Good morning to everyone. Grace and Peace be with you.
This morning, we woke up to fog. As I sit at my desk and look out the window, I can see the beauty of the sun breaking through the haze in the trees. The front of my house, where my office is, faces the east, so the beauty of the sunrise blesses me each morning. When I made my coffee, the kitchen sits on the west side of the house. I looked out my kitchen window, and the fog was pretty dense, but the light was clearly visible in its midst. Looking out my office window, I can see the rays reflecting off the dew that has settled on my swing…sparkling as though it were saying ‘good morning’. I have always enjoyed a good morning sunrise, but there is something about them now that makes them even more special.
Yesterday I was blessed with breakfast with my mother. A heads up from a friend. A beautiful drive. A soccer win with my grandson. Then a completely wonderful drive home with a sunset that should be on a postcard. A truly spectacular day indeed.
As you all know, because I torture you with this information, I enter writing challenges and competitions. Yesterday, the Destination Unknown challenge issued the last line of the story. Quick reminder, they gave us the first line, then two twists, then the last line … and it is all supposed to flow nicely. After the first twist, I am betting several dropped out. Then the second twist I am quite sure there were those who said no thank you. Now, this last line…is not as odd as I thought they were going to do. After reviewing the story I have in place, it actually and humorously works quite well. I believe I have about a week to finish it, then submit. Who knows, maybe I will make the top three again, or maybe even…if I dare to dream … winner. But I can say that this challenge has made me use my brain, which will aid in the next book, I am sure.
I mention the challenge and its rules, because as they revealed the first line, my brain instantly went “huh?”. The first twist actually gave me a “hmm. Maybe”. The second twist, I was ready to say “not me”, but … then the competitor inside of me said that I would not be beaten. I threw together a couple of hook lines that grabbed traction. I put it through a story analyzer and laughed at its evaluation. And now, with this last line, because of the story content, this line will bring a sense of backhanded humor to the story. When the competition is done, I will post it.
So, when this challenge put in place items that were out of the normal range of thinking, a part of me wanted to retreat and just not try. I wasn’t feeling it. However, as I let the thoughts simmer on low, the heat of challenge accepted rose, and I am so glad I did. I really like the story. Much of our walk with Jesus is formulated the same way. He gives us a path. We politely decline. Then he gives us another piece. We mull it over, then decline again. A third piece or fourth piece or even fifth piece…still looking for a way out. But…something in our spirit changes, and we decide to accept the challenge. When we do, the final line of the story appears, and what we have accomplished is marvelous. Not only for us, but for the path we walked in eventual obedience, and the Kingdom.
The Father knows how moody we are, how toddler temperamental we are, how menopausal and second childhood acting we can be … this is why when he gives us a path, he adds little nuggets along the way. He knows that we will come around, and when we do, the ending will blow our minds away.
When you get that lead to do something out of the norm, do not dismiss it right away. Take a moment and walk the path of your story. Think about the possibilities. While you are there, look for the nuggets. Watch what He can do with just little pieces of simple obedience. Should you choose to try to get out of it, I would like to remind you of Jonah. Just saying.
Today, go to Him. Ask him for the first step and a nugget. He will be pleased that you are willing and able. Take those first steps and enjoy the beauty He provides. In that beauty comes the peace you are seeking.
Be blessed.
**Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. – Colossians 3:2-4
This morning, we woke up to fog. As I sit at my desk and look out the window, I can see the beauty of the sun breaking through the haze in the trees. The front of my house, where my office is, faces the east, so the beauty of the sunrise blesses me each morning. When I made my coffee, the kitchen sits on the west side of the house. I looked out my kitchen window, and the fog was pretty dense, but the light was clearly visible in its midst. Looking out my office window, I can see the rays reflecting off the dew that has settled on my swing…sparkling as though it were saying ‘good morning’. I have always enjoyed a good morning sunrise, but there is something about them now that makes them even more special.
Yesterday I was blessed with breakfast with my mother. A heads up from a friend. A beautiful drive. A soccer win with my grandson. Then a completely wonderful drive home with a sunset that should be on a postcard. A truly spectacular day indeed.
As you all know, because I torture you with this information, I enter writing challenges and competitions. Yesterday, the Destination Unknown challenge issued the last line of the story. Quick reminder, they gave us the first line, then two twists, then the last line … and it is all supposed to flow nicely. After the first twist, I am betting several dropped out. Then the second twist I am quite sure there were those who said no thank you. Now, this last line…is not as odd as I thought they were going to do. After reviewing the story I have in place, it actually and humorously works quite well. I believe I have about a week to finish it, then submit. Who knows, maybe I will make the top three again, or maybe even…if I dare to dream … winner. But I can say that this challenge has made me use my brain, which will aid in the next book, I am sure.
I mention the challenge and its rules, because as they revealed the first line, my brain instantly went “huh?”. The first twist actually gave me a “hmm. Maybe”. The second twist, I was ready to say “not me”, but … then the competitor inside of me said that I would not be beaten. I threw together a couple of hook lines that grabbed traction. I put it through a story analyzer and laughed at its evaluation. And now, with this last line, because of the story content, this line will bring a sense of backhanded humor to the story. When the competition is done, I will post it.
So, when this challenge put in place items that were out of the normal range of thinking, a part of me wanted to retreat and just not try. I wasn’t feeling it. However, as I let the thoughts simmer on low, the heat of challenge accepted rose, and I am so glad I did. I really like the story. Much of our walk with Jesus is formulated the same way. He gives us a path. We politely decline. Then he gives us another piece. We mull it over, then decline again. A third piece or fourth piece or even fifth piece…still looking for a way out. But…something in our spirit changes, and we decide to accept the challenge. When we do, the final line of the story appears, and what we have accomplished is marvelous. Not only for us, but for the path we walked in eventual obedience, and the Kingdom.
The Father knows how moody we are, how toddler temperamental we are, how menopausal and second childhood acting we can be … this is why when he gives us a path, he adds little nuggets along the way. He knows that we will come around, and when we do, the ending will blow our minds away.
When you get that lead to do something out of the norm, do not dismiss it right away. Take a moment and walk the path of your story. Think about the possibilities. While you are there, look for the nuggets. Watch what He can do with just little pieces of simple obedience. Should you choose to try to get out of it, I would like to remind you of Jonah. Just saying.
Today, go to Him. Ask him for the first step and a nugget. He will be pleased that you are willing and able. Take those first steps and enjoy the beauty He provides. In that beauty comes the peace you are seeking.
Be blessed.
**Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. – Colossians 3:2-4
Good morning to everyone. Grace and Peace be with you.
This morning, we woke up to fog. As I sit at my desk and look out the window, I can see the beauty of the sun breaking through the haze in the trees. The front of my house, where my office is, faces the east, so the beauty of the sunrise blesses me each morning. When I made my coffee, the kitchen sits on the west side of the house. I looked out my kitchen window, and the fog was pretty dense, but the light was clearly visible in its midst. Looking out my office window, I can see the rays reflecting off the dew that has settled on my swing…sparkling as though it were saying ‘good morning’. I have always enjoyed a good morning sunrise, but there is something about them now that makes them even more special.
Yesterday I was blessed with breakfast with my mother. A heads up from a friend. A beautiful drive. A soