Choosing a One Word has shaped my life for more than a decade, and this year, that word is Invest.

Since 2009, I’ve chosen one word as a theme for my year instead of making resolutions that didn’t last to the end of January. By having a One Word, I’m intentional about living my life according to my values. Sure, One Words are often shared in January, but with the busyness of a book deadline, travel, and preparing for the New Year, that didn’t happen. So, this is me—sharing how my One Word will encompass my year, even if it’s a little later than usual.

How Invest Found Me

Last fall, I participated in a small group gathering through my church. During one of our conversations, a friend made a comment about how we need to invest in others in order to grow.

That word stayed with me.

Invest.

When you first hear the word invest, you might think of money—stocks, IRAs, savings accounts, and financial planning. But invest can also mean dedicating your time, talents, and resources to other areas of your life.

One Word—One Verse

Along with One Word, I also like to meditate on one specific verse throughout the year. This year, I have chosen:

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:17 NIV

I want my words, actions, and values to align with who Jesus is and maintain a grateful heart while doing all that He’s called me to accomplish.

Where I’m Choosing to Invest in 2026

For me, this year looks like choosing to invest in:

• My faith
• My family
• My friendships
• My health
• My day job
• My writing career

Some of these will require financial investments.

Others will require investments of time, patience, dedication, and a willingness to risk failure.

What That Investment Looks Like

• Investing in My Faith: I want to grow my relationship with God by spending time in prayer on a daily basis, digging deeper into His Word and applying those principles to my life, maintaining a thankful heart, shining my light, and being of service to others.
• Investing in My Family: I want to create a spiritual legacy for my family by praying intentionally for needs, spending quality time together, listening more instead of advising (especially as a mom to adult sons), and being present with my husband as we deepen our marriage.
• Investing in Friendships: I want to love well and build community within the circles God has placed me by making time in my busy schedule for those monthly coffee dates, purposeful get‑togethers, and praying for my friends’ needs.
• Investing in My Health: I want to be a good steward of what God has given me by building sustainable habits that benefit my mind, body, and soul for the long run. Not just exercising regularly and making healthier food choices, but also being intentional about Sacred Rest and focused creativity. It also means making space to learn new skills like watercolor painting and taking time for reading for pleasure without guilt.
• Investing in My Day Job: I’ve been blessed with managing an online writing school, mentoring aspiring authors, and working as an author liaison for a fairly new publishing company. These jobs require diligence, time, and purpose as I take on more responsibility and develop the skills needed to manage it well.
• Investing in My Writing Career: I want to grow the gifts and talents God has given me by learning new strategies to improve my novels, build my career, streamline my marketing, and save for retirement.

Choosing My Kind of Life

By doing everything in the name of Jesus, with excellence, purpose, and gratitude, I’m choosing my kind of life—one that feels intentional, sustainable, and purposeful.

By anchoring my One Word with my One Verse, my year remains Christ-centered. It’s a commitment to honor God with my intentions, to be a good steward of my habits, gifts, and talents, and to give thanks through it all. Even when life feels hard.

Because while light is necessary for growth, much of the rooting happens in the dark.

Investing doesn’t always feel productive or visible, but it’s still progress. Sometimes it means focusing on one thing instead of chasing every opportunity. And always, it requires patience, persistence, and trust in the process.

What about you?

What is one area of your life where God’s asking you to invest more intentionally this year?

The post Why I Chose Invest as My One Word for 2026 appeared first on Lisa Jordan Books.

Over the years, I’ve learned that God, the ultimate Author, often writes unexpected turns into my story. Even though I may become frustrated, I’m learning that God is simply growing my faith and reminding me who is truly in control.

In September, I attended and taught classes at my two favorite writing conferences, and those two trips reminded me of that truth.

Plot Twist #1 — The Hotel That Was Full… Until It Wasn’t

I discovered a mistake on my hotel reservation three days before leaving for the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Conference—I hadn’t booked enough nights. What was I thinking? While I wanted to keep kicking myself, I tried to focus on giving myself grace. And this experience turned into a lesson in trusting God’s plan for my life because He cares about the small things and the big things.

The next morning, my stomach dropped when the hotel staff told me they were full and couldn’t extend my stay. That meant my roommate and I would need to check out mid-day on the final full day of the conference—the same day when I was teaching—and move to another hotel.

My roommate was so gracious and booked us into a nearby hotel for our final night’s stay. It wasn’t ideal, but it would work. The front desk attendants at our main hotel encouraged us to keep checking back. We did, but they still had no vacancies.

Then, the night before we were supposed to move, I was meeting with a group of authors, and my roommate ran up to me…Praise God, the hotel had a vacancy. Not only could we stay for the entire conference, but we could stay in the same room. No packing up, no switching hotels, no stress.

Only God could work out those details so perfectly.

