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.
Even before we started this year, I realized that I needed balance in 2023.
I’ve been fortunate to work for publishing companies that I love and will continue writing for, but the overlap finally caught up with me. I had to take a step back and reevaluate. How best to do that? On a long walk one morning, while I was pouring my heart out to the Lord and seeking His wisdom, I heard to word, balance.
My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek. Ps. 27:8
Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Ps. 105:4
When we seek, God answers.
Trying to balance a busy life can be tricky, especially when you’ve let it become lopsided. But I’ve been making changes and have to say, I’m much happier. And that’s with a book due this week.
My goals for this year? Making time with family, exercise, eating right and spending more time outdoors.
One thing that has never changed, even with deadlines looming, is making sure I exercise. I’ve been taking an early morning class at my gym for years and would never give it up. Not only does it benefit my physical health, moving also keeps me sharp mentally. When I have a block in a story or need new ideas, I go to the gym and jump on a machine to get the creativity flowing. Before long I’ve figured out my problem and how to fix it.
On the days I don’t take a class, I’ve started walking again. There is nothing as beautiful as being in nature while listening to praise music.
Now when it comes to my diet, hmm, that can be iffy. I’ll do really good for a long time, then eat things I know I shouldn’t. In fact, I did just that this weekend! Instead of stressing over it, I’ll do better tomorrow and go from there. See, already I’m making progress.
As far as family goes, I always made dates with my daughter, but had been a little lax with my husband. We started spending more time together and it has been a lot of fun.
Balance.
My point is, we all get to a point when we need to rearrange priorities or focus on what we value. It’s easy to get unbalanced, harder sometimes to acknowledge that fact and begin to make time for the important parts of our lives.
I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. Proverbs 8:17
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13
Perhaps taking a good look at your life is a great way to start 2023. Seeking answers from God will only enhance every aspect of daily living. God reminded me that He is good and I’m thankful that He loves and cares for me so much that He helped see a way out of a situation I had created.
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 HOMETOWN MATCH, available March 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.
Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. –Psalm 90:12
People are very creative. They get great ideas all the time. New products, new methods, new projects. These nudges grab our attention, our interest, fill our needs, and yet often we fail to act on them.
There’s an old saying that necessity breeds invention. There’s nothing like needing something you can’t find to get your creativity flowing on creating it! Yet even these nudges are often hampered by our failure to act.
We tell ourselves, when I have time, I’ll do that. Or I’ll put it down for my next project. Or I’m so overwhelmed right now, I can’t possibly add one more thing to my schedule or my life.
And so our great idea falls dormant until we again feel the nudge or someone else acts on a similar nudge and we’re too late.
The problem with someday is we have no guarantee we will be here for it. We aren’t guaranteed today, for that matter. Which means it’s probably a good idea to prioritize how we spend our time and what we wish to do with our lives.
Everyone is busy earning a living and caring for family and home and the like. Of course, those things take top priority. But we all can eek out a few minutes here and there, an hour here and there. We make time for things that matter to us. We get up a little earlier, go to bed a little later. We multi-task during lunch breaks.
I once had an author friend who wrote at lunch time and on her commute from work to home and home to work. She wrote several books a year this way, with a handheld recorder and she later transcribed. She was married, two children, and worked a demanding full-time job. But she had the heart of a writer and was determined to do it also. She did because she didn’t wait. She wrote when she could, and she’s written a great deal.
My point is, as the Psalmist wrote, our days are numbered. That’ not a fatalistic comment, it is a fact, and if we bear it in mind as we plan our days, we’re exercising wisdom.
Our personal resources are finite—time and energy. We all require down time, too, and we shouldn’t trivialize the importance of it. That too is exercising wisdom.
It also makes it clear that we should think about what we do with our time and energy. That we are exercising a heart of wisdom so that we do and accomplish what we most want or need to do and accomplish.
It seems to me that in doing so we will live a life of fewer regrets—and more accomplishments. That sounds appealing to me, so when inspiration strikes, explore it. Spend a few minutes here and there checking it out. If you decide to invest your time—read that: part of your life—into it, give it what priority you can. Ten minutes or an hour per day. Something so that you don’t fall into the ‘failure to act’ trap.
What I’m suggesting here doesn’t collide with waiting on God. We seek direction and guidance from Him. Sometimes He answers immediately, and sometimes we must wait a bit. In those circumstances, we wait, but we continue to explore. God often answers prayers in our explorations…
In 2010, I wrote a mini-article about attitude (copy below):
While the above mini-article was written about writers/authors, the same principle applies to everyone in whatever they are doing. Discipline and enthusiasm are important, but it is purpose that infuses our efforts and gives us and our work that extra kick that carries it over the top into the success zone.
