Priorities Archives - Living Above the Noise

More Blogs, More Noise – How To Choose?

July 12, 2018 By livingabovethenoise

Online Noise

The online culture is noisy and distracting: Someone wants you to grab a cookbook or a podcast or program to give you 10 easy ways to solve some problem. It can take hours of sifting through information to find a quality solution. Therefore, the last thing I want is to add to that already noisy place in your life. But I also understand how hard it is to find our way in this complicated world. We need help!

When I began writing, I had learned to manage my home and family and I wanted to share what I experienced. But as time and life kept growing me, it became more difficult to offer input when I saw how much I had yet to learn! So I took lots of blogging breaks to catch up, soak in life, and make sure I wasn’t wasting your time. But I’m realizing I’ll never know everything and if I stop writing, I’ll have missed any opportunity to offer encouragement and ideas with you. So I’m choosing (again) to use my love of writing and sharing to offer quality content to help you on your life journey as others have helped me.

A blog author should avoid telling you that you’re doing life wrong or suggest there’s only one way to live it. That’s my goal. I want to offer ideas and, most importantly, to get you to ask your own questions in order to discover the answers you need. I’ll ask you to think — in a culture that often tries to get us to stop thinking.

Look for Quality Blogs –

It’s Good To Borrow From One Another

It’s easy to forget we have a plethora of personalities, histories, and patterns learned from our families. In spite of social media, or possibly because of it, this independent culture we live in can make us feel very alone or pressured to do things foreign to what we know. That can be good and bad. So how do we know who to listen to? One word — Cautiously.

It can be downright scary and confusing to navigate life alone when no one reaches out. We do need help. Enter the blog world, but do it with a healthy perspective — one where we share in each other’s burdens and help one another through life. I love what a pastor friend reminded me…

“We borrow from one another.”

Ideas, views, strategies, spiritual strength. We become so much more capable when we puzzle through problems and learn to think through our days having others encourage us to consider our own possibilities.

My goal in blogging is to reach out, add input, ideas, and advice to living on planet earth. To remind you (as I’m reminding myself!) to seek to do God’s will, trusting you’ll do better as you gain experience, all the while adapting to the everyday onslaught of new ideas on how to do this thing called life.

Bloggers may convince you to buy their product to make your life easier so they can make their life more profitable. Beware. Life doesn’t have to be so complicated. Go for quality and not quantity. You’ll find me offering ideas (and a few well-chosen products) that I’ve found helpful in focusing on what’s most important while navigating your busy days. I hope to encourage you to stop listening to the wrong voices. To pray. To listen for God’s Spirit prompting you, not social media or online “friends.”

Simply — Be still. Listen. Think. Then take a step.

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

Friendship — The Gift of Love

February 1, 2017 By livingabovethenoise

During the early years of homeschooling, our children would read the Pathway Readers, written during a more simple era. One lesson from them stood the test of time. I must have quoted this a hundred times in my life as a parent!

“If you want to have a friend, you need to be a friend.”

Recently, we had a chance meeting with a man from our community. (Actually, is anything really chance?) He offered us his friendship — just because. After spending a bit of time with him, we could easily see that he lives out what he teaches in a little book he wrote. It’s called The Success Puzzle and in it, he explains simple, yet profound, truths on making the most of our opportunities.

One way Dick blesses others is to give his little book away to those he meets. Needless to say, it has been relished as we read the wisdom contained therein. The quotes below are a sampling of the truths found in his book:

“Friendships matter in life and in our journey of making a difference.”

A friend is “one who influences in the right direction.”

“Our major concern is that we be a friend to someone else.”

“Teach the lesson that you are not being a friend when you help someone do wrong.”

You know, there are always opportunities to re-learn things we thought we knew and practice things we thought we were good at. This was one of them!

Let’s Do Things God’s Way

Life is entirely about being drawn to do things God’s ways and in His timing. In living life on planet Earth, we spend most of our lives learning that our ways can’t be trusted because we so often act out of selfishness. Then we learn that trusting God’s way is always best. And guess what? God promises we will certainly gain blessings when we follow a path of obedience and faith. Seems simple, doesn’t it?

Ah, but it’s not that simple! And why? Because we were born in sin and continue to follow our flesh. It takes the “work” which Paul exhorts us to, to live and walk out our faith. It takes work to go against our flesh, our way, our selfish path of getting what we want in life. Not really simple at all. But then again, could it be?

Could it actually be simple if we would just cultivate the strong faith spoken of in ages past?

