In the Midst of It...Praying Through the Wait

This morning, I struggle with the wait. I'm in the midst of it...the middle of not knowing. The anxiety of unanswered questions. The depression that follows the anxiety, pushing on the door of my heart, wanting to barge in and take control.

It's never easy - the not knowing. We all suffer from it at one time or another. For me, it's not knowing where or when we'll be moving on to the next project, yet knowing it's going to be sometime in the next month or two. And it will probably be a short notice. For some, it's not knowing where the money will come from before your electricity gets shut off or your house goes into foreclosure. For others, it's not knowing if the loved one will ever come out of the coma, be healed of the cancer, or overcome the addiction. For someone else, it's not knowing if the adoption will fall through or come through. At one point or another in our lives, we all face it.

But, how do we deal with not knowing? What do we do with this anxious knot in the pit of our stomach that threatens to push its way out through our eyeballs?

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).

Be anxious for nothing. Easier said than done, for sure. Especially if you're an emotional woman. This morning, I am certainly anxious. I have to continue to remind my brain {and my heart} that God is in control. This is out of my control. God must be the only one who knows what's to come, because even the managerial staff can't tell my husband (and themselves) what's to come. So, why should I be anxious?

I give it back to God through my prayers and supplications. Today, they sound like this:

Lord, take this anxiety away from me. I do not want depression. I do not want an attack. I want peace, Lord. The peace You give. That peace that passes all of my understanding. The peace that says, "I have it all under control, child. Rest in Me today." Please give me that peace, Lord. I am thankful for my husband's job. In a day where there are so many unemployed, I am extremely grateful for Your abundant provision, Lord. You are marvelous in Your works. Thank You, Jehovah Jireh! Lord, could You please bring closure? Could you please bring a good word to the sick hearts of the men on this job, who are waiting to find out where they are going next and when? Could you please provide answers soon? We know Your timing is perfect; our hearts are waning, Lord. We seek closure. We seek the next move. We seek the next phase of work, Lord. These are our humble requests. And while we wait on Your perfect timing, please guard our hearts and minds. Help us to dwell on those things that are true and of good report. Help us to consider those things we praise You for today - like a job, a healthy family, a roof over our heads, and food on our tables. We honor You, Lord. Amen.

I wrangle my thoughts and bring them to Jesus. He is my Provider in my time of need. He is my Salvation from the thoughts that try to overtake me. He is my Rock on which I stand in the midst of the storms of life. I will choose to worship Him today, despite my circumstances or situation.

Consider your anxiety today. Be anxious for nothing. Give it back to God and let Him handle it. He's got it all under control, friend. Let Him know what you wish for Him to do and then let Him take care of you. Thank Him. And enjoy your day. Tomorrow has its own worries...

How Much Does God Love You?

It's Christmas morning, and the children tear into their presents. Everyone gleefully runs to various stations in the house, dumping their goods before them, ready to play.

Much to his dismay, my middle son discovers he is missing a packet of Legos needed to build his new Frigate. After he's dumped packets two through six onto the tabletop. Mommy that I am, I heroically repackage the Legos, grab my car keys, and head off to Walmart with the intent to make his day and exchange for a new set.

Alas, Walmart is closed for the holiday. I thank God that stores in the South are family-driven rather than finance-driven and have given their employees the day to be with their families and celebrate my Savior's birth.

Caleb cries when I reveal that he will need to wait one more day to build with his Legos. Numerous times I hear, "I'm bored. I have nothing to do. Why can't you take it someplace else and get the new set?" I try hard to soothe frayed nerves and promise to make the exchange first thing the day after Christmas.

True to my promise, I head off to Walmart this morning. First thing. Before coffee. Before breakfast. On my way out the door, hubby calls out, "Bring home some food too!" We've run out of cereal, milk, sandwich meats, and some other items. I consider our bank account, which has money in it but checks written against the funds. Maybe they won't clear until Friday. I hate doing that, Lord.

