{Day 2} ~ Just a Prayer Away

I totally blew it this morning. After a night of restless and inadequate sleep, I woke up looking like an ogre with an attitude to match. I snapped at my kids, yelled at the dog and acted like Oscar the Grouch’s twin sister. And that was AFTER two cups of coffee!

Then, as God has a way of doing, He lovingly overpowered my spirit with conviction. As I sat in the kitchen for some quiet time, what I read was so completely on target, I had no doubt it was a message from God.

Here are the words God used to bring me to my knees (from Susan Kemerer’s book Homeschool Supermom… NOT!):

The truth is there are two opposing realities: our circumstance and God’s Word. The way we walk will be determined by where we choose to place our faith, hope, and focus (Philippians 4:8-9; Isaiah 30:15-16). I can choose to focus on the reality of my sleep deprivation and allow the reality of my fatigue to define me, while ignoring the reality of God’s strength and grace, or I can choose to focus on the reality of God’s abundant strength that is lavished on His children, and relegate fatigue to the background. God’s strength should define me rather than my weakness – and then God is glorified.

I couldn’t believe my eyes! Of course, after reading the above passage, the only response I could think of was to pray and ask God for forgiveness for my anger and bad attitude (and then follow up with my kids as well).

At times like these, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude for the ability to pray and ask God’s forgiveness. Where would I be without it? 1 John 1:9 assures us that “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

 

Maybe you blew it today, too. Or maybe, like me, you'll blow it tomorrow.

 

If so, remember this: God's forgiveness is just a prayer away.

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During the month of October, bloggers from far and wide are linking up their posts on one topic for 31 Days. Check it out at The Nester's blog!

{Day 1} ~ Prayer: What's It All About?

prayer 

pre(ə)r/

noun

1. a devout petition to God or an object of worship.

2. a spiritual communion with God or an object of worship, as in supplication, thanksgiving, adoration, or confession.

3. the act or practice of praying to God or an object of worship.

4. a formula or sequence of words used in or appointed for praying: the Lord's Prayer.

5. prayers, a religious observance, either public or private, consisting wholly or mainly of prayer.

 

Sometimes I make prayer too complicated, pondering its many definitions and worrying if I’m doing it just right. In its simplest form, though, prayer is merely a conversation with God. And it’s been around as long as man has. So why do I make it so difficult at times?

Before the fall, God’s formula for communicating with man was relaxed and personal. In Genesis 3:8-9, we see a picture of God strolling through the garden in the cool of the day, calling out to Adam, “Where are you?” Adam was able to speak directly to God in a face-to-face conversation. But this time, Adam wasn’t so quick to answer. He knew that his sin had changed things; his communication with God was forever altered.

Can you even imagine how Adam and Eve must have felt?  To go from strolling and conversing in the garden with their Creator to being separated from His presence by their sin would be an indescribable pain. A pain I often feel as well.

But in the midst of it all, God still wants a relationship with the people He created. With little, insignificant me.

As hard as it is for me to remember, prayer is about relationship.

It’s not about me rattling off a list of my wants (although God longs to give His children good things)! It’s as much (maybe more!) about me listening to God as is it about Him listening to me. That’s the hardest part for me. Learning to “be still and know” that He is God. Listening for that “still, small voice.” If prayer is communication with God, then communication involves listening as well as talking, don’t you think?

Father, in the midst of my crazy busy days, help me to remember the conversation that matters most. Help me to stop and listen for Your voice in my heart as I communicate with you. Thank you for the beautiful gift of prayer. May my words of praise be a worthy offering to You, the Lover of my Soul.
 

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During the month of October, bloggers from far and wide are linking up their posts on one topic for 31 Days. Check it out at The Nester's blog!

31 Days to a Powerful Prayer Life ~ Welcome!

As long as man has walked on the face of the earth, a wireless connection has existed. This connection is infinitely faster and more powerful than any computer or smart phone. And it’s available to all – from the most despicable drunk lying in the gutter to the wealthiest oil sheik with money dripping from his fingertips.

Prayer.

So why don’t we use this powerful connection more often? The God of the universe invites us to “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things which you do not know.” (Jer. 33:3) And yet we stay silent. We worry. We fret. We try to fix things on our own. (Or at least I do!)

Prayer is a subject close to my heart this year. The word “pray” is the one word I chose to focus on in the year 2013. So when I decided to take the 31 Day Blogging Challenge again this year, prayer was a topic that rose to the top of my list. Not because I'm an expert. Or a prayer warrior. But because I want to be. I crave a more powerful connection with my Father, and He desires this for me as well.

So I hope you'll join me on this journey. I definitely don't have all the answers, but I'm going to dig deep into this vital subject of prayer and share what I discover with you. I hope you'll visit this page often for a link to each day's post! Thanks for reading!

Day 1 - Prayer: What's It All About?