Of course, we strive to do our best, understanding that as we learn and grow, what we do grows as well. As I’ve mentioned in other posts, I believe a key ingredient to success and doing well is loving what you do.
When you love something (or someone), you nurture it, you care about it, you give it that extra time, attention, and focus because you love it. You want to give it your very best. That very best may not be perfect, but it’s the best to your ability at the time, and that means you’re closer to your vision of that perfection than if you attempt and effort and you don’t love it.
That’s worth remembering.
Your attitude toward what you do has an enormous impact on it and on you. If you give your all, you can rest in that, knowing you did all you could and all you knew to do. That insulates you from the impact of others’ views, some of which might be less than flattering because people tend to lash out now and then based on how things are going in their own lives and with what they are doing.
It’s not right to tear others down to elevate yourself, but some seem to feed on that. You can’t control them, but you can control you–your reaction to them. Over time, you develop what I call rhino-hide. And you couple that rhino-hide with understanding that some of the comments you receive well might have nothing to do with the work and everything to do with the commenter being in pain, being frustrated or generally unhappy.
That tempers the urge to fire off a blistering response. That rhino-hide tempered with compassion insulates, and that insulation is very helpful in times such as this.
Remember, no one has more power to impact you than you give them. Weigh the value. There can be gems in criticism, but that kind of positive criticism is never cruel or vindictive, and it never attempts to attack you, the human being. It seeks to better the work to help strengthen the work.
Attitude isn’t everything, but your attitude is a big thing. Again, because it’s so important, remember you can’t control others, but you can control you and their impact on you that you permit. Exercise wisdom and judgment. Not all comments are worth taking inside yourself. Be fair and judicious!
And be grateful to those who offer you constructive feedback, suggestions. After all, they don’t owe you either, but both do aid you in learning and growing. That’s a gift.
Lastly, know that you choose your attitude. Choose wisely because the person most impacted by it is you.
I don’t even remember Gord’s name. It could have been Gord. But I vividly remember the story he told, even several decades later.
Gord was probably in his thirties, he lived in the city of Winnipeg, and he had a wife and children. However, when he had been younger, he had apparently been a homesteader. That is, he had gone into the bush, cleared some trees, and built a cabin in order to obtain land.
I was a member of the church council for a small church plant where Gord was a member.
One day, Gord came to the church council and said he had a message for the young people in the church. We welcomed the idea and decided to plan a youth service for one Sunday morning. We invited a contemporary Christian singer to come and present a mini-concert, and then Gord would deliver the morning sermon.
The church was between pastors, and we had just hired an older, semi-retired man as part-time interim pastor. The church council, on the other hand, was composed largely of younger adults. When we told the interim pastor of our plans for a youth service, he asked what Gord was going to preach on. We said that we didn’t know but that he had said he had something to say and we trusted him. The interim pastor asked if Gord had ever preached before and if he had any training. We didn’t think so, but we said we trusted Gord. The interim pastor thought we were crazy. He thought we should have asked more questions. He was probably right. But we trusted Gord.
On the day of the youth service, the musician presented his mini-concert. Then it was time for Gord to preach.
Gord called the older children and teenagers up to the front. When they had assembled, he showed then a leghold trap. This was simple metal device with a trigger pad and two powerful metal jaws. When the pad was touched, a spring would slam the jaws shut. Gord pried open the jaws to set the trap and then had one of the boys touch the trigger pad with a stout wooden stick a couple of inches thick. The jaws slammed shut, snapping the stick in half like a twig. The assembled youth were awestruck. A leghold trap is a vicious, cruel device that is used to trap small animals so they can be killed for their fur. It has been banned in many jurisdictions because of its cruelty.
Gord then told the youth to sit down. He asked us all to think about how it would be possible to get an animal to step into such a dangerous device and be trapped.
He said the answer is that the trapper would build a large V out of sticks, branches, and logs and place the trap in a small gap at the point of the V. Back at the outer edges of the V, the walls of sticks and branches were far apart and very low. An animal could easily step over the wall and escape. However, as the animal proceeded farther and farther into the V, the walls would get higher and higher and closer together until the animal had nowhere to go but straight into the trap. By that point, there was no way to escape.
Gord explained that Satan traps people just as the trapper traps the animal. Subtly, Satan directs people toward his trap. At first, the direction is subtle. There is a small temptation here, another small temptation there. At this point, it is easy for the person to escape. But, as the person proceeds further and further, the direction becomes fixed. Actions become habitual, and habits become harder to break. In time, the person becomes addicted—to drugs, alcohol, pornography, or some other evil—and is then inevitably trapped.
The point of the story was for the young people listening to step away from temptations when they were still small and easy to overcome—because later it would be impossible to escape.