I have been young, and now am old;
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,
Nor his descendants begging bread.
He is ever merciful, and lends;
And his descendants are blessed.
~ Psalm 37:25-26

I step out the front door into the pouring rain. Lord, I'm so sick of the rain. I miss the sunshine.

Twenty minutes later, I stand before the customer service representative, mouth agape. "Really?"

"Yes. They always mark them down after the holidays. You're getting a refund."

The store had marked the Lego set down 50 percent. I testify to five women. "God loves me."

The refund gave me just enough money to purchase the food I'd planned to buy.

I smile as I shop, and my cashier is the one woman who smiled when I testified of God's goodness. She acknowledges the blessing once again.

As I step out of the store, the sun beams down from heaven. God smiles upon me once more.

How much does God love you? Think of the little ways He shows His love in your life. One friend survived a tornado this Christmas. One has won a court battle. One has welcomed a baby into their arms. My son has seen how God works even in the disappointments of the day.

Thank You, Lord, for Your provision. Thank You for having a perfect plan, even in the midst of the disappointments of life. Thank You for caring enough for me to send Your only begotten Son to bring salvation. I love You, Lord and will continue to do so in the midst of all of my circumstances. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Countdown to Christmas - Day 2

Once again, life took over my posting schedule. Between baking cookies, shopping, wrapping presents, watching school and church performances, working, sleeping, and enjoying four wonderful children and the blessing of my husband, blogging became a wayside thought. But, you, my readers, have continually been in those thoughts as I've geared up to celebrate my favorite holiday of the year. Because on this day, God blessed us with the Light of the World. I pray you all have a wonderful Christmas filled with love and many blessings and fond memories.

Countdown to Christmas - Day 14

"But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart."
- Luke 2: 19

This is one of my favorite verses. As a mother, I can relate. So often, words are spoken over our lives, our loved ones, or our children. Every time this occurs, I tuck a piece of paper into a folder labeled "Prophecies." These are close reminders of what God has in store for us, what He has called us to do, and how much He loves us. 

What do you do with the words that are spoken into your life by the Lord? Sometimes they come through reading the scriptures, where one pops out and grabs your attention. Other times, they come through the voice of your spouse (and sometimes we don't like hearing those words, but we know the truth behind them). Sometimes they come from a good friend, iron sharpening iron. Other times, a man or woman of God will visit your church and bring a word from the Lord for the body of Christ or the individuals that make up that body. Whatever avenue God uses, be like Mary. Ponder them in your heart. Allow God to stir up your spirit man. His word never comes back void. 

Lord, thank You for caring about me enough to provide Your words of truth in my life. No matter who speaks them, may I always be receptive. And, may I always remember to think upon them as I go about my daily duties. 

Countdown to Christmas - Day 15

^"And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds."

- Luke 2:16-18

It is our calling as a Christian to make disciples of all the nations, baptizing in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching others to observe all the things that Christ has taught us. Are we successful in doing this? Do we, like the shepherds did so long ago, make widely known the words of Jesus? Do those we share with marvel at the things  we tell them? Are we bold enough to shout His name from the mountaintops? 

Lord, let our words be Your words. Let them be effective, never returning void. Help us to reach those around us who are lost and dying in this perverse and adulterous generation. Thank You for the calling we each have, that there is something we can do for You and Your kingdom every day of our lives. 

 

Countdown to Christmas - Day 16

"For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 'Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!'"  -Luke 2:11-14

How old were you when God called you to Him? Throughout the ages, He's used infants, young children, tweens, teenagers, and adults for His kingdom purposes. Every one who is called by Him has a specific, God-ordained and God-given purpose. Me. You. Our children.

My youngest son, Gideon, has an uncanny ability to make even the hardest women smile. The gleam in his eye, the tweak in his lip. All it takes is one grin, and I've watched grandma-types who couldn't stand children melt like chocolate in the sunlight. God used him from infancy to touch hearts.