(And my roommate “fired” me from handling conference reservations in the future. 😂)

Plot Twist #2 — The Flight That Was Canceled… and the Favor That Followed

Several months ago, I’d booked a flight to Phoenix, Arizona, for the Faith, Hope, & Love Christian Writers (FHLCW) Conference. To save money, I used a third-party site that found a lower-than-expected flight, but it meant flying out of a regional airport and having two connections—three mistakes I now see clearly in hindsight. Little did I know that this experience would become a real-life example of God’s perfect timing and faithfulness.

On the morning of my trip, I drove through early morning thick fog and dark country roads, dodging deer and praying for safe travels. I arrived at the airport at 5 a.m.—only to find out my flight had been canceled. Due to fog, the plane hadn’t come in the night before.

No one had notified me because the airline said I didn’t have contact info on file, which wasn’t true. I stayed calm and kind, returned to my car, called my husband, then booked a next-day flight on my regular airline, flying out of my regular airport. I felt a calm settle over me. God whispered, “Trust Me.” It cost nearly $800, but I chose peace over panic. I spent the night with two of my best friends—one of whom drove me to the airport the next morning.

That second flight was smooth. I even had a delicious gluten-free breakfast sandwich while waiting to board. The conference was wonderful, full of God-inspired connections and encouragement. However, trying to get a response or a refund through the third-party app proved impossible.

When I returned home, I emailed the airline to explain the situation, hoping for a refund but expecting little. A week passed with no response. This past weekend, I received an email from the airline, giving me a full refund, not just a travel credit.

Grinning, I did a little happy dance and whispered thanks to the One who turns frustration into favor.

Trusting the Author of Your Story

Both of these experiences reminded me that what feels like chaos in the moment is often just part of God’s carefully woven plotline. God’s plan for your life may include unexpected challenges, but those moments are opportunities for growth and transformation. Plus, we don’t know what God could be protecting us from when He allows delays in our lives.

When I’m beginning a new story, I get to know my characters, then create a scene-by-scene plan. To keep the reader turning pages, I always include moments where my characters feel lost—those black moments they think the Author has forgotten them. Those scenes are necessary for spiritual growth for my characters. Without conflict, there’s no transformation. Without tension, there’s no triumph.

The same is true for us.

When the plan falls apart, the hotel’s full, or the flight’s canceled, trust that God is writing a better ending. His timing is precise, His details perfect, and His favor faithful.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28 (NIV)

The next time your story takes an unexpected turn, don’t panic. Pause. Breathe. Trust the Author. Remember that God’s plan for your life, even with its plot twists, is unfolding with perfect timing and purpose. He’s not done writing your story yet.

Your Turn: Have you ever experienced a ‘plot twist’ moment when God showed up unexpectedly? Whether it’s a canceled flight, a full hotel, or another unexpected setback, I’d love to hear how trusting God in difficult times strengthened your faith.

For more encouragement that weaves faith and fiction together, I invite you to subscribe to my newsletter, where I share how God uses different chapters and stories for His glory.

The post When God Writes the Plot Twist appeared first on Lisa Jordan Books.

As I sat in my chair, my to-do list began scrolling through my head. I caught sight of my dark tree decorated with only an angel topper, lights, and one ornament while totes of Christmas decorations waited to be unpacked.

As I leaned my head back and closed my eyes for a moment, I remembered a previous devotional reading that spoke of Elijah’s exhaustion after fleeing to the wilderness. He was so discouraged that he asked God to take his life. Instead of giving in to his discouragement, the Lord sent an angel to care for him until he gathered his strength back.

Rest

God knew he needed physical rest and nourishment. God also knew this replenishment wouldn’t happen with just one meal or one rest period. In order to help Elijah in the best way possible, He met him where he was and ministered to him. He allowed Elijah to unburden his heart, and He listened. God also knew Elijah needed a personal encounter with Him.

A gentle whisper.

As I read 1 Kings 19, verse 12 stood out to me:

After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.

The God of the universe could have gotten Elijah’s attention with the earthquake or the fire or the thunder. Instead, He got his attention with a gentle whisper. A soft, quiet voice.

Life hasn’t been the easiest the past few months. I’ve dealt with sickness, the loss of two family members, and another close family member’s new cancer diagnosis. Grief and exhaustion have become unwanted companions as we’ve learned how to walk through the losses.

When I sat at my computer yesterday, I paused to soak in the quiet. Except for the occasional car driving by or the furnace kicking on, the house was silent. To be honest, early morning is one of my favorite times of the day. It’s when I can spend quality time in prayer and Bible reading without distractions demanding my attention.

I haven’t taken many early mornings lately to listen for that quiet whisper. From the moment my feet hit the floor when the alarm goes off, I’m off and running and doing a whole lot of juggling in order to meet deadlines, care for others, and do whatever it takes to get the job done. And I admit it—sometimes I have so much on my plate that I don’t take time to do my devotions, let alone listen to that gentle whisper in my ear. And those days turn out to be chaotic.

Be still.

As He reminds us in Psalms 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

If you look at that verse, you will see a comma after still.

God wants us to pause. Be still. Pause. Take a moment to stop. Take a moment to breathe. Take a moment to listen.

And know that He is God.

