November madness

The last hours of October are passing quickly, with cloudy skies and temperatures well above normal.

It doesn't feel at all like October 31st.

But indeed, tomorrow is the first day of November.  Though it seems as if only weeks or months have passed since National Novel Writing Month 2010 wrapped up, I will wake tomorrow to begin afresh for 2011.

Again I ask for your patience, your grace and your prayers.  I may not be present here on my blog quite as often as I settle into the imposed (and much needed) discipline of daily fiction writing.

I am surrendering myself into the hands of the Lord, once again permitting Him to supply the stories and the words, in His way for His purposes.

I pray that He will be glorified in what gets accomplished.

 

Sunday morning praise

Hallelujah! Praise God in his holy house of worship,

praise him under the open skies;

Praise him for his acts of power,

praise him for his magnificent greatness;

Praise with a blast on the trumpet,

praise by strumming soft strings;

Praise him with castanets and dance,

praise him with banjo and flute;

Praise him with cymbals and a big bass drum,

praise him with fiddles and mandolin.

Let every living, breathing creature praise God!

Hallelujah! 

Psalm 150 The Message

Be blessed as you worship - today and all days

More, much more

Seeking nourishment
a bit to nibble
crumbs
instead You spread
upon my table
a lavish feast

no scant drops
of water

You poured

the sweetest of wines

I needed shelter
from winds, rain
prairie snow
four walls
to make a home
"not just that"
You said
by giving us
rooms to spare
and acres of green

Yes, I would have

rejoiced

in cottons, coarse wool

practical clothing

but You've chosen

the finest fibres

of cashmere

wrapping me soft

in the riches of Your love.

God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. 
Ephesians 3:20 The Message

My response to the cashmere writing project at T. S. Poetry Press

 

Relevant to who?

I’m looking up relevant:

Having some bearing on or importance for real-world issues, present-day events, or the current state of society

I’m thinking of all the endless discussions about how the church must find ways to be significant to the world, as if Jesus Himself is not important enough.

He Is our God – He Is always relevant. That only becomes obvious to those that truly know Him.

Twisting in my thoughts today is the idea of turning this all upside down. Instead of thinking how we can be relevant to the world, perhaps we need to consider how to make the world relevant to us. Instead of hiding inside the four walls of our church buildings singing “this little light of mine” can we pray and ask the Lord to show us how to allow that light to really shine in the darkness?


Image via Wikipedia



Think about the way that Jesus lived when He walked among us. It was the broken, the hurting, the crippled and lame that caught His attention. He was filled with love and compassion for those who would never think to darken the doors of a temple.

These were the ones that were relevant to Him then.

These are the ones who are relevant to Him now.

If we claim the desire to be like Him, should we not feel the same?

Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:16 The Message



Joining Lisa-Jo and others where today's word is relevant

also bragging with Laura today





 

Can I forgive sharp teeth?

This weeks poster is a familiar movie monster.  I like what People of the Second Chance had to say:

Jaws represents the unprovoked attack. The terrifying unknown, preceded by reputation and worst-case scenarios.

And they asked:

So what do you believe? Do you have a shark in your life? Have you forgiven them?

I had to think for a bit to remember the "jaws" in my life.  This lack of immediate memory helps me see how far I have come from the shock, pain and trauma.

I was thirty years old and seven years into a job at a major university.  I had started as an hourly paid accounting clerk, receiving praise and promotions on a regular basis.  Whatever work was thrown at me I handled with skill and accuracy, until I found myself moved into a salaried, more professional position as an admistrative assistant and office manager.  I believed that I had good relationships with those who worked for me as well as those I reported to.  The work was surely less than exciting, but the pay continued to increase.  I put my time in while filling my nights and weekends with friends, drinks, music and other less than positive habits.

I had just been notified of another promotion and raise when I found myself summoned to the director's office.  Seated around the desk were the director and assistant director of personnel for the entire university.  I assumed the meeting was about an issue with one of my staff members.  I felt a sudden and intense flush of heat overcome me as I listened to voices informing me that I was being put on suspension for an unknown period of time while they began to investigate a claim of sexual harrassment filed by a male employee who had quit a month prior.  Not only was this totally untrue, but when he had quit he said he didn't really want to leave, but he had found a better paying job. I was told to leave immediately and not to make contact with anyone I worked with.  The shark had bit, I left bleeding.

The days ahead included tears, anxiety and confusion.  I actually believe the charges were fabricated as an excuse to force me into resigning.  I never really knew what happened, and unless God chooses to reveal the scenario to me, I will never know.  Life had to move on.

Years later, after circumstances that led to my encounter and surrender to Jesus I have come to realize that God used the situation to shake up my life in ways I never would have done on my own.  I have been able to truly forgive all those involved, in much the same way that Joseph forgave his brothers:

Don't you see, you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for my good, as you see all around you right now—life for many people
Genesis 50:20 The Message

The sharks, like all God's creatures are never beyond forgiveness.

Visit People of the Second Chance to read more about Jaws

 

Word Filled Wednesday - Bearing fruit

[Growing in grace] they shall still bring forth fruit in old age;

they shall be full of sap [of spiritual vitality]

and [rich in the] verdure [of trust, love, and contentment].

[They are living memorials] to show that the Lord is upright

and faithful to His promises;

He is my Rock,

and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

Psalm 92:14-15 Amplified

Come on over to Internet Cafe Devotions to enjoy more Word pictures
 

A Good and Perfect Gift by Amy Julia Becker

Written across the back cover of A Good and Perfect Gift Faith, Expectations, and a Little Girl Named Penny by Amy Julia Becker is the line -

Sometimes joy shows up when you least expect it

Nodding my head in agreement because I know that God's plans and thoughts are higher than ours, I continued reading the rest of the cover:

Things don't always go as planned--especially when it comes to our children. When her first baby, Penny, is given a frightening diagnosis, Amy Julia's world comes crashing down. Could she continue to trust God's goodness through what felt like personal tragedy? But challenging surprises often lead to unforeseen joy, and disappointments can turn into blessings. This wise and beautiful book is more than a courageous story of raising a child against the odds--it is a journey through the unexpected ups and downs of life and the discoveries that come along the way.

Becker begins her story with the birth of her first child, born with unexpected challenges.  She takes her readers along with her on a winding journey, from her child's first breath, the numbing words from doctors, the questions she has for herself, her husband and God Himself.  We are welcomed in to her struggles to fight her own expectations of what life should be; her failed attempts to not draw comparisons to other's children; and an adjustment to a new "normal".

This book forced me to confront my own ideas about "special children" and the God Who doesn't make mistakes.

Becker's words flowed like good fiction and I hope she will write more about not only Penny, but her other children as well.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers a Division of Baker Publishing Group.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.