Lord, help us to recognize Your will for our lives as we consider our salvation this Christmas season. Jesus' ministry and calling were clear. He would save the lost, heal the sick, loose the bound, love the brokenhearted. Thank You, God, for the peace You've brought into our lives through the birth of Your Son. Surely goodness and mercy follow us every day. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Countdown to Christmas - Day 17

"Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.Then the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.'" - Luke 2:8-10

Like Mary and Joseph, the angel startled the shepherds, who were simply doing their job. Can you imagine being at work, minding your own business, when suddenly--out of nowhere--the angel of the Lord appears with a message for you? What if the angel called you from your job? Asked you to take a spur-of-the-moment trip? Said you needed to switch things up a bit, because something big happened and required your immediate attention?

Not many of us would be so willing to just pick up and go. Some would hesitate. Some would refuse. Some would freeze in fear. Maybe there would be one or two who would do as the shepherds would and take that trip to see what the Lord had in store for their lives. Like I have, they'd find it's not so scary after all. God's blessings tend to come in small packages and sudden requests.

Lord, help us to be brave, to have courage to heed your call on our lives. Your path is narrow and sometimes unforeseen. Help us to have faith to hear what the angel has to say and to respond accordingly. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Countdown to Christmas - Day 18

"So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.
And she brought forth her first-born Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." ~ Luke 2:6-7

My heart breaks when I consider this verse. People couldn't make room for Jesus' birth in Bethlehem, nor can they make room for Him in their hearts today.

It also found me considering if Joseph and Mary arrived in Bethlehem too late, or right on time...

We know that God's timing is perfect in our lives, yet so often we moan, groan, whine, and complain when He doesn't show up in our timing. Is this because we've left no room for Him or we want to make Him less of a priority in our lives? We prefer things our way? In our time? 

One day, it's going to be too late...for us.

Lord, help us to look to You in every moment of every day we have on this earth. We understand the temporariness of our life here and the things it involves. Help us to remember that Your timing is perfect and always will be. So are Your ways. So are Your thoughts toward us. Help us to find understanding and peace when we face doubt and unbelief. And help us to shine Your light in these dark times and in the dark places. 

Countdown to Christmas - Day 19

"And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered...
So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child."
~ Luke 2:1, 3-5

Isn't it a beautiful thing to know that we who are saved are registered in the Book of Life? That God has grafted us into His family tree? That we will one day leave this world, our temporary home, and return from whence we came? To be in the eternal Presence of our holy Father?

Lord, we thank You for the invitation to Your wedding banquet. We thank You that through Your Son, Jesus Christ, we are able to sit at Your table and sup with You. We look forward to the day when we will come home for eternity...

Countdown to Christmas - Day 20

"Blessed is the Lord God of Israel,
For He has visited and redeemed His people,
And has raised up a horn of salvation for us
In the house of His servant David...
...To perform the mercy promised to our fathers 
And to remember His holy covenant...
...To grant us that we,
Being delivered from the hands of our enemies,
Might serve Him without fear,
In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life."
~ Luke 1:68, 69, 72, 74, 75

I LOVE the song I'm about to share with you. It is my absolute, all-time favorite Christmas song. It is not a classic hymn. It's a modern-day tune. It speaks of the blessing that God the Father passed along to you and me. It speaks of a Father's love, that He would grant us a way to come before Him, that nothing could separate us from His love.

"For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." ~ John 3:16-17

God loves you and me so much. He didn't send Jesus to condemn us. He sent Him to convict us of our sins, so that we would turn from the ways of this world and give our lives fully to Him. In return, we are promised abundance of life in Christ, eternity with our Father in heaven, and so much more. I'm not saying life will always be easy, but have you ever known anyone else who has loved you with such a complete and unconditional love? I haven't...

Lord, when all else seems to be falling down around us, nothing appears to be going as it should, and we begin to wonder if You still care, help us to remember what You have done for us already. Help us to remember Your great mercy, Your triumph over this world and our sins, and Your unending devotion to us all. We thank You today, Jesus, that we are not condemned but are loved and treasured for eternity.

