray you know how much you are loved and cared for. Regardless of the mask you put on today, let it me one of joy, love, and hope...you aren't going through this alone.

It's the season of Lent, the weeks leading up to Easter. As a child, growing up in a mostly Catholic family, we "gave up" something for Lent. This includes meat on Friday. As an adult and while attending the New Haven Alliance Church I learned about not just "fasting" something but to maximize the beauty and healing of Lent, we should be "doing something" to draw closer to God. I liked this idea, instead of focusing on what I gave up, when I missed whatever it was I gave up, I'd spend time in The Word or doing something to build my relationship with God. 

I don't attend either of these churches anymore yet the life lessons remain with me. Yesterday, pastor shared this same concept of doing something to draw closer to God and giving up something but using words to make it fun. (This is my take on it anyway, I like words and these spoke to me) Instead of "giving up and doing something", pastor suggested, "Fasting and Feasting"! 

Fasting

Feasting

Fasting and Feasting during Lent...this will stick with me. I love it! It doesn't change the purpose or meaning of Lent or what I already do BUT through these words, it brings a new energy and joy to Lent for me. I've always viewed "fasting" as something difficult and painful yet the way in which pastor explained it, to fast, is a blessing and opportunity to draw closer to God and eliminate the ick keeping me from my relationship with God. 

Okay, so this isn't anything new. It's not even new to my blog BUT as I listened and digested this yesterday, the Holy Spirit nudged me and helped me to change my morning routine and figure out how to get everything in, starting with the most important thing...time with God. Want to hear more, check out today's podcast. Click here.

It's through this time that I connect and find the strength to get through whatever the day might bring my way.

I'm ready, are you?

Happy Friday Everyone!

Friday is one of my favorite days because of the "Faith Filled Friday" episode on my podcast, Livin' with Lisa ~ Keeping it Real. 

The first part of the year I shared the Armor of God and each week focused on a different aspect of the armor God's provided for us. If you haven't listened, it's not too late. You can go back to older episodes by starting at the beginning. It's easy, select a Friday episode between January 2019 and March 2019. It's a twenty-plus minute message on the Armor of God to encourage you in your spiritual walk.

Last week, March 15, 2019, I started a new series diving into Psalm 23. We'll journey through this short and powerful Psalm, one nugget at a time. Many are familiar with Psalm 23 yet have you taken time to focus on it verse by verse, nugget by nugget? It's an encouraging and insightful Psalm, I encourage you to take time to join me on this journey through Psalm 23. It's not too late...listen today.

I read an article this morning with ten fun facts about the season of Spring and one of them stated that our body makeup physically changes at the start of the season. This is cool stuff, "spring fever" isn't just a thing, it's a metabolic change in our genetic makeup. This is cool stuff!

To read the entire article, click here.

I found this interesting and it also explains why so many struggle with depression in the winter. Go figure, I enjoy learning new things, don't you? Instead of sharing pictures of a robin and flowers today, I chose a spring because we are experiencing a genetic change adding a little "spring to our step", tee hee. 

Happy Wednesday! Happy Spring! The weather in Upstate New York is supposed to be in the low fifties today, this is a heatwave compared to our 20's we've experienced the past months. I look forward to the sunshine, warmer weather, and maybe even driving with the windows down. It's a good day to celebrate twelve hours of daylight and the knowledge of more daylight hours in our future.

Whether you start spring cleaning, raking, or just absorbing some vitamin D...remember to LOOK UP and enjoy the day!

In the past couple weeks I've run into people inquiring about the blog. Some have asked, "Lisa, have you been blogging? I miss my daily inspiration." Another shared, "I just wanted to let you know I haven't been receiving my daily notifications in my inbox for the blog, not sure if something isn't working but wanted to let you know I miss it." These two comments aren't alone yet they stand out because they are from people I love and cherish. Their words encourage me and remind me of why I started this blog.

Through reflection and prayer I thought about their words...I was reminded of my mom. If you have followed the blog for some time, you know my writing has been inconsistent since my mom's passing in September of 2015.

My mom was the first to read my blog, emailed me if there were PUGS in need of repair, and let me know, "That was a good one." This is the same reason I've struggled to write in general, Mom was my first editor. She provided valuable and honest (VERY honest) feedback. 

Here's the deal, "Keeping it Real", I've used my Mom's passing and my  grief as a crutch long enough.

It's time to write, to blog, & to create for a few reasons:

1) I MISS it - we shouldn't do something because others want us to, instead, we should want to do it and have a passion to do so. It is both therapeutic and enjoyable, I've missed it. 

2) You are missing it - my readers, you, have been reaching out and asking 

3) I can't hide or wallow any longer, it's time to move forward, after all, this was a theme prior to my mom's passing...she told me, "Keep writing, don't stop." To write is to honor her.

I know this isn't the first blog to say "I'm back" yet there is something different in my heart this time as I type these words. Not to say I didn't want to before yet in the past I planned to write/blog because others wanted me to, not because I felt called to write. This is the change...the drive behind the writing.

I don't plan to write more because you want me to...I'm writing more because it's a calling and one I miss. May the Holy Spirit guide my fingers, thoughts, and use these words to touch your hearts.