Could we really do this obedience thing and live out the love of Christ?

Could we simply trust?

Let Go. Let God.

I’m beginning to believe we can. But in order to do it, we have to let go of all the extra stuff we have believed and learned and lived since we took our first breath! You know, the greed, selfishness, fear, guilt, anger, pride… Yikes, that sounds difficult. Yet as each day passes, I’m seeing life wearing. me. down. And I’m realizing God allows it for my good. He allows it for all our good!

God wants our flesh and our will to be worn down so He can use us for His good. As life takes its toll on us, we begin to see how pointless all our striving is. Striving to get what we want, do what we think is best, and serve self above all. Where has it gotten us really?

Oh, the peace and rest that comes from surrendering self to God and His purposes.

Love God. Serve Others.

So where am I headed here? Simply to impress on us that loving and serving the God above must bring us to loving and serving those around us. (Even when they aren’t lovely or perfect or the least bit like us.)

Here’s my point, and it’s one I’m trying to remember every day! —

Every one of us is trying to live here on earth the best we know how.

And believe it or not, God has offered us a reality and a direction for love and true success in life. It isn’t by making tons of money, or gaining acclaim on the internet, or by having the most likes on Facebook. It’s by loving and offering those around us a sense of value, just for being alive on this planet.

So let’s be a friend to others.

Let’s offer a smile – a simple kindness – a word of encouragement.

Let’s give them a sense of what Christ’s love feels like as they walk in our door.

This, my friend, is what it’s all about! Help others to do good and not evil. Help them to see they are worth something in a world that makes us all feel very small.

It’s all too easy to follow what everyone else is doing. To talk behind one another’s backs. To add to the gossip. To avoid those who don’t look like us. To hang with only those who behave the way we think they should. Instead….

Let’s love.

Let’s be kind.

Let’s see one another as God sees us….Beloved. Child. Rescued.

Today, let’s give the gift of Love & Life. Our life in Christ can lift us higher than we imagined as we view others the way God views each of us.

Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind, regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Philippians 2:1-4

Living Above the Noise – New Look, New Focus

November 13, 2015 By livingabovethenoise

I took a break from blogging this past six months. I needed to regroup and discover my focus. When I started blogging four years ago, I was still full swing into parenting and just getting my feet wet with grandparenting. This got me thinking. My old blog name and focus, A Mom’s Many Lessons, was feeling a bit boxed in. My life wasn’t just about the lessons learned from being a mom, but from all the avenues my life has taken.

I quickly discovered that planning a new blog layout is not for the faint of heart! I’ve put a lot of thought into my purpose for blogging and even into the details for my header design. I wanted my new design to reflect where God has me in life. I still have plenty of “lessons” to share about, but my heart is soaring like this bird in the header. I feel like weight has lifted off my heart and God has allowed me to see what life looks like without the noise and chatter of so many things around me.

So here I am, starting a new blog, with a new focus.

My new name was in the tagline of my old blog – “A Mom’s Many Lessons…in living above the noise and for the glory of God.” My focus for life is to seek to live above all the noise around us, that which vies for our attention and distracts us from our main goal, the one goal of glorifying God in and through all of life. This made it easy to choose my new name!

What’s this noise I speak of? Oh, there are too many to put into words, but here are a few:

Expectations – of myself and others, often unrealistic.
Perfectionism – seeking the “best” and what I think will make God and others happy.
Roles – being a “good” wife, a “good” mom, a “better” friend, etc., but by whose standards?
Church – trying to be and do what other Christians expect; pressure that comes from not believing in all that goes on in modern churches…
The World – balancing between being in the world but not of it.

My goal in life is be like David and Solomon, to have a heart of understanding and discernment, and to use my life to serve and follow God. I blog to encourage you to do the same. To live above the chatter beckoning us to veer from our main focus, to sidetrack us from following God’s best for us and our family. So please join me as I share ideas and lessons in my quest to stay focused.

If you follow me via email, my new blog will transfer over to your email. If you haven’t subscribed, please do, so you won’t miss a post! You can also follow me on Facebook and Pinterest.

Blessings as we share in this journey called life!

Solomon’s Prayer – “You have shown great lovingkindness to Your servant David, my father, according as he walked before You in truth and righteousness and uprightness of heart toward You…so give Your servant an understanding heart…to discern between good and evil.” 1 Kings 3:6-9

How Busy Is Too Busy?