Countdown to Christmas - Day 21

"My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me,
And holy is His name.
And His mercy is on those who fear Him
From generation to generation."
~ Luke 1:46-50

What has God done for you? Have you proclaimed it today? Have you shared your testimony with others? Have you told those around you of your lowly state and how God has done great things in your life?

Share your testimony with another today. Shout from the mountaintop of the glory of the Lord, your Savior. Don't be shy. It may change someone's life...

Lord, help me to be bold and brave and courageous when it comes to sharing my faith with others. Open my throat, so that my words may come forth. Help me to testify of Your goodness and mercy. Help me to get past the fear of the unknown, so that others may come to know You this Christmas season.

 

Countdown to Christmas - Day 22

"But why is it granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord." ~ Luke 1:43-45

What happens when you hear the name of the Lord? When someone says, "Jesus!" do you leap for joy as Elizabeth's child did in her womb? Can you sense Jesus' presence, even when you cannot see Him in your midst? John certainly couldn't see Jesus from within his mother's womb. But, He could certainly sense His presence.

My heart swells when I consider the name of Jesus. It brings great joy, knowing that I've found salvation in Him. Think about how He makes you feel, how you respond to the mention of His name. Let your heart swell as you consider His presence in your life. Write down how you feel, what you think upon. Enjoy the moment.

Lord, may my heart always swell at the sound of Your name. May I never experience the hardness of heart this world promotes. May I always be putty in Your hands, allowing You to mold me and shape me into Your wonderful glory. I love You, Lord. Thank You for the joy of Your salvation.

Countdown to Christmas - Day 23

Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. ~ Luke 1:38

If an angel appeared to you and told you something that seemed impossible and was a little {okay, a lot} scary, would you be so quick to say, "Let it be to me according to your word"? I think most of us would respond, "Let me pray about it." The pat Christian answer for anything that would bring us out of our comfort zones. This Christmas season, consider what God is asking you to do for Him. It takes an act of faith to answer Him, "Let it be to me according to Your word."

Lord, help us to move past our fears, our doubts, and our comfort zones in order to serve You with everything in us. We thank You that Your plans for us are far above all we could ever ask or think. In You we put our trust. So be it.

Countdown to Christmas - Day 24

"The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God."
~ Luke 1:35

Do you live in the shadow of the Highest? Has the Holy Spirit come upon you? God promised us a teacher, comforter, and guide when Jesus left this earth to sit at His right hand. The Holy Spirit indwells us upon our acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. He has come upon us.

One of my favorite verses in the Scripture is "The kingdom of God has come near to you." (See Luke 10:9, 11) It blesses me to realize that every time I am near one of my brothers and sisters in Christ, the kingdom of God is near. Do you feel the same? Do you recognize that your husband, father, brother possesses the kingdom of God within them?

Lord, as we enter the Christmas season, help us to recognize the kingdom of God within those we pass by or stop to fellowship with. Help us to remember to treat one another as though You stood before us. We bless Your holy name and thank You for blessing us with Your Spirit, who dwells within our hearts.

Countdown to Christmas - Day 25

"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.
Then Joseph, her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.

But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.'" ~ Matthew 1:18-21

What has the Holy Spirit impregnated you with? Is there a call on your life to bring people to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ? What holds you back, keeping your call a secret?

Lord, help us to understand what You desire to birth within us. That zeal, that passion, that desire. Give us the strength to pull it out of the secret places of our hearts so our light can shine for Your glory. Thank You for the things You've called us to do. Help us now to do them.

Where Did November Go?

Wow! Is November already over? I apologize for being MIA. Or MIW (Missing in Writing). Or MIP (Missing in Posting). I think that I will set up pre-posts or re-posts during November next year. It seems November always gets away from me...