He is faithful. He is unchanging. He is constant. He is God.

God wants us to pause. Be still. Pause. Take a moment to stop. Take a moment to breathe. Take a moment to listen. And know that He is God. #TellHisStory #Listen #Advent
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As we move through this season of Advent and prepare our hearts for His second coming, I encourage you to hold onto the peace, hope, joy, and love through the busy holiday season and all through the New Year. Take it a priority to sit in the stillness and listen for those gentle whispers God wants to speak into your heart.

This will be the last Tell His Story link-up party for the year. Jeanne and I are taking a much-needed break to spend quality time with our families. Look for some changes coming in January. Have a very Merry Christmas and a joyous 2023. 

Listening for His Gentle Whisper #tellhisstory #faith #listen
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My niece loves to share daily weather reports with me. Jokingly, I tell her I don’t want to hear them unless she’s telling me the day is going to be warm and sunny. If she tells me about pending snow, rain, or cold temperatures, I feign disappointment that it’s not going to be a bright and sunny day. I can even handle the cold better if I know the sun will be making an appearance. Even when a foot of snow mounded in my front yard. You see, I’m holding onto hope.

Dormant Hope

Holding onto hope isn’t always easy, especially when it involves more than a weather report. During yesterday’s quiet time with God, I listened to a brief devotional about when hope is hard. The narrator talked about dormant hope. That phrase really caught my attention because, if we’re being truthful, each one of us has had times of dormant hope.

Dormant means temporarily inactive. During the winter, a lot of animals hibernate. Their bodily functions slow down as they enter a period of deep sleep.

If we’re being truthful, each one of us has had times of dormant hope. #TellHisStory #Holdingontohope #Christianliving
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Seasons of Winter

I’ve had hibernating hope as I’ve gone through “seasons of winter” as my friend Jo called them. You know what I mean, right? Those seasons of trials and discouragement when you feel like you’ve been blasted with one storm after another.

I’ve referenced this before in previous posts, but I share it often because it was so life-changing for me. My family endured a two-year “season of winter” a number of years ago when both my husband and I lost our fathers, my mother had a second heart attack, our boys went through some life-alternating experiences, and I was diagnosed with an autoimmune issue brought on by the combined trauma of those experiences.

Grief, pain, fear, betrayal, and anxiety are common triggers that ravage our hope and faith like a January blizzard, freezing our hearts and blanketing us in a tundra of discouragement and disbelief.

How many times have we asked, “Why me, God?”

New Growth

One of the most pivotal times in my life didn’t come from church or any sort of Christian event. It came as I sat by my son’s side in the ICU while he fought for his life. While sitting in a recliner next to his bed for ten days as a virus systematically shut down his organs, I prayed harder than I had ever done in my life, begging my friends on social media to pray as well. Prayers stormed Heaven’s gate from around the world. Then, one morning, I awoke at 4:00 a.m. and simply breathed out, “God.” I had no words left.

Then, warmth and peace enveloped me in such a way that I knew without a doubt it was the Holy Spirit’s presence. At that moment, my frozen heart began to thaw. My dormant hope sprouted new growth. No matter what happened, I knew God was with me, with my family. As my son healed and was released from the hospital on Father’s Day of that year, we celebrated his recovery. He wasn’t the only one being healed.

Our earthly circumstances may take us through periods of shaky faith, feeling like God put us on hold. Or even worse—He abandoned us. However, the more time we spend in His Word and lean into Him during these trials and challenges, the stronger we can hold onto Hope.

Our earthly circumstances may take us through periods of shaky faith, feeling like God put us on hold. Or even worse—He abandoned us. #TellHisStory #Hope #ChristianLiving
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That 4 a.m. moment ignited my personal journey of realizing the impacting power of prayer.

Here’s the truth—no one wants to go through those trials because none of us want the pain that goes along with the loss, the change, the disrupted life. We’re so happy in our comfort zones, aren’t we?

But you know what? In order to allow God to work in our lives, we need to be willing to step out of our comfort zones and lean into Him as we talk together through those struggles.

Learning to Trust

Since that two-year season of winter, I’ve had to relearn what it meant to trust God. For quite a while, I had an apprehensive heart, fearfully waiting for the proverbial “shoe to drop.”

God remained patient and gentle as He worked in my broken heart and weary mind, reminding me of His constant presence. He put people in my life who spoke life-affirming prayers and offered spiritual truth and love to help me heal and grow. As time progressed, I moved from surviving to thriving.

I love God’s promise in Joshua 1:9: Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

As winter fades into spring, purple, yellow, and white crocuses emerge through the melting snow, alerting us to the promises of spring and regrowth.

God does the same with us. He warms our emotionally frozen souls and whispers hope to thaw our hearts. No matter what trials and challenges we are facing, we need to retain the joy of holding onto hope. God is with us through those cold seasons. It’s up to us to trust Him before the thaw—to hold onto that Hope. When we turn our faces to His Son, He shines down on us, warming us and allowing that dormant hope to re-emerge with renewed growth and promises of hope and a future.