June 30, 2015 By livingabovethenoise

Before I get back to blogging (I have way too many posts in my “All Posts” file) I should fill you in on why I’ve been so silent and what’s been going on in my house these days. Not that my life is so very interesting, but I think it helps to know a person a little bit before you read their stuff.

Busy Feet

My “stuff,” my lessons learned, are nothing new under this bright sun of ours, like Solomon said so many years ago. But the God who created me has given me a gift of words, a bit of wisdom and intuition that I am going to use for all His glory for as long as I am able.

Busy, Busy – ALL the Time! (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing)

So here’s the deal – my entire life, I heard my mother say, “When life slows down, I’ll…..” Have you ever said that? “When life slows down….” I’ve been saying it a lot lately. And I’m finally asking myself if that is really ever going to happen. Maybe it will when my body is unable to coordinate the making of a meal, or the driving a car to see my grandkids, or when my mind is gone like my Mom’s is now. But before that day? Will life ever really slow down? Or should it?

We need to pray for God to show us just how busy He wants us to be. I hope to be busy, like Mary, about the things that matter most to Him: family, friends, lost souls, community. Drawing them to the only One who can heal their hurts, give them wisdom, and comfort their weary souls. And how we go about that, my friend, will look different for each one of us. And we’ll each mess up often. Choosing the temporal or the fun instead of the hard. But for the goal…

Take a moment and listen to my favorite hymn these days. It reflects this sentiment perfectly! (If you’re getting this via email, you’ll have to hop on over to my blog to view it. It’s worth it!)

Choices We Must Make To Know How Busy To Be

We live in a lost, dying, and corrupt world. This fact alone should keep us very busy! So busy that our days will be spent caring – and talking – and visiting – and teaching – and loving – loving – loving.
We ~~might~~ will have to limit some things like entertainment or leisure – at least be sure that they’re not taking us away from time with others or time with God. (Yes, I’m feeling an elbow in my rib.)
Creating space to rest is of utmost importance, especially when we are called to service. We need time to think, to ponder the ways of God and our incredible need for Him. Space to rest and listen to His still small voice, to hear the needs of others, to think about what’s best to do tomorrow.

Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

My Crazy-Busy Life

My life has been filled, absolutely filled to the brim, with loving and blessing and caring and serving this last year. To the point that some goals my husband and I have had, or thought were important, have been put on the back burner. I share about them in these posts: Life Changes – Are You Ready To Step Out of the Boat? and Learning To Be Salt and Light

Here’s a sampling of my last nine months:

3 grandbabies born in the last six months (helped at two births and follow up care for mom and/or children)
Traveled back and forth two states away, to help another daughter’s family move closer to us! (yay, at least one is closer now!)
Moved another daughter to Colorado (miss her lots!)
Helped clean and pack the truck when our daughter’s family moved away – :o(
Took a very fun, family ski trip and visited our daughter in CO – (much needed!)
Learned of our 32 yo daughter’s possible brain tumor (now diagnosed as AVM, which is treatable; ever so grateful that she was on the good side of the 50% chance of death or paralysis from this event!)
Discussed and counseled a daughter during a “pre-courtship”
Daily helping the five children still in our home, finish schoolwork and learn or better their skills, and discover their talents for future work (woodworking, jewelry making, fine sewing, craft shows, food trailer sales/events, etc.)
Planted our garden plus put 60 lbs. of fresh fish (from bow-fishing in our backyard river) into our freezer. Thanks, guys!
Gained three (soon to be ~~five~~ four) Alpacas that my daughter wants to raise for wool and breeding
Dealt with 2 pet deaths in the last few weeks. We had to put down our sweet, 3 yo family dog, plus my daughter’s momma alpaca (the vets have no clue as to what happened, but we gave her a fighting chance via syringe feeding for over a week). Now we bottle feed her baby every three hours. We’re tired!
Plus all the holidays and birthdays that were packed into those months, complete with guests and food and gift giving

I’m sure I’ve forgotten many other events or trips not covered here, but you get the picture! I get the picture! Yikes, life is certainly busy. But which one would I not do? Which person would I say, “No, you’re not important enough to take the time for?” I am finally learning (getting into my thick skull) it’s just not going to slow down.

~ Life, well lived, will be busy. ~

The Take Away: We are born to serve – and to die in that service.

This isn’t a depressing reality, but a life-giving one. One that breathes Christ to those around us. Christ, the ultimate One who died to give us life. And I’m finding that I can actually smile in the dying!

Won’t you join with me in relishing the busyness along this path of life!

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:24-26