Day 2  - Just a Prayer Away

Day 3 - Prayer, The Greater Work

Day 4 - How to Stop Making Your Grocery List When You Should Be Praying

Day 5 - Prayer: You Can Bank On It!

Day 6 - DIY Prayer Book

Day 7 - Why Worry When You Can Pray?

Day 8 - When There Are No Words

Day 9 - Disturb Us, Lord

Day 10 - Apron Prayers

Day 11 - Something to Think About

Day 12 - Prayer is the Key

Day 13 - Sunday Links

Day 14 -  Why Your Soul Needs Silence

Day 15 - Pray by Sanctus Real

Day 16 - Captivate Me: A Prayer

Day 17- Christians, Remember This

Day 18 - 31 Day Links

Day 19 - All Is Grace

Day 20 - Congratulations! You Have an All Access Pass!

Day 21 - On My Knees

Day 22 - He Is Praying for You

Day 23 - An Incredible Inheritance

Day 24 - Prayer for a Confident Heart

Day 25 - C. S. Lewis on Prayer

Days 26 & 27 - Weekend Links

Day 28 - One Prayer Can Make a Difference

Day 29 - Needing Direction?

Day 30 - Examining Our Doubts

Day 31 - Wrapping It Up
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During the month of October, bloggers from far and wide are linking up their posts on one topic for 31 Days. Check it out at The Nester's blog!

 

9/11 Through a Child's Eyes

The day the world changed forever, my 5-year-old daughter drew me a picture that took my breath away.

I thought she wasn’t paying attention to the news reports flashing on the TV,

to the images of

     planes crashing,

              people jumping,

                      buildings burning,

                             children crying,

                                          lives ending.

 

But she was.

Her little kindergartner mind was taking in all the tragedy and chaos as she colored with her 3-year-old sister in the family room.

And her artist’s rendering was simply heartbreaking.

In her picture, smoke billows, planes crash, people scream… and the buildings cry.

Twelve years later, her picture hangs in our house as a reminder of innocence lost. For her and for our country.

A reminder of the countless mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, brothers and sisters who were lost that day to a senseless act of terrorism. A reminder of the countless heroes who stepped up to help the helpless. A reminder that we cannot "be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." And that someday, God will make everything right.

“In this world you will have trouble,” says Jesus, “but take heart. I have overcome the world.”

 

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This post commemorates the 12th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Take a moment on this day to remember and honor the thousands of innocent men, women, and children murdered by terrorists on September 11, 2001. Thank your local first responders for their dedication to protecting your community. Remember the many Americans who have served and are currently serving in our nation's military—many of whom enlisted as a response to the 9/11 attacks.

 

Let us come together this 9/11 and take a day to honor, remember and reunite. For more information from the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, visit www.911memorial.org.

 

5 Minute Friday ~ Tell Me a Story

My Grandma & Me in 1978

That familiar twinkle always showed up after five simple words, "Grandma, tell me a story!"

"A story?" she'd ask, like she didn't have any up her sleeve. Then, of course, she'd clasp her weathered hands together, tilt her head and say, "Hmm... Let me think."

And the magic would begin.

She would transport me back to the days of her childhood, to the family-owned bakery in a small Midwest town. And somehow, I always felt like I was right there with her.

I never knew which story she was going to tell. It really didn't matter. Even if I had heard it a hundred times, I still hung on every word.

There was the infamous tar bucket story that all of the grandchildren loved to hear. It was the day of family pictures, when Grandma was just three years old. Just before the photo session, she fell into a bucket of tar, which completely coated her arm, with no time to clean it up. She was strategically placed in the photo so the blackened arm was hidden behind her sister.

Another favorite was the chicken story. She had seen her mother kill chickens for dinner, so one day, she decided to help. Much to her mother's horror, she caught a baby chick and promptly lopped off its feet with a butcher knife. Oh my goodness! Grandma must have been an early 1900s version of Junie B. Jones!

After all these years, her stories still echo in my memory. But more importantly, her love and prayers  follow me, even though she has been gone for almost 15 years.

My grandma, the storyteller.

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This is an entry for Five Minute Friday. Every Friday hundreds of writers join in this five minute writing exercise at Lisa-Jo Baker's blog, Tales from a Gypsy Mama.

We write for five minutes flat. All on the same prompt that Lisa-Jo posts on her blog. And we connect on Twitter with the hashtag #fmfparty (Five Minute Friday Party).

No extreme editing; no worrying about perfect grammar, font, or punctuation.

Unscripted. Unedited. Real.

Have a blog? You can join in, too!

After the Writers Conference: 5 Ways to Get Moving!

Image © Julie Campbell, 2013

So, you just returned from a whirlwind trip to a writers conference, where you networked with agents and editors, made connections with other writers, and crammed your head with so much knowledge you could fill a football stadium. Now what?