What about you? How do you hold onto hope when life gets harder?

Holding onto Hope When Life Gets Harder #tellhistory #Christianliving #holdingontohope
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The post Holding onto Hope When Life Gets Harder appeared first on Lisa Jordan Books.

In the last two months, my family has been walking through a difficult season filled with pain and heartbreak. Through it all, God has been there every step of the way. Because of the busyness in everything we are dealing with, I haven’t had the time nor the brain power to write a new blog post. I’ve decided to repost one from last year that aligns well with the values series I’ve been doing.

In September, I started a blog series based on my values, beginning with living out your values, five ways to value your faith, and three ways to value family. During today’s segment, I will be talking about the value of cultivating friendships.

As I mentioned previously, my values are faith, family, friendships, health, writing, work, and creativity. These seven values define who I am and how I strive to live my life.

Before writing this post, I searched my blog for previous posts about friendship. One thing is certain–I wouldn’t be where I am without my friends,

And that sentiment holds true today, especially as my family is walking through a season of trials.

Over the weekend, I spent quality time with a group of friends. Due to our busy schedules, we haven’t been able to get together as often as we’d like. Also, we live about ninety minutes apart. Between those face-to-face times, we stay connected through texting, video chats, and social media.

Valuing togetherness

Getting together in person, though, takes time and planning. None of us are in a position where we can “get up and go” at the spur of the moment. Between families, work, and pets, we have other responsibilities that prevent spontaneous get-togethers. So planning is essential.

On Saturday, we gathered on the back patio of our friends’ house and soaked in the conversation, laughter, and sounds of nature as balmy breezes whisked our faces while we ate our lunch. As we enjoyed the tranquility of the afternoon, I admired my friend’s green thumb and the way she had transformed their backyard into a serene oasis. Green plants, vibrant pops of colorful flowers, hanging bird feeders, and peaceful wind chimes offered soothing refreshment for our spirits.

After lunch, we stopped for ice cream, then headed to the beach. We walked along the surf, dug our toes in the sand, and allowed the midafternoon sun to kiss our faces. We concluded a perfect afternoon by taking our signature group selfie, passing out hugs, and promising to get together sooner rather than later.

In the midst of my current busyness, it would have been so easy to cancel the plans and focus on my growing to-do list. However, I needed to step away from my busy schedule in order to return more refreshed and productive. I try to live my life based on my values of faith, family, and friendships. Since friendships are one of my core values, I needed to set aside work to enjoy essential rest with my friends.

Created for relationships

God created us for relationships—first with Him, then with others. As we move through different seasons in our lives, our friendships may change as well. My friends relate to me and feed other parts of my soul that my husband and sons can’t. That’s not a slam against my guys in any way. I value their significance in my life. There’s a bond between friends that is different than a marital bond or one between a parent and a child. And while my husband and boys may appreciate my creative endeavors, my female friends share those same hobbies and understand their value—in the creative pursuit and spending time together.

God created us for relationships—first with Him, then with others. #tellhisstory #relationships
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Chatting with a friend over coffee feeds my inner needs of being heard, being seen, and being together because, hopefully, I’m continually cultivating those relationships as well.

I have one friend I see once a month. We meet for breakfast or lunch, and before we part, we look at our calendars and schedule our next date. I have friends I see once a year because we live all around the country. Knowing I’ll be seeing them allows for anticipation to build, and our reunions are so sweet.

Cultivating friendships

Cultivating friendships takes time and discipline. What do you want in a friend? What are you willing to sacrifice and offer? Any relationship requires an element of compromise and investment.

Cultivating friendships takes time and discipline. What do you want in a friend? What are you willing to sacrifice and offer? #tellhisstory #friendships
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If you’re struggling to cultivate your friendships, think about how much time you’re willing and able to invest. Invite a friend to become a walking buddy or maybe meet for a cup of coffee at your favorite shop.

If you can’t get together, send a card to express your appreciation. Words go a long way toward cultivating friendships.

I love this quote by Dale Carnegie, “You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.”

Take time to cultivate the kinds of friendships you’d like to have. First by being that kind of friend, then invest that time in others. Over time, those friendships will bloom and grow, rewarding you with relationships that last a lifetime.

Your Turn: How are you doing at cultivating your friendships?

How are you doing at cultivating your friendships? #tellhisstory #friendships
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The post The Value of Cultivating Friendships appeared first on Lisa Jordan Books.

As I mentioned previously, my values are faith, family, friendships, health, writing, work, and creativity. These seven values define who I am and how I strive to live my life.

Family Values

Right after faith, I value family. Some of my best childhood memories were spent at my grandparents’ dairy farm. With great fondness, I remember the huge holiday get-togethers filled with lots of laughter around a table full of food.

I’ve always wanted a husband and children. As a child, I played with dolls, Barbies, and make-believe house. I was surrounded by wonderful role models. I longed for a secure marriage and a stable home to give my children roots. In the thirty-three years my husband and I have been married, we’ve worked to make that happen.

