One of my favorite Christian contemporary groups is Casting Crowns. Their songs just resound with me, and I could listen to them all the time. It seems no matter what I’m struggling with in life, there’s a Casting Crowns song fitting for it.
And one of my all-time favorite Casting Crowns songs is The Well.
Here is part of the lyrics that have always touch me.
I have what you need
But you keep on searchin’
I’ve done all the work
But you keep on workin’
When you’re runnin’ on empty
And you can’t find the remedy
Just come to the well
What a reassuring song this one is and what an amazing promise we find in God’s promise to always be there with us, no matter what we face.
I know there have been many times when my well of strength has run dry, both physically and spiritually. When this happens, not even rest can restore my strength, but spending time with Jesus through prayer and reading His word certainly can.
Just like Jesus searched out the woman at the well deliberately, because He knew she was running on empty, He knows what our needs are even before we ask.
So, how’s your well these days? Is it running dry? If so, come to the source of living water that satisfies the thirst of your soul.
John 4: 13-15 says,
Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
How’s your spiritual well doing these days? Are you running on empty? If so, you don’t have to be. Come to the well. He’s waiting just for you.
Last week my daughter and I went to EPCOT for the annual Festival of the Arts. It was a beautiful Florida day, sunny and warm. There are surprises everywhere, if you know where to look.
We strolled the park, viewing the displayed artwork. My favorite is the sidewalk chalk art. Here are a few.
I’m always in awe of people who can paint or sketch. Unlike me! We stumbled upon Animation Academy, which was a lot of fun. We were given a clipboard, paper and pencil. A Disney animator came out to give instructions on how to draw Jiminy Cricket. Sounds easy, right?
This is the finished product from the professional.
Here’s my interpretation.
So, does my guy look like Chip or Dale? We definitely got a chuckle from my picture. Guess I don’t follow directions well!
As always when my daughter and I get away for the day, I’m grateful that she still wants to hang out with me. We have plenty of laughs and usually eat too much, but it’s worth because the food is excellent. Next time, I’ll be ready to go head-to-head with the next animator and see if I can outdo the artist!
Until then, Her Surprise Hometown Match will be available on February 21. I’ll post more about the book, but in the meantime, visit www.tararandel for more information.
Tara Randel is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author. Family values, a bit of mystery and of course, love and romance, are her favorite themes, because she believes love is the greatest gift of all. Look for her next Harlequin Heartwarming romance, HER SURPRISE HOMETWON MATCH, available February 2023.For more information about her books, visit Tara at www.tararandel.com.Like her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TaraRandelBooks. Sign up for Tara’s Newsletter.
I was scrolling through my Facebook feed last week when something caught my eye. Someone posted that a “simple” chapel service at Asbury University in Kentucky was still going on. It had started Wednesday.
It’s still going on.
Since then I heard the same thing is happening at Ohio Christian University.
People are worshiping, repenting, surrendering everything to Jesus. They are hungry for Him and His presence. They are ready to suspend their plans, hobbies, everything to be where God is.
There is no agenda, and that’s what makes it remarkable and God. The minute we start to plan, mimic, or duplicate it, then it’s a manufactured event and in my opinion, we’ve ruined it.
I keep thinking of what our lead pastor has shared time and time again, especially to our youth group. “Every move of God has young people involved.”
As a youth worker, I love this. I see their potential. I know many of their wounds, far deeper than what most of us have ever dealt with, and I’m decades older than them. Every person has value to Christ, but for revival to be breaking out among Gen Z? I’m excited. So excited.
I have a college age daughter learning online through a private Christian college. She also attends a Chi Alpha ministry chapter at a local campus and let me tell you, the battle for young people and their souls is fierce. The agendas being pushed on these kids is sick. My son is a recent graduate and I can tell you he heard more from his professors about following alternative lifestyles than becoming an educator.
And we paid a lot of money for him to have to sit and hear that.
God’s heart is bigger than we can define. I don’t think He’s done showing up on a campus. Honestly? I think He’s just getting started. Folks of all ages are showing up at Asbury simply to sit and experience His presence and walk away transformed. They are traveling from other states. They are waiting in line. Yesterday I read three chapels at Asbury were full.
A friend who read my post two weeks ago asked a question that reminded me that I assume everyone understands what I call Christian Speak. He said, “What does “Delight yourself in the Lord” mean?”