That said, here's some evidence of what I've been up to this month:

I tried to accomplish NaNoWriMo for the third year in a row. So far, I've only made it to 50,000 words ONE year. The first year I tried. This year, I made it to 7,000 or so words amidst family happenings and editing work. Oh well, there's always next year. And, I'll continue working on my novel throughout the year to come.

As mentioned before, I've been editing. A lot. One devotional. One anthology. One novel. And multiple web articles. I love words!

This year, we traveled to NY for Thanksgiving week. It was great to see friends and family. Vic enjoyed his annual hunt (although he didn't shoot anything). I enjoyed spending time with my nieces and our kids. While there, I also enjoyed taking a few great shots with my camera. Frieda (my sister) also loves to take photos, and she helped us with our family photos. It's rare to get Zachary in a photo with us, since he lives in NY. I love how t Here's a sampling of the shots I succeeded at taking. (At least one of us succeeded, huh Vic?)

Our family 2012...Merry Christmas and one Bah Humbug! Caleb didn't want to participate, let alone smile...

We discovered that Ezra finally outgrew Grandma. Here she is with Cara and Ezra - the two teens in our family.

Dad and I are Mom's biggest pumpkin pie fans. Here, we split one in half. Half for him. Half for me. ;) Actually, we did share it with others. But we got the first pieces!

I call this one "Thanksgiving Day Parade." These turkeys went all out to show off for the hens. Roxbury, NY - Thanksgiving Morning

I pray your Thanksgiving holiday was filled with things to be thankful for! Feel free to share your thoughts of how your week went. I look forward to reading them!

Coming December 1st - Countdown to Christmas. 25 Days of Jesus, Scripture, Devotion, and Christmas Music. Hope to find you here!

Thankful Day 1 - Trials and Afflictions

"Oh, bless our God, you peoples!
 And make the voice of His praise to be heard,
 Who keeps our soul among the living,
 And does not allow our feet to be moved.
 For You, O God, have tested us;
 You have refined us as silver is refined.
 You brought us into the net;
 You laid affliction on our backs.
 You have caused men to ride over our heads;
 We went through fire and water;
 But You brought us out to rich fulfillment." - Isaiah 66:8-12

I am thankful for the trials and afflictions in life that bring me into God's rich fulfillment. These challenges and sorrows are never easy to walk through. Like waves of an ocean, they come crashing down on life, breaking me into pieces and washing me of the sins that have attached themselves to my heart. Like the flames of a fire, they lick at the parts of me that need to be burned as chaff, refined, honed for the Master's plan. It is only after the battle that I recognize the results. A newness of life. A permanent change in God's glory. A fresh perspective. The ability to minister to others who have felt my pain. Rich fulfillment. Life abundant.

And so, I will praise the Lord. I will raise my voice and make His name known. I will glorify the Lord!

Getting to Know You - Week Five

I must say, I have really enjoyed getting to know you over the past few weeks! I'm so thankful you commented and that we had the opportunity to find out more about each other. We'll have to do it again soon!

As we go into the holiday season, I have something else in store for you. For the month of Thanksgiving, we will be doing just that. Giving Thanks! Each day, I'll post something I'm thankful for. Please feel free to continue the thoughtfulness and share what you are thankful for, too. For the month of December, leading up to Christmas Day, I will post a Christmas-related Scripture along with a video of one of my favorite Christmas songs. Please enjoy the time to meditate and reflect on God's love for His children. How many Kings do you know who would send their only Son to die for our sins? I only know ONE.