Familial Love

When I think about family, I think of my husband, our two sons, our future daughter-in-law, our granddaughter, my mom (my dad has passed away), my siblings, my niece and nephews, and my in-laws. But family also includes friends I’ve had for years along with my church family—people who show up when the need arises.

My husband and I will celebrate thirty-three years of marriage at the end of this month. Even though it’s cliché to say, I do love him more today than when we were first married. We married when I was twenty and he was nearly twenty-three. We’ve had our struggles, but those challenges have brought us closer together.

Over the weekend, I sent a picture to our oldest son who lives three hours away with his own family. It was a selfie of my husband and me during our walk in the woods. He replied and said, “I truly hope that when Sarah and I are your guys’ age I can still be the goofball that makes her smile like Dad makes you.” What a compliment! And he’s told me before that one of the greatest gifts we’ve given him is showing him what a strong marriage looks like.

In our entryway, we have a sign hanging on the wall that talks about “house rules.”

As I think about what I value with my family, three important points come to mind:

• Love well
• Be Present
• Extend grace

Love well

Love is a verb that requires action on a daily basis. Each day, I choose to love my family well. That includes keeping a clean house, providing healthy, nutritious meals, and being present in their lives. It means getting up at six each morning and sending my husband off to work with breakfast and a packed lunch. When he comes home, dinner is waiting. These are things that bless my husband, so I’ll keep doing them. My husband is quick to reciprocate. He helps with the laundry, folding it with military precision. I don’t cook on the weekends, so he takes over the meals when he’s home. Over the weekend, I was gone all day on Saturday and came home to a clean kitchen with the dishwasher running, trash taken out, and dinner ready to be served (complete with dessert!).

Love is a verb that requires action on a daily basis. Each day, I choose to love my family well. #TellHisStory #Family #Valuesbasedliving
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Be Present

When our boys were younger, my husband worked second shift. I wanted to be present and still achieve my writing dreams, so I learned to write in the living room where they were doing homework, watching TV, hanging out with friends, or gaming, so I was available when I needed them. It also means being present to walk through the hard stuff with them, even when we didn’t agree with their actions or choices.

Now that our boys are grown, we strive to be present in other ways. We always look forward to spending time with them. We try to be available if they need us. When they need to talk, we do our best to listen. We try to offer advice, but then we have to do the very hard job of taking a step back and letting them make their own decisions. Recently, we had to walk through a very difficult time with one of our sons. Everything in me wanted to fix the problem, but it wasn’t my problem to fix. We had to advise and then step back.

Being present also means being available to help my mom, my siblings, or my niece and nephews when they need us. I enjoy spending time with my family, and we try to get together at least once a month. That means showing up with no expectations other than having a good time. We put our phones away and engage with one another. Usually, there’s a lot of laughter and good food involved.

Extend Grace

The beauty of family is none of us are perfect. However, it’s easy to have greater expectations and allow our own perceptions of what should be to take over. We need just love one another and extend grace when mistakes are made, unkind words are said, and feelings hurt. Grace isn’t excusing the misbehavior. Instead, it’s about being mindful of how we interact with one another. Treating others with kindness goes a long way in building relationships and showing others what love is all about.

I do not go through life wearing rose-colored glasses. Even though I can be naive about some things, I’m more than aware of the challenges and tragedies that can happen in families. I’m far from perfect, and I’ve had to learn through my many mistakes in how to be a good wife and mother. While I know there’s no such thing as the perfect family, I do hope our boys have positive childhood memories that make them want to recreate those with their own families.

I also understand people have different ideas about families. For some, family happens through blood or belonging such as adoption. For others, their biological families have failed them, so they have families through the heart—those who aren’t related but are closer than siblings. For some, they have found their families through faith—church members whom they’ve grown close to.

God ordained the family because we were created for relationships. No matter who you call family, value who they are. Love them well, be present, and extend grace. Love them as Jesus does, and you won’t go wrong.

God ordained the family because we were created for relationships. Three Ways to Value Family #TellHisStory #Family #Values
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Your Turn: In what ways do you value family?

The post Three Ways to Value Family appeared first on Lisa Jordan Books.

My values are faith, family, friendships, health, writing, work, and creativity. These seven values define who I am and how I live my life. And often, they will intertwine.

As I stated two weeks ago—when we live according to our values, we are living according to Philippians 4:8 (NIV):

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

When we are living a values-based life, then we are striving to find balance in doing what is more important rather than being ruled by a constant state of busyness that leaves us feeling exhausted all the time.

When we are living a values-based life, then we are striving to find balance in doing what is more important rather than being ruled by a constant state of busyness that leaves us feeling exhausted all the time. #tellhisstory #faith…
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Let’s face it—we will always be busy, but how we spend our time gives us insight into what we value.

This past weekend, I attended the funeral of a man who loved well and was well-loved by his family and friends. When people spoke, every single one mentioned two things in common: he loved the Lord, and he loved his family. This man had a large family—eight children, twenty-three grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren. The full church spoke to the testament of this man’s impact on others.