It took me a minute, actually, all night, to come up with an explanation that wasn’t more Christian Speak. The next morning when we talked, the subject came up again, and this time I knew a better way of explaining than I had the night before.
“Delighting yourself in the Lord” means you know God intimately,” I said, quite pleased with myself.
“What do you mean by that?”
Maybe I hadn’t thought this through as well as I thought I had…”Well…” I chewed my bottom lip. “Why do I make you caramel cake?”
“Because you know that’s my favorite dessert.”
“And why don’t I cook you Brussels sprouts or broccoli?”
“Because you know I hate those things.”
“In other words, I know you so well that I know what you like and don’t like, and I delight in doing things that make you happy. It’s the same way with God. When we know God that well, our desires often change to match his, and that’s when he gives us the desires of our hearts.”
It was the second time someone had questioned me on a Scripture verse I quoted. That time, our family was going through a hard time, and I told my youngest daughter that I had been meditating on Isaiah 26:3. “He will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is stayed on Him because he trusts Him.”
“Tell me what that means,” she said.
Again it took me a minute to collect my thoughts because I thought it was self-explanatory. Then I remembered another verse and said, “For me, it goes hand in hand with Isaiah 43:1-2 ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;’ “
If God has called us by name and we are his, he’ll walk this hard road with us–he’ll give us strength to get through it.” And he did.
All this to say, be careful how you represent God in life and in your books. Make sure what you tell someone is plain and say it in words that even a third-grader can understand.
In my romantic suspense books, I want to show believers and nonbelievers that Christians have problems and how we solve them in God’s way rather than the world’s way. But I have to be careful not to preach to my readers or use Christian speak or platitudes like God helps those who help themselves or when God closes a door, he opens a window…neither are in the Bible, by the way, but they sure do sound good. And besides, sometimes he closes the door and the window.
When Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, God declared, “This is My Son” (Matthew 3:17 NIV). Then Satan quickly tempted Jesus, saying, “If you are the Son of God…” (Matthew 4:3,6). Satan was casting doubt, asking Jesus if He really believed He was the Son of God. And then Satan suggested that Jesus demand a miracle, proof of what God said. Demanding that God validate Himself is the opposite of faith.
And so it is with all of us who become children of God. In His Word, God has said:
• “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14).
• “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:38-39).
• “Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father’” (Galatians 4:6).
• “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).
• “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” (Romans 8:14-17).
• “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith” (Galatians 3:26).
• “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1).
• “We know that we are children of God” (1 John 5:19).
After we have made a profession of faith and committed our lives to Jesus, after we have been baptized, after God has declared us to be His children, Satan immediately comes to sow doubt: Do you really believe you are a child of God? Can you trust what God said? Then we need to respond as Jesus did: “It is written…” (Matthew 4:4,7,10). If God said it, it must be true. It is true.
“Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.”
I Corinthians 13:13
Walk into any store this time of years, and you’ll see hearts everywhere, from candy boxes to lockets to cellophane wrappers on flowers to banners hanging over displays of merchandise. We’ve been conditioned by our society to measure our love by the tangible gifts we give.
“Fill us with your love every morning. Then we will sing and rejoice all our lives.”
Psalm 90:14
I love giving and receiving gifts, and enjoy the burst of pleasure in knowing someone cares enough to pamper me. But I clearly understand that the true test of love lies in the intangibles. A smile. A kind word. A thoughtful act. A compassionate and loving spirit. Steadfast goodness.
“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.”
Proverbs 3:3
While we mark special occasions on a calendar, we live from day to day. We cope with the problems that bombard us both personally and in the world around us. When life becomes too hard, we are blessed if we have family and friends we trust, the steadfast ones who advise without judgement and love unconditionally. We are blessed if we have God in our hearts, the source of all love.
“Lord, you are good. You are forgiving. You are full of love to all who call out to you.”
Psalm 86:5
My prayer for all of us is that we love God as deeply as he loves us. I pray that His love will overflow our hearts and spread throughout our homes, our communities, our country, and our world.
A few weeks ago, in church, a woman sat in front of us for the service. I’ve met this woman and she is very nice. However, she must be a heavy smoker. The smell of cigarette smoke clung to her and permeated the air around us. There was no way to avoid the stench as we were worshiping and in such close proximity.