For our final Getting to Know You, let's do a "Ten Things" post. I've always known I was unique, one-of-a-kind. As I came to know Jesus and read the Word of God, it became quite clear that this was okay by Him. He'd created me to be just that...me. Not my neighbor. Not my favorite super star. Not my mother. Not my worst enemy. Me. Just me. Alycia. God's daughter. What makes me, me? Here are ten things:

1. I don't care what others think of me. Well, to some extent, but if you decide you really don't like me, that's okay. My confidence isn't in myself. It's in the God who says I am the apple of His eye. I know you're missing out on a great friendship, and that's okay with me.
2. I'm a daughter of the King before anything else. Before I'm a wife. Before I'm a mom. Before I'm a writer/editor/crafty one. Before I'm a minister. Before I'm a household manager. I'm a daughter of God. And that will always be how I identify myself. I don't find my worth and value as a human being in my relationship with my husband, my kids, or anyone else. Just Jesus. I recognize that people are only mistake-making humans. I forgive them and turn to Jesus for Truth.
3. God is into making dreams come true. Did you know that? I do. I've had the opportunity to work on a movie set as a stand-in, pulling in SAG rate pay. Alongside Christian Slater, Robin Tunney, and Cherry Jones (who I stood in for). I've also gotten to meet Kirk Cameron, my teen dream. Of all the Hollywood celebrities I've met, Kirk is the most humble, kind one. Probably because He loves Jesus as much as I do...
4. I went to two different colleges and never got my degree. I majored in Journalism/Mass Communications at the first and Music Business at the second. I'm really good at writing, editing, and figuring out royalty rates. If I'd landed my dream jobs between the two careers, I would have graduated to become a glossy editor or a promotional guru for Christian bands. God has a way of using everything I've ever learned, though, and I overflow with joy when I sit down to work every morning. I LOVE WHAT I DO.
5. In my thirty-eight years of life, I've moved thirty-six times. I know how to pack tight and get rid of things I don't use. Don't get in my way when it's time to go on vacation or move again. I will make everything fit in its proper place. I've made our entire house fit into a 12x6 U-Haul trailer more than once!
6. I have a serious sweet tooth. Which doesn't help my thighs. Or my jean size. But my husband doesn't mind, so neither do I (although I do exercise fairly regularly). I love chocolate. Milk Chocolate. Hot fudge. Chocolate with peanut butter. Chocolate with caramel. Chocolate chip cookies. No bake cookies. Cookies and cream ice cream. Chocolate with coffee. Chocolate in my coffee. Peppermint mocha. Yep, I love chocolate!
7. I can watch all the crime shows on television, but I can't stand to see open wounds and hate the smell of formaldehyde. Which is why I'd probably never cut it being on a forensics team. Which I think would be exciting yet depressing at the same time. So, I guess I'll keep watching NCIS, Criminal Minds, and Bones and leave the real guts and glory to the FBI. 
8.  I quit reading fiction shortly after I left college. Until the Twilight series. When my friends kept talking about how incredible the story-line was, I couldn't resist. I've never read anything as quickly as them. I picked them up and read all four books in nine days while my children hungered and my husband wished I'd clean his house. (Just kidding. I still cooked and cleaned. But nothing else.) Since then, I've fallen in love with fiction again. Which is probably a good thing, since I want to write it.
9. I hate math. Letters belong in the alphabet and books, not addition and subtraction problems. I hate pulp in orange juice. If I wanted the pulp, I'd eat the orange. Tea makes me sick to my stomach; hot tea, that is. But if you offer it to me, I won't say no, out of a desire not to be rude. I can't stand the smell of road kill after it's been in the sun for too long. I'd rather smell the rotting pulp from the paper plant up the road than smell a decaying animal.
10. I really am a geek at heart. I love to learn. All the time. I cannot learn enough. Life is full of lessons, and I love discovering new things. I guess that's part of why I love books and reading so much.

So, what makes you, you? I can't wait to read your answers! Thanks for sharing your thoughts today!     

A Predator's Wisdom

Photo Courtesy of Microsoft.com

Have you ever observed a predator? How they stand absolutely still, hardly breathing, it seems? How they don't flinch? How they are alert and attentive?

Have you ever watched them as they stalk their prey? How they move low to the ground? How they remain as hidden as possible? How they move s-l-o-w-l-y?

A fellow photographer shared her photo this morning, and it held the caption, "Be still and know that I am God (Ps. 46:10, NLT)." It's one of my favorite scriptures, and I have read it a thousand times. This morning, I read it again. In an entirely different light.