As I focus on my value of faith daily, I need to think about what that means to me. How I develop and nurture that value may be different than the way you do. For me, faith means spending time with Jesus through Bible reading and prayer. It also means attending a Bible-based church and serving where God has called me to minister. I’ve come up with five ways to show how I value my faith.

Intentional Faith

I long to be so disciplined in having an intentional time with the Lord that nothing gets in the way of beginning my day by spending time with Him. Striving to have a daily quiet time with God helps us grow in our relationship with Him. When we dig into His word and take the time to apply it to our lives, then we are maturing in the faith and being more equipped to handle life challenges with peace and strength.

When we dig into His word and take the time to apply it to our lives, then we are maturing in the faith and being more equipped to handle life challenges with peace and strength. #TellHisStory #Christianliving #livebyfaith
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Intimate Faith

Being intentional about that quality time with the Lord helps us to have a more intimate relationship. The beauty of having this intimate time with the Lord is all we have to do is show up. We can come as we are and know without a doubt that He loves us unconditionally. As we grow that relationship and deepen our intimacy with Him, then we are being changed to experience deeper intimacy with others because the Lord is changing us from the inside out.

Inside Out Faith

Before I begin writing my novels, I get to know my characters from the inside out. Their internal wants and desires drive their external goals because that’s human behavior. When we take that intentional and intimate time with the Lord, then He is changing us from the inside out. I remember the first days after rededicating my life with the Lord. I so wanted to be that perfect Christian, and I failed miserably because my expectations were too high. There’s no such thing as a perfect Christian.

I had to come to a point in my life when I surrendered myself, flaws and all, and asked God to use me just as I was. And He did. But the more time I spent in His word, the more I evolved to be like Him. I’ve been a Christian for over twenty-five years. While I’ve come a long way from that very ordinary February night when I gave my heart to Jesus, I still have a long way to go. The more I stay in His presence, the more He changes me from the inside out.

Imitating Faith

I think every parent or anyone who works with children has heard this cry at least once in their lives, “He/she’s copying me!” Often, when we try to copy others, we’re looking to gain attention for ourselves. However, when we imitate the qualities of Jesus, then we are reflecting who He is and giving Him all the glory.

Ephesians 5:1-2 NIV reminds us:

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

When we value our faith, it’s not enough to have that intentional and intimate time with God. As we allow Him to change us from the inside out, then we need to put that faith into practice by using the gifts and talents He gives each one of us and sharing who He is with others.

God has equipped me with the skills to write fiction. I tell stories that “promise hope & happily ever after.” Even though I write romance novels, my stories are based on Christian principles and weave in God’s truth.

Additionally, He’s also given me a heart for children’s ministry. There’s nothing purer than seeing children learn how much Jesus loves them. When we help build those spiritual foundations in young children, then we are equipping them for a lifetime of internal strength and confidence to endure what comes their way.

I love to encourage others. A year ago, I started a card of compassion ministry at my church. I supply all the materials and guide women to make a couple of cards each month in order to send those notes of encouragement to someone who could use them. Having a card show up in the mail among the pile of bills can let someone else know how much they are loved.

Inspiring Faith

When I look at those who have inspired my faith, I see people who love well. They invest in their relationships with the Lord and others. They are full of grace, knowing we’re all fallible and make mistakes. They are generous with their money, time, and talents. Most of all, they are humble, giving God all the glory for the great things He has done in their lives.

Those are the same qualities I’m trying to obtain so I can inspire others to seek Jesus with their whole hearts. We are called to be the salt and light in this world. To be honest, it’s not always easy. But if we stay true to who He is and how He wants us to live our lives, then we will develop a spiritual legacy that inspires others to want to follow in His footsteps.

Your Turn:

How do you value your faith? Five Ways to Value Your Faith #TellHisStory #Faith #Valuesbasedliving
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The post Five Ways to Value Your Faith appeared first on Lisa Jordan Books.

A couple of weeks ago, my husband texted me from work and asked me to see if friends of ours wanted a free piano from one of his co-workers. They declined due to a lack of space. I relayed the message and mentioned if we had room, I’d consider taking it because I’ve always wanted to learn how to play the piano. He replied, “Honey, you have your plate double-stacked already.”

That evening, we took a walk in the park after dinner. During the course of our conversation, I mentioned his comment from earlier in the day and told him how much I appreciated the way he watched out for me. Then, my husband said something that really made me think, “You’re so quick to help others, but your generosity affects the time you need to get your writing and your work done. Then that means you’re working or writing in the evenings, which cuts into our time.”

My husband—my partner in life and my best voice of reason—helped me to see I had fallen out of the habit of living by my values.

While faith, family, and friendships have been my core values for nearly three decades, I learned about living a values-based life a couple of years ago from Susan May Warren, and it changed my life for the better.