Once the euphoria has worn off, here are five practical things you can do AFTER the conference:

1. Take a deep breath (and maybe even take a nap) – Most likely you have been waking up early (who decides to start these things at 8 a.m. anyway?) and staying up late, attending workshops and dinners and hobnobbing with (translation: kissing up to) agents, best-selling authors and editors. Don’t feel guilty about taking a day or two (or three) to chill, rest and process. As long as you get moving once your batteries are recharged, you’ll be fine.

2. Review and Write – Look over your notes, highlighter in hand, and mark valuable info that applies to you and your genre. If you really want to get fancy, you can even color-code your highlights – yellow for craft, pink for social media/website tips, green for marketing, etc. Then put all that good advice from the experts to good use and start writing and working on your trouble areas.

3. Follow Up – This is undoubtedly the single most important thing you can do after a conference. If an editor or agent has invited you to send a query, proposal, partial or full manuscript, get to work! Time is of the essence here, and as much as we writers like to procrastinate (heck, it’s a career for some of us!), now is NOT the time to mess around on Facebook or play Solitaire. Craft an amazing query letter (great advice on how to do that here), or get busy revising (or writing) your manuscript. At a recent conference I attended, one agent said if he requests a manuscript (and he knows the writer already has it written), he expects to see it within a week or two after the conference. Moral of the story: Don’t. Drag. Your. Feet.

4. Get Social – Remember all those business cards you collected at the conference? Now’s the time to follow your new found writer friends on Twitter and Facebook. It’s all about community, and there’s never been a better (or easier) time to network with your tribe and stay in touch.

5. Stay Productive and Be Patient – Don’t waste time hitting the refresh button on your e-mail every 30 seconds to see if your potential dream agent has contacted you. More than likely, it will take weeks, maybe even months, for anyone to get back with you. Publishing is one big waiting game, and the sooner you get to work on another project, the better. You need a distraction. So, if you haven’t already, start a blog or a website, get going on that new idea, or submit some magazine articles.

So, excuse me while I stop procrastinating by writing about what to do after a writers conference. Now, I actually need to follow my own advice and get to work. Happy writing!

Finding God from the Driver's Seat

In a million unique ways – as we change diapers, eat dinner, return e-mails, pay the bills – we are to be the evidence of God. Jesus factored in the mundane. We need to eat and sleep and shower and clean up and work on our marriages because of the way he made us – typical, inadequate, and human. Embrace the common: a Sunday afternoon watching sports, Starbucks with a friend, cooking dinner for a neighbor, taking the dog for a walk, heading to a job that is making you more humble and needy because it is so unfulfilling, or working through conflict with a friend you have offended. This and more is all part of it.

So do your everyday and your ordinary. Godliness is found and formed in those places…. Jesus says the way we glorify God, the way we step into his story, is by accomplishing the work God gives us to do. Jesus glorified his father on earth by doing that very thing.

We play our part in his story, and the beauty is, it was what we were made for.

~ from Anything, by Jennie Allen

 

After the umpteenth hour in the car this week, I was starting to feel a wee bit sorry for myself.

“I feel like I spend half my life in the car,” I huffed to my husband one evening.

Of course, he assured me that he appreciated my constant shuttling around of our three needy teens and that someday, they would look back and realize the amazing sacrifice their mother had made on their behalf.

Really? Well, a girl can dream, right?

Maybe you’ve felt like me lately… that you’re nothing more than a maid, cook, babysitter, dishwasher, errand runner, or (my personal favorite) chauffeur. Yes? That’s you? Did you ever stop to consider that this is all part of God’s story for you? That God is shaping and molding you into His image through these seemingly mundane tasks? That this is exactly where you belong?

The above passage in the book Anything by Jennie Allen really rocked my world. Instead of complaining about the ordinary, I should be embracing it! This is the way I can glorify God right where I am, in the left hand turn lane, waiting for the slow poke in front of me to turn already! (Oh, yikes, guess I better work on my attitude toward pokey drivers while I’m at it!)

Wow! If I can really get this – that I can glorify God even from the driver’s seat in the turn lane – I can’t imagine how much easier, and more fulfilling, my life would become!

The mundane, the common, the ordinary, the hum-drum – this is where godliness is found. This is where I belong. By accomplishing the tasks God has set out for me to do before the foundations of the world (Eph. 2:10),  I am participating in His grand story for my life.

Don’t know about you, but the driver’s seat (or the dishes, or the dirty laundry, or [insert your mundane task here]) just started looking a lot better!

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 NIV

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This is an entry for Five Minute Friday. Every Friday hundreds of writers join in this five minute writing exercise at Lisa-Jo Baker's blog, Tales from a Gypsy Mama.

We write for five minutes flat. All on the same prompt that Lisa-Jo posts on her blog. And we connect on Twitter with the hashtag #FiveMinuteFriday

No extreme editing; no worrying about perfect grammar, font, or punctuation.

Unscripted. Unedited. Real.

Have a blog? You can join in, too!