I have an allergy to a lot of scents and cigarette smoke is one of those. I get an immediate headache, my chest hurts, and I don’t feel good. The church was pretty full and moving after the service started, and I noticed the smell, seemed rude.
As I sat there, struggling with the aches, I couldn’t help thinking about being called to love everyone. Which then led to considering God’s unconditional love for us.
“But we are all like an unclean thing,And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags…” Isaiah 64:6a
Consider how we came before God, clothed in our filthy rags, stinking like someone who is very unclean. Like filthy used rags that no one wants to touch. Every one of us who are a child of God approached in this manner because none of us became clean until God cleansed us.
We smelled. We were repulsive. We were someone everyone else would turn away from in disgust.
What did God do? When we came to Him, broken and asking forgiveness, He opened His arms and welcomed us like the lost lamb that we were. He loves us so much, and all he asks is that we surrender all to Him. Even in our smelliest state, He’s there for us. No matter what we’ve done to become so foul, His arms are open.
As I pondered this, I considered all those who might make us uncomfortable—a homeless person, someone with a disability, a person with a mental issue—and the list can go on. There are people whose personalities clash with ours or those who are so quiet they are overlooked.
All of these people are easy to overlook or avoid as unlovable. Possibly because we don’t know how to approach them. Yet, God reaches out to each one just as Jesus did when He walked the earth. The leper. The tax collector. The fishermen.
In order to be Christlike, we must look for those opportunities to reach out to those we normally would avoid. We must extend the love of God to them, even when it is physically difficult. We must see them through God’s eyes.
My discomfort over the smell of smoke was temporary. A small trial worth the lesson from God. A reminder of how much He loves me despite those times when I carry an unpleasant aroma. And a reminder of how He sees me now.
“For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” 2 Corinthians 2:15 (NKJV)
BACK COVER: The New York Times bestselling author of the “heart-stopping tale of survival and heroism” (People) The Book of Lost Names returns with an evocative coming-of-age World War II story about a young woman who uses her knowledge of the wilderness to help Jewish refugees escape the Nazis—until a secret from her past threatens everything.
After being stolen from her wealthy German parents and raised in the unforgiving wilderness of eastern Europe, a young woman finds herself alone in 1941 after her kidnapper dies. Her solitary existence is interrupted, however, when she happens upon a group of Jews fleeing the Nazi terror. Stunned to learn what’s happening in the outside world, she vows to teach the group all she can about surviving in the forest—and in turn, they teach her some surprising lessons about opening her heart after years of isolation. But when she is betrayed and escapes into a German-occupied village, her past and present come together in a shocking collision that could change everything.
Inspired by incredible true stories of survival against staggering odds, and suffused with the journey-from-the-wilderness elements that made Where the Crawdads Sing a worldwide phenomenon, The Forest of Vanishing Stars is a heart-wrenching and suspenseful novel from the #1 internationally bestselling author whose writing has been hailed as “sweeping and magnificent” (Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author), “immersive and evocative” (Publishers Weekly), and “gripping” (Tampa Bay Times).
NORA’S REVIEW: I’ve read many WWII books, but nothing remotely similar to this one. The beginning reminded me of a fairy tale story where an old woman does something that changes the course of a small child (like what happened to Sleeping Beauty, Hansel and Gretel) Then things change and young Yona is being educated by the older woman who lives under the stars. Yona does not mind being in the woods and is eager to learn anything the woman wants to teach her.
Then WWII happens and the Jews head into the woods. That is where Yona meets people for the first time. She is not sure what to do. The old woman said not to talk to anyone, help anyone because they will hurt her. The book is told in first person, which makes this tale a very up-close and personal adventure. I was captivated by Yona and how she has soaked up all the languages and survival skills the old woman taught her. She is a smart, courageous young lady learning to navigate the terrors of WWII and the desperate people fleeing into the woods. Yona faces the challenges ahead of her with determination and respect. I liked how the author had Yona examine her own feelings, thoughts, and motives as she navigates the world without the old woman by her side. This story has a strong sense of place as the woods come alive and make the story unique on many levels.