I learned about living a values-based life a couple of years ago from @susanmaywarren, and it changed my life for the better. #TellHisStory #ValuesBasedLiving
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Values-Based Living

As do all of you who are reading this post, I lead a busy life. From the moment my hand shuts off the 6 AM alarm, I’m busy until I reset that alarm for the next morning. Caring for my family, walking with the Lord, maintaining my health, meeting book deadlines, deepening relationships, and getting my work done each day, it’s a lot to stay on top of. And that’s why values-based planning has helped me to stay focused and able to prioritize what needs to be done. The greatest tools in my values-based living arsenal are my Bible and my brilliant writing planner.

A value is someone’s standard of behavior that causes us to act in one way or another. When we live according to our values, we are living according to Philippians 4:8 (NIV):

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Discovering Your Values

Do you know what your values are? Do you know how to find them? Look at your life. How do you spend your time? When you have downtime, who do you want to spend it with? How do you spend your money? What about your goals and dreams? When you’re facing life’s challenges, how do you react? What brings you joy?

Taking time to answer these questions will help you to discover your values, Like I mentioned previously, I value faith, family, and friendships. But I also value my writing, my health, my job, and being creative.

Living Out Your Values

Knowing my values, I’m able to plan my time accordingly in order to live a more peaceful, impactful life. I choose to get out of bed and make breakfast for my husband while he gets ready for work. I make his lunch, and when he returns home, dinner is nearly ready. These speak to my value of family. I can break that value of family down by label–wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt.

Knowing my values, I'm able to plan my time accordingly in order to live a more peaceful, impactful life. #TellHisStory #Valuesbasedliving
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Once he heads off to work, I spend time with the Lord, which speaks to my value of faith. When I don’t surrender my day and to-do list to the Lord, then I’m not allowing Him to work in my life. I do my daily workout, which speaks to my value of health and self-care. Then I tidy our home, which speaks again to my value of family. I spend two hours working on my current book, which speaks to my value of writing. I check in with friends, which speaks to my value of friendship. After lunch, I begin my day job, which speaks to my value of work, and then I close my computer when my husband calls on his way home from work. Our conversation during his commute is one of my favorite parts of the day. Then there’s dinner and free time when I can do card making or some other creative activity. By the time I crawl into bed, I’ve lived according to my values. And I can sleep with peace in my heart.

However, life doesn’t always follow a neatly written to-do list, does it? So how do we live within our values when our lives are falling apart? Lean into Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV):

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Balancing Our Values

There are days when we need to shuffle our time to order to handle challenges or life emergencies. And those changes can leave us feeling unsettled. However, we can still live by our values even when life turns us on our heads. Because it’s not about a to-do list. It’s about living a life ordained by the One who gave us life. Sometimes we have to balance relationships with productivity. Sometimes we have to set deadlines aside to meet with a grieving friend. Sometimes we have to let the dishes in the sink pile up in order to take a parent to the doctor…again.

As I contemplate my values-based living, I needed to ensure I protected my time with my husband in the evenings. While I do have a few monthly commitments that take place after dinner, for the most part, I make sure my writing and work are done by the time he heads home from work. And I do that because I value my relationship with him.

God has created us for relationships with Him and with others. He also gave us gifts and talents and has a plan and a purpose for each one of us. When we lean into Him and allow Him to order our steps, then living a values-based life draws us deeper into His embrace. We are able to reflect His life and His love, giving Him the glory. And that’s what living a values-based life is all about.

(This is an overview, and I’ll dive deeper into living by your values in my next post.)

Are you living by your values? #TellHisStory #Valuesbasedliving
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What about you? How do you live by your values?

The post Are You Living By Your Values? appeared first on Lisa Jordan Books.

Last week, I was stressing about our finances. But here’s the thing–we have money to pay all of our bills. We have a roof over our head, two nearly-new vehicles to drive, good jobs with wonderful insurance benefits, and plenty of food in our kitchen. Yet, at times, I’m fearful we’re not going to have enough. Maybe it’s because we had an unexpected expense in July that dug into our savings. Or perhaps some childhood fears rearing their ugly heads. Whatever the reason, I was filled with doubt.

In fact, I had even contemplated (very briefly) getting a part-time job to fill in the gap that we have at times when unexpected expenses crop up. However, I work two jobs already. As my very wise sister said, I simply don’t have the time to add anything more to my plate. With book deadlines and my fantastic boss for my day job, I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize those two callings God has placed on my heart.

Image by Paul Zilvanus Lonan from Pixabay

The day after the enemy used my thoughts as a playground, I felt the Lord speaking to me and saying, “Lisa, I meet your needs every day. Do you trust me?”

Are You Struggling to Trust God to Provide?
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I’m ashamed to admit I hesitated, then answered with a “Yes, but.” That question continued to filter through my head–do you trust me?

I turned on YouTube and “Honey in the Rock” was the first song that popped up on my playlist. I love that song by Brooke Ligertwood and featuring Brandon Lake. As I listened to the words and sang along with the lyrics, peace washed over me–the first since those defeating thoughts drowned out God’s Truth–as the words ministered in a way that only God can do.