How many times have I been chasing after a dream or a path of life or a calling God has placed in my heart, only to chase it away or, at least, scared it out of sight again?

When God places something deep within me, and I know He's going to bring it to pass, I need to put my trust in Him and be still. Yes, there are times when I need to put my feet to my faith and make a move, but if my move is too sudden or too soon, I'll be waiting another length of time before it will come to pass.

Here's what we can learn from predators as they stalk their prey:

• Stand absolutely still. And listen. When God is speaking, placing that call within our hearts, we need to make sure we hear everything He is saying. I know that as a thinker, I hear an idea and immediately plan how I can make it happen. Rather than doing that, I need to listen for God's instruction, His plan to make it happen. Otherwise, I will miss something and be waiting--again.
• Be alert and attentive. Know what's going on around you. There's reason for this: the enemy is also lurking. Satan is also on the prowl, seeking whom he may devour. He loves to thwart the plan of God. While you're alert and attentive, pray fervently.
• When you recognize God's directive to move, move slowly. Too often we want to pounce on the dream without taking the time to get to it. It's like chasing a cloud. We pounce, and the cloud evaporates when we really need the rain. Take your time to get there. It'll happen when it's ready to. Prepare for it.
• Don't delay. Pounce when it's time to pounce. God will make it evident when it's time. Once you've arrived to the moment, don't let it get away. Take action. The Bible tells us that if we won't or don't do it, God will use someone else. Heed the call. Trust Him to see you through it. Act now.
• Enjoy the process and the food to follow. There's nothing like the taste of a roast that has simmered in the crock pot or the oven. Cooked to perfection. The meat, falling off the bone or pulling at the touch of a fork. When you've waited so long that the end result is perfection, satisfaction and joy immediately follow. God is so good. His timing is perfect. Take joy in knowing that He loves you so much He wanted to bring you to this point in your life. Enjoy the meal. Sup with Him.

What dream or goal or call in life are you anxious to see come to pass? How will you apply a predator's technique to attain that moment in life? I'd love to hear your thoughts! Please feel free to leave a comment.

Getting to Know You - Week Four

Me with James L. Rubart

I have a stack of books awaiting my review sitting on my shelf. Book reviews are something I've enjoyed doing for the past couple of years. Unfortunately, I've come to a point where reading has become more work than pure enjoyment. As a result, I'm going to finish up the stack of books I have to review and take time off from reviewing so I can read for pleasure again.

If I read a book that I feel absolutely needs a review (because it is so incredibly great), I will post one. My book review postings won't be as frequent as they have been. If you'd like to keep up with my thoughts on the books I read, I encourage you to visit my GoodReads profile. I will post about them there.

Me with Steven James

Since books are on my brain this week, I thought we could get to know what we love to read. So, what are your favorite types of books? Who are some of your favorite authors? Is there a book (or are there a few) that have become companions to your Bible?

 I love to read both fiction and non-fiction. In fiction, I love to read contemporary women's fiction and thrillers. My absolute favorite fiction author is James L. Rubart. My favorite non-fiction author is Mary DeMuth. Here is a list of some of my favorite books (they'd all make great Christmas gifts, by the way):

Gina Holmes and Me

Rooms by James L. Rubart
Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes
Things Left Unspoken by Eva Marie Everson
The Bishop by Steven James
Anything written by DiAnn Mills

Everything by Mary DeMuth
One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp
Captivating by Staci and John Eldredge
Love & Respect by Emerson Eggerichs

Writing the Breakout Novel by Donal Maass
Unleash the Writer Within by Cecil Murphey

DiAnn Mills, Me, & Yvonne Lehman

The three books that have become my Bible's companions are Everything by Mary DeMuth, One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp, and Captivating by John and Staci Elderedge.

So, what do you love to read? Who are your favorite authors? I can't wait to get to know you more! Please share your thoughts in the comments.