This is a wonderful read and one that would work well for your next book club pick. I enjoyed the author’s note to readers about her research and all that was true and what she changed to make the story work. This is the first novel I have read by this author; it won’t be the last. It is a book you won’t soon forget.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Writers live by the word. And sometimes they die by the word.
The pen is mightier than the sword, and, like a sword, it cuts both ways.
When I was editor of a Christian magazine, we used to publish 25,000 words every two weeks, and we were never sure which 5 of them would get us into trouble. A denominational minister once told me I had to decide whether I wanted to be a pastor or a prophet because “prophets don’t live very long.” I preferred to be a prophet. I was convinced that playing it safe all the time and avoiding risks would also not accomplish very much. In the end, I lasted 19 years with the magazine, which is well above the expected term for a prophet. Or for a pastor.
Jesus warned that we would be called to account for every careless word we speak (Matthew 12:36). James warned that our words can act like sparks that set a great forest on fire (James 3:5-6). We should never use words carelessly. But we should also not be afraid to challenge people and tackle difficult issues if we want to make a difference with our words. Jesus is the Word (John 1:1), and He used words to challenge the rulers of His day—and they killed Him for it. But, like the prophets before Him, He also used words to bring comfort and encouragement and hope.
Words can be used to offer comfort and to challenge, and as writers we should do both. Words can bring life and warn against death.
In a blink of an eye, life can change. That’s what happened to my husband and I this past week.
It started early Wednesday morning when the rain came, and temperatures plummeted. When we woke up that morning, ice covered all the trees. A few hours later the electricity went out and so did the water.
Sometimes life can get off course. This last week, in my part of Texas, life got off course.
As the weight of the ice became too much to bear, tree limbs snapped causing the power to go out in many different areas. Soon, cell service was gone as well, and we were without a means to communicate with the outside world.
Still God provided. My husband and I drove to our church’s fellowship hall which is close to where we live. We were able to warm up and make lunch. Then the power went out at the church. . .but God provided.
Our pastor let us use his generator, so we were able to run our space heater to stay warm through the night. The following morning, we planned to return to the church to make lunch, but there was a huge tree blocking the road. But God was still there with us. Thanks to a neighbor who had his power restored and let us stay at one of his houses, we were able to stay warm and fix meals.
Though the power is still off as of Saturday when I am writing this post, I have no doubt, God will continue to provide no matter how many times life gets off course.
Philippians 4:19 says, But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
For some time I’ve been wanting to write about the various Proverbs. I remember reading them when I was a young woman, and while I thought the concepts seemed wise, I didn’t always understand them. It’s my intent to explore Proverbs and give a modern account of what I believe is their meaning, in a way that I hope can be interpreted in today’s world.
There are so many lessons and such wonderful advice in Proverb 3. I had thought about relaying several stories to help illustrate. But I think this one event gives such modern-day meaning to the Proverb, that it stands by itself.
I recently dreamed about an event I experienced when my two sons were very young that I had basically forgotten happened in real, not dream, life. We lived in Kansas, near Kansas City, at that time. My oldest was 5 and my youngest was only about 3 months old. They are both grown now, and my oldest has two children of his own who are about the same ages now. Time, she moves quickly.
Being from Texas, I’m used to grocery stores that provide bagging services, and people to take your cart to your car and load it. Imagine my surprise when I realized that this was not a common practice in the area where I had moved to in Kansas. In fact, the norm there was that you were pretty much on your own. You bagged your groceries and pushed the cart to your car and placed the groceries in the car yourself.
At the time of this event, I had lived there about three years, so I was accustomed to this lack of bag service. I had grown very used to this situation, and had even found a grocery store that, while they didn’t push your cart to your car, they did bag your groceries and provide an area where you could drive up your car and an employee who had kept your groceries would then load your groceries for you.
But that store got very busy at times, and this day was one of those times. School was out for the day and it was the hour that most moms in the area did their shopping. So I decided to go to the grocery store near the Interstate. They usually weren’t busy. They didn’t provide any of these services, but I could get in and out of there fairly quickly, and get my baby home for his nap right away.
My baby literally looked like an angel. He had the blondest hair, bright blue eyes, and the fairest skin I’ve ever seen. He was lovely. My oldest was also a beautiful child, with dark copper colored hair and brown eyes like mine. I was blessed by having such lovely and such very sweet children. So I wasn’t surprised when strangers would stop and give compliments about my kiddos. Such happened that day and I didn’t think much about the man who said, “What nicely behaved children you have.” No, I didn’t think about it because I agreed. Silly me.