I suspect many of those youth still remember that lesson. I certainly do.
As a Christian romantic suspense author, I tend to search out books that are filled with adventure, suspense, faith, danger, intrigue, and romance. I’m a bit of an adrenaline junkie, and I love the rollercoaster ride that romantic suspense stories provide.
But did you know there is one book that has all of this and more and it’s an international bestseller? You guessed it. I’m talking about the Bible. And guess what—every story in the book is true.
The Bible is the most read book in the world. In the past 50 years, the Bible has sold over 3.9 billion copies.
If you’re looking for adventure, check out 2 Corinthians 11:26:
I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.
Want a little suspense? Then the story of King Saul’s attempts on David’s life in 1 Samuel 19 is for you. Take a look at verse 9-10: But an evil spirit from the Lord came on Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand. While David was playing the lyre, Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear, but David eluded him as Saul drove the spear into the wall. That night David made good his escape.
Do you like stories of great faith? Read about Abraham’s faith being tested in Genesis 22:2.
After waiting 25 years for his promised son, Abraham was told by God, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah and sacrifice him there.
Maybe you’d prefer a little more danger to your reading? The story of how the Apostle Peter escaped from prison in Acts Chapter 12 has that.
Need something with intrigue? How about a story about spies? A woman named Rahab from Jericho hid two spies on her roof. The spies escaped and promised to spare Rahab and her family when they returned to destroy Jericho. The men told her that if she and her family kept their secret and tied a scarlet cord in the window they would be spared. Joshua 6 recounts the story of how that promise was kept and Rahab became part of the lineage for Jesus the Messiah.
If you’re looking for a romance story, read the story of Ruth in the book by her name. Ruth, a Moabite woman followed her mother-in-law to Israel. In Ruth 1:16, Ruth says, “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.”
Ruth converts to Judaism. She later marries an Israelite man named Boaz and became the great grandmother of King David and part of the lineage of Jesus.
As you can see, there’s something for everyone in the Bible. And if you’re looking for an epic love story, it starts in Genesis 1 and doesn’t end with the final book of the Bible, Revelation. God’s love for us is seen through every page in between.
As I’m sitting down to write this post, I’m aware there was another mass shooting yesterday. It’s so heartbreaking. The loss of life. The loss of our safety. The loss of trust in anyone.
In 2021 there were 692 mass shootings. In 2022 there were 648. In 2023, so far there have been 33. But that may change before this post goes live.
Do you remember all these shootings? I sure don’t. There are so many we don’t hear about them unless there are many lives taken. Fifty-eight per month in 2021, fifty-four per month in 2022. Who knows what will happen in 2023?
We live in a society out of control. I’m sure, like me, you feel frustrated. There is the desire to do something. Something more than prayer, even though praying is the best we can do. We all want this to stop but have no way to combat the unknown shooter until that person becomes known—and even then, our hands are tied.
The best we can do is act as an individual and make a difference within our sphere of influence. In John 17, Jesus prays, “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world.” (vs. 6a NKJV)
He goes on to pray in verse 9, “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me…”
We must take heart from this prayer and look around at those God has brought to us to interact with and include in our prayers and outreach. These may be friends. Jesus had his disciples and those who followed Him. They may be the leper at the side of the road or the person who is needy and touches the hem of the garment. It may be the rejected woman at the well.
Who is that person to you. Not just the people you eagerly hang out with, eat meals with, or do Bible study with, but the ones God has you notice that may not be as desirable? Who is within your sphere of influence.
Much has been made of kindness lately. I agree that kindness is good. We must treat each other with kindness and do acts of kindness. Yet, is that enough? Is acting in kindness the end result for a Christian? I don’t believe so.
Jesus said to his disciples, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”(John 13:34-35 NKJV)
I Corinthians 13:13 says, “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
To do acts of kindness is wonderful, but to love is an action on behalf of Jesus. Acts of kindness will spring out of love. Love will cause us to perpetrate these acts to those we normally wouldn’t notice or care about. Love will make a difference even if it’s just one person at a time.
Love isn’t easy. Loving that leper who is diseased and doesn’t know God or recognize Him, is hard. Loving the person who is demon possessed seems almost impossible. The same goes for loving the person you believe is far from God or influenced by Satan. Seemingly impossible. But with God those things are possible.
With God, we can take the news of a society gone wrong and focus on what we can do. Let’s focus on those around us by praying for the person God wants us to reach out to today. And then act. Act in kindness. Act in love.
That act may be a smile or a kind word. It may be a prayer or a short conversation. It may be taking food to someone, or helping them with something. Love is extending God to a world in desperate need.
Share God’s love. Maybe that will be the one moment when you change a potential shooter’s life. When you help them to see God and His love for them. I pray that is true.
Christians Read 