Starting over

Everything’s new.  Well, maybe not new, but different.  I’ve just moved and I’ve gone from having one bedroom in a house to a two  bedroom townhouse.  My own kitchen, my own living room, and two bathrooms to fill. 

It’s a great change but any change has its challenges.  The first, and most frequent one at this point, is the problem of finding everything.  It’s like the game children play “hide, find the _____________. You fill in the blank.  Whatever you choose, you’re probably right. 

In the past, that would’ve upset me—A LOT. I would’ve been miserable these last few weeks, and the next several I imagine.  But I’ve realized it’s not that important.  If I have to spend extra time looking for a notebook that’s been in the same place for years, or a list I made just an hour ago, that’s ok. Even funny when I really think about it. 

Same circumstances produce very different responses.  It all depends on how I look at it. Makes me think what else this applies to in my life.

Upcoming Writers Conference in Greenville

THE STORY CONTINUES

The Writer's Plot Writing Conference

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Furman University
3300 Poinsett Hwy
Greenville, SC 29613

Keynote Speaker:  Harold Underdown

Early Bird Special Price:  $80 until June 16th ($100 regular price afterwards)
Manuscript Critique:  $45 (first 10 pages)
Special Critique with Harold Underdown for rejected manuscript consultation:  $45 (first 10 pages)
Deadline for submission:  June 16th

Register online:  www.thewritersplot.com
10% discount for TWP members for all prices

Presenters include:

Harold Underdown – consulting editor, former vice president & editorial director at ipicturebooks, former editorial director at Charlesbridge, author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Publishing Children’s Books

Edie Melson– social media marketing expert, author of best-selling ebook, Social Media Marketing for Writers and a devotional, Fighting Fear: Winning the War at Home When Your Soldier Leaves for Battle

Vonda Skelton – author of Seeing Through the Lies (for women), three Bitsy Burroughs Mysteries (for children), and numerous magazine articles for adults

Patricia Thomas – author of 7 picture books, including “Stand Back,” said the Elephant, “I’m Going to Sneeze!” as well as numerous magazine articles and short stories

Pam Zollman – award-winning author of 40 children’s books, hundreds of short stories and articles (for adults and children), and former editor at Highlights Magazine.

Alan Gratz – award-winning author of six children’s and YA books, short stories, magazine articles, plays, and several episodes of A&E’s City Confidential

Jessica Alexander – Associate Editor for Peachtree Publishing

Katya Jensen—Editorial and Subrights Coordinator for Peachtree Publishing

Diana Flegal– Literary agent with Hartline Literary Agency 

Making the Bible Personal

A friend of mine gave me a  copy of a page in the December 2000 issue of Decision Magazine. In it, the author examines Psalm 23 one concept at a time and suggests what each means for us today.



Psalm 23 For Me

The Lord is my Shepherd.

Safety

I shall not want.

Supply

He makes me lie down in green pastures

Peace

He leads me beside still waters.

Harmony

He restores my soul.

Healing

He leads me in the paths of righteousness.

Guidance
For His name's sake.

Purpose

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death

Darkness

I will fear no evil.

Confidence

For You are with me;

Protection

Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Instruction

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies;

Provision

Thou anointest my head with oil.

Consecration

My cup runneth over.

Abundance

Surely goodness and  mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.

Loving Care

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Eternal Home.

I've read Psalm 23 many times, but not until I read this breakdown of the concepts did it mean so much.

When I look at each of these,  I realize just how much God gives us, and wants for us.  For me, guidance is one of the key needs in my life, especially since so much changes in today's world. 

How 'bout you?  Have you ever considered how much Psalm 23 tells us about God and His provisions for us? What strikes you as most significant? 

Letter from God

My Princess

Triumph Through Trials

I see you when you are in the garden of grief, My princess. I hear your cry for help in the dark hours of the night.  I Myself cried out in the garden the night I was betrayed.  In My suffering I asked My Father for another way a less painful way.  Yet I trusted His will and purpose for My life and knew the ultimate victory was at the cross.  Just as olives must be crushed to make oil, I poured out My life as a love offering for you. 

Don't ever doubt that I am with you and that I long to take you to a place of comfort, peace, and victory.  Even when you cannot see Me from where you are, I am working on your behalf.  Give to Me the crushing weight of your circumstances, and come to Me in prayer.  When it is time to leave the garden, I will walk with you across the valley and straight to the cross where your trials will be transformed into triumph.

                             Author Unknown

"For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.  So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything."  James 1: 3-4

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Innocence

What's burning in your heart?

The Importance of Relationship

Building relationships in Athens

Missionaries to refugees in Greece are staying at our home this week.  Tonight they told a group of people about their ministry and one key thing that stood out to  me was the reason Christianity attracts the Muslims they work with.  They live out what they say.

As they build relationships with the refugees at Helping Hands, the people begin to ask questions about why the missionaries believe in Christ.  They're taught the facts about Christ coming to earth, his crucifixion, and resurrection from the dead.  But the key reason people make a decision to follow Christ is they see that the missionaries' lives reflect what they believe and teach, unlike many of the religious leaders they've heard in the past.

When Ilir said this, it made me think.  How do I come across to others?  Do they see someone whose life reflects that of Christ?  I hope so, but I need to keep this in mind as I relate to everyone whose path I cross.  

What about you?

I Want a Do Over

I Want A Do-Over

When I was in elementary school, one of the popular toys for kids was Etch-a-Sketch, a gray screen you could draw pictures on by turning the knobs on the bottom.  If you liked

the picture, you showed it to all your friends.  If not, you shook it, the screen went blank, and you could start over.  We made endless pictures, using our imaginations, and turning the ideas into pieces of “art.” Then we’d start over with a blank screen to create our next masterpiece.

God does that with us too.  He starts with a blank slate, decides what he wants to make of our lives, and begins creating His work.

.  “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10.

God doesn’t make mistakes, but He knows when we do. He points it out to us, and gives us another chance to start over, wiping the slate clean.  And we get as many “do-overs” as we need because He loves us.  I’m sure glad He loves me and gives me so many chances when I blow it.

Can anyone else relate?