My nonchalance changed, however, once we left the store and that man followed closely behind us. He approached and tried to take my cart from me—the cart that held my groceries, but also both of my children. I yanked it away. “I’ve got it.”
He stepped back and nodded, so, again, I thought all was good. I was wrong.
As I approached the car to unlock it and load the groceries, he again approached. “I’ll help.”
“No, thank you.”
He reached toward my cart and I yanked it away from him. “I’ve got it.”
“You need help.”
“I don’t.”
His eyes were on my children, and the coldest dread came over me. Holy Spirit warned me, in a loud internal voice, “Beware.” I said a quiet prayer for God’s wisdom and assistance. I was scared. But I knew I had the Lord with me and watching over all of us.
My car had a window in the rear that would open (rather than the entire back door), so I placed my body between the stranger and my cart, then reached forward to open the window. I asked my oldest to climb inside, which he readily did. I think he knew the man was worrying me. I handed the baby to my son, and asked him to climb over the back seat and put the baby in his car seat, which he quickly did.
I turned back to the man. He reached for my jug of milk. I pushed his hand away and slammed the window shut. “I’ve got it.”
“I’m just trying to help.”
The man simply wasn’t taking no for an answer. Holy Spirit’s quiet voice instructed me to get loud. Make myself known. Don’t let him get away with bullying me.
I faced the stranger, ready to do battle, and raised my voice. “Go away.” I was kinda loud. Normally I would be embarrassed about making a scene, but I wasn’t this time. I was becoming angry and there was Holy Spirit guiding me.
My kiddos, a little older, but looking very kewl
The man raised his hands in surrender, but didn’t leave, saying, “I’m just here to help.”
Right. The only help I wanted was in getting him to leave us alone. I took a step back. You see, I’m not even five feet tall, and the man now leaned toward me in a menacing manner. He was much larger than me.
Again I raised my voice, making sure a woman I noticed at the far side of the parking lot could hear me, “I. Do. Not. Want. Your. Help. I. Do. Not. Need. Your. Help.”
When he realized the woman and another person who had just parked two rows over had overheard, he raised his hands again and finally walked away, but still faced me as he departed. “I only wanted to help.”
“I didn’t ask for it. Leave us alone.”
That was enough to get him moving, with his hands now in his pockets as he fled.
I was so upset that I realized my hands were trembling. But I knew I had heavenly assistance and my boys and I were safe. I did not leave the parking lot until the stranger left first. Then I didn’t drive directly home. Instead, I took a circuitous route to make sure we weren’t followed.
At the time, I wondered if the man had wanted one of my children, which terrified me, or merely my groceries. Had he been hungry? Was that why he reached for the milk? I didn’t know then, and I don’t know now. But I’m confident that he intended harm, otherwise he would have asked for food and wouldn’t have stayed around trying to convince me that he was harmless when his very actions signaled the opposite.
Thankfully, God is always with me. He’s with all of His followers. Holy Spirit has given me many warnings throughout my life and I’ve come to completely depend on Him. As the Psalm says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart.” I’m blessed to be able to do so. May the Lord watch over you and yours, and make all of your paths straight.
Years ago I attended a Bible study and there was a woman who believed in God, but struggled believing God. How was He personal? Why would He care? And why should see pursue a relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus?
Week after week the facilitator and guests shared verses, testimonies, so many things to encourage her. She knew the “thou shall not” aspect of religion, and the Bible stories. She was desperate to see God up close and real in her life.
Then she went on vacation.
She was in Florida, I believe, on the beach with her family. She looked up in the sky and noticed a plane, a skywriter.
Interesting, she thought.
As she watched her grandkids frolic in the waves, every so often she’d glance up and check on the plane’s progress.
Jesus
That was the first word. Now she was more than curious.
Loves
Her heart beat faster. What was this message?
You.
And the plane’s grand finale was creating a heart around the message before leaving.
That woman knew right then and there Jesus was the real deal and worth surrendering her life to. She asked God to be specific in His love for her. To show that “this Jesus thing” was more than religion, it was a lifestyle she wouldn’t want to waste another second without being all in.