I prayed, “Yes, Lord, I trust you. With all of it. I know you will provide. You are good all the time, no matter what circumstances we’re facing. Forgive my disbelief. Fortify my faith.”  Less than an hour after praying that prayer, we received two different notifications that showcased God’s generous provision.

Isn’t that so like God? To provide beyond what we expect?

Philippians 4:19 NIV says it best:

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

God longs for us to trust Him. However, we are stubborn and prideful and think we can handle everything on our own. By humbling our hearts, putting our faith in Him, and listening to Him, we will receive rich blessings that can come in the most unexpected ways. God doesn’t promise to give us what we want, but He does promise to meet our needs. But first, we need to learn to trust, and we can do that in three ways:

Image by Daniel Reche from Pixabay

Trusting God Requires Surrendering

Learning to trust God requires us to acknowledge who He is, humble our hearts and surrender our hearts and thoughts to Him. Surrendering may seem like we are defeated, and in essence, we are–to our own selfish desires. By surrendering, we are strengthening our faith and being equipped by God’s power in order to fight against the enemy who wants us to feel vulnerable and crushed. Trusting God gives us strength and supernatural power to defeat the enemy’s lies.

Trusting God Requires Learning

The more we spend time in His Word, the more we learn who God is and the value of believing in His promises. When we pray and grow that intimate relationship with Him, He will increase our faith. We will learn how to trust because of the steadfast Word of God.

Trusting God Requires Listening

Listening goes beyond hearing. It’s an intentional act that requires us to pay attention to what’s being said. God speaks to us through His Word, through music, through others, and through His Holy Spirit. When we develop and grow that intimate prayer life, then we are more open to hearing what God is whispering to our hearts.

What about you? When have you struggled to trust God to provide? What have you learned from that experience?

When have you struggled to trust God to provide? What have you learned from that experience? #TellHisStory #TrustingGod #Godsprovision
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The post Are You Struggling to Trust God to Provide? appeared first on Lisa Jordan Books.

While we walked through the park, we passed a wall of funhouse mirrors—you know the ones I mean, right? The ones that stretch you out to make you look like a giant or shrink you to make you look shorter than you actually are. Our favorite is the one that stretches our heads and shortens our bodies. We had a good laugh, snapped a few pictures, then headed toward our next destination.

On the ride home, though, I contemplated the mirrors in our own lives that distort our vision. I thought of two things that distort mine and decided to share them with you: others’ opinions and the insecurities and lies we believe about ourselves.

I contemplated the mirrors in our own lives that distort our vision. What distorts your vision? #TellHisStory #faith #Christianliving
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Image by Johnnys_pic from Pixabay

Others’ Opinions

Why do we care what others think and say about us? If we’re being honest, it’s most likely because we want them to like us. We want to be accepted, to belong. God created us for relationships, first with Him, then with others. So it’s natural to want others to have favorable opinions about us. But focusing more on other opinions rather than God’s opinions discourages us and can lead us away from God’s plan and purpose in our lives, especially when we try to change who we are in order to be accepted and fit in. I think there’s still a middle schooler inside each of us at times.

In order to maintain a healthy perspective, we need to remember the love God has for each one of us. He designed us in His image but with our own unique gifts and talents. We need to be steeped so deeply in the Word that we can combat those destructive lives with His truth. By surrounding ourselves with supportive, encouraging family, friends, and co-workers, we will be reminded those who love us for who we are will not ask us to change who we are or become someone we shouldn’t. Be yourself because you’re an original—God made only one of you.

Image by SplitShire from Pixabay

Insecurities and lies

While writing this post, I was also messaging a friend who is going through a trial with adult children. I reminded her how Satan likes to attack when we are weak. He zaps our strength and dilutes our faith.

As much as I dislike to admit it, my faith is stronger when things are going well. When walking through trials, I tend to fixate on the problem and not the problem-solver…something I’m working to change.

I used to say I was the queen of overthinking, but this is one area where the Lord is working in my heart and mind. It’s a struggle not to over-process escalating thoughts. Each time my thoughts spiral out of control, I take them to the Lord and ask Him to rein them in.

We all have insecurities and the lies in our heads that make us believe we aren’t enough or we’re not good enough. Truth is, we aren’t good enough, but the Lord’s grace and mercy fills that gap between His goodness and our humanness.

If you’re struggling with insecurities and lies in your head, give them up to God. Ask Him to fill you with His confidence and to speak Truth into your heart and mind. Then put your trust in Him because He will never take you where His grace doesn’t cover you.

After riding rides and wiping sweat and sunblock off my face, my glasses smudged, hampering my vision. If I clean my lenses with the wrong thing, they will end up smeared or streaked, changing how I view my surroundings.

Same with my focus—if I focus on myself, my lenses become smudged and cloudy. But if I need my focus where it needs to be—on God, then He clears my vision and guides me in the direction I need to follow.

What Distorts Your Vision? #TellHisStory #Christianliving #Godsgrace
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What about you? What distorts your vision? How do you clear it for better viewing?

The post What Distorts Your Vision? appeared first on Lisa Jordan Books.