And He sent that plane, that message.
It changed her life.
I share that because I had a similar experience. January wasn’t a terrible month, but it was dreary. Northeast Ohio has been said to be one of the top cloud covered areas in the world. Think Seattle and London. When I moved here I was told that during WWII planes flew drills here because the skies most mimicked what they would be experiencing across the pond.
Although it hasn’t been snowy, it’s been super cloudy with constant drizzle or downpours. The ground has been mud and on top of fighting the mood, our new dog hates doing his business outside on a wet day.
Last week it all came to a head. I was physically tired, my husband and daughter had been sick all week. I was spiritually tired. With words like launch and shift in my prayer arsenal, I feel like I’m watching everyone else move forward and advance in life while I remain firmly stuck in the mud going no where. I was mentally tired. A few gray days I can take. January was full of cloud cover and bleh.
Then came the sign.
For me it was a billboard. I was driving and most likely lamenting that I was once again in a car taking care of a task instead of living out some kind of purpose. I glance at the billboard and it says:
Everything is going to get better.
Simple message, but it hit me hard. I felt like it was God’s encouragement to me. It might as well had my name addressed at the top, followed by a Love, God at the end. It felt that personal.
Today the sun is shining and my outlook is just as shiny although nothing in my world has changed. If I look around, I’d be in a horrible funk. Gas prices remain high. Eggs are over $6 a dozen. News headlines are wars and rumors of wars. Yet, I believe.
I believe everything is going to get better.
Because of Jesus, who loves me.
And you.
And my friend who went to the beach asking for a sign that God truly cared and was personal.
How about you? Ever see a sign, a literal sign, and know it was for you?
Good morning! I’m new here, so hang with me while I get my bearings. First of all, let me introduce myself. I’m Patricia Bradley and I write Inspirational Romantic Suspense (I never know whether to capitalize that or not).
I live in Northeast Mississippi, about twenty-five miles from the Alabama border and four miles from Tennessee. Suzy and Tux, both rescue kitties, make their home with me.
I came to this writing gig MXX## years ago because one night I couldn’t sleep. Well, actually it was after several nights of not sleeping. As I stared at the ceiling, suddenly a man appeared in my head.
He stood at a window with smoke stacks billowing in the background. He turned to me and said, “My life wasn’t supposed to turn out like this.”
That intrigued me, and I began to tell myself stories about what went wrong. Then other people popped into my head, and I made up stories about them. Unlike the first man, they wouldn’t go away until I put their stories down on paper.
I sent the first story I finished to Woman’s World. (My parents always told me to shoot for the top. ;-)) I did just about everything a writer could do wrong, including sending a 4,000-word manuscript when the guidelines clearly stated they wanted 2,500 words.
About a month later, I received an envelope with Woman’s World in the return address. They wanted to buy my story and would I agree for the editor to cut fifteen hundred words from it? My yes went back by return mail. I was on my way to being a famous author!
Not. I had so much to learn. The sale to WW was a God-thing to encourage me on this journey. He does that.
Fast forward a few decades. Yes, decades. I wrote two full-length novels (that will NEVER see the light of day), three more short-stories that Woman’s World bought, attended a writer’s retreat for four years–a solid week each year of eating, breathing, and sleeping writing. It’s where I really learned to write.
I had also started reading through the Bible each year and found Psalm 37: 4 and claimed it for my writing journey. I kept a journal where I agonized about not getting published. Then, oh, about the fifth year of reading through the Bible I came to Psalms 37, and this time I read each verse of the psalm carefully. “Lord,” I said. “I’m delighting myself in you…but I don’t have the desires of my heart.”
As I sat there and prayed, I read three more verses and verse 7 popped out in bold letters. “Wait patiently for the Lord to act.”
I was trying to get ahead of God. His timing is perfect. If I had been contracted one year earlier, I would have been so embarrassed. My writing wasn’t where it needed to be.
So, if you’re in a period of waiting, remember that God knows when you’re ready. It may be that you need to learn more about the craft, or you may be in a different season of life and you’re not emotionally ready…or perhaps God sees a circumstance ahead where you don’t need the distraction of a deadline.
When I’m asked what advice would I give beginning or pre-published writers, it never changes: Learn the craft so that when God opens a door to publishing, you’re ready to walk through it.
Years ago, I was involved in the planning of a Christian writing conference. We asked the director of a highly regarded Christian theatre group to teach a seminar on writing plays. When he said yes, we asked him if he would also be willing to provide a few minutes of entertainment at the closing banquet. He agreed.
Between the main course and the dessert, the director stood up and began walking among the tables with an oversized Bible clutched in his hands. Then, in the strident tones of a Southern Baptist revival preacher, he began to denounce sin. I don’t remember his exact words, but what he said was something like this: “You all think you’re a bunch of good church-going folk, but you’re just a bunch of hypocrites! You’re filthy, evil snakes! You think you’re good Christian folk descended from a long line of good Christian folk, but you’re not! You’re sinners, and God is gonna come down here and punish all of you! He’s gonna burn you in the fires of hell!”
The people at the banquet were embarrassed. They began to squirm uncomfortably. This was just the kind of unsophisticated fire-and-brimstone Christianity that we were all trying to rise above. And then it slowly dawned on us that he was repeating, in modern colloquial language, the words of John the Baptist to the Pharisees and Sadducees: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matthew 3:7-10 NIV). Those prominent religious leaders were probably as shocked and offended by the preaching of John the Baptist as we are by modern revivalist preachers—and with as little justification. John the Baptist was preaching the message that God had given him. The Pharisees and Sadducees prided themselves on being righteous worshipers of the true God. And yet God saw through their righteous masks and knew that underneath they were miserable sinners, just as Jesus would later on.
It is not John the Baptist or revivalist preachers who have it wrong. It is we smug, self-satisfied Christians who have it wrong. We are miserable sinners, and we need to hear God’s call to repent and submit ourselves to the righteous God, who alone has the power to forgive our sins and redeem our lives.
This is the deep field of the heavens, seen through a very powerful telescope.
“God said, ‘Let there be light, and there was light; and God saw that the light was good, and he separated light from darkness. He called the light day, and the darkness night.”—Genesis 1: 3-5
“Bless the Lord, my soul; my innermost heart, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, my soul, and forget none of his benefits. He pardons all my guilt and heals all my suffering. He rescues me from the pit of death and surrounds me with constant love, with tender affection. He contents me with all good in the prime of life, and my youth is ever new like an eagle’s. –Psalm 103: 1-5
I have such a passion for music that it speaks to my soul in a way that the spoken word cannot. When I play piano, I’m not merely striking black and white keys on the keyboard. I’m hearing the lyrics, letting them flow through my heart and soul all the way to my fingertips where I can pour out my joy and praise in song. No matter what the title, the songs I play for church services aren’t just a prelude–and they certainly are not a performance. They are an intentional act of worship.
One of my great pleasures was getting to know the late, great church musician, Elmo Mercer, whose beautiful hymn arrangements I played—and felt in my soul—through the years. Some of the other talented and iconic musicians whose arrangements of hymns, spirituals, and gospel blues transport me to another realm are Mark Hayes, Jack Schrader, Joel Raney, Mary McDonald, and Andrae’ Crouch.
One of my favorite Crouch songs was taken from Psalm 103. The lyrics he penned insist that the pianist play with great attention and intention. When my hands are playing the melody, my heart is singing his lyrics: “Bless the Lord, oh my soul…Let all that is within me bless His Holy name.”
It’s easy for me to be intentional at the keyboard. It’s harder to carry that same intention into my daily life. It takes effort to wait in a long line at Wal Mart while I’m hurrying to another appointment then smile at the cashier and say, Thank you, for helping me, Jean.” Or John. Or Tashia. Or Benjamin. Jesus knows us by name, calls us by name. It only takes a second to read a name tag and make a person, who is often viewed only in terms of his job, feel seen.
It’s easy to pour my love into every song I play, but harder to pour that same love into family and friends I see every day, and in every mood, good, bad, and ugly. Absent-minded routine can open the door to behavior that is nonchalant, thoughtless, careless or worse. I’m trying to be intentional with family and friends. Show love, speak love. Make them feel seen. Be intentional with strangers on the street. Be kind, offer to help, say thank you.
Most of all, I try daily to be intentional in giving thanks to God, to be mindful of the One who created a beautiful world then sent his only Son to cover my sins with his blood.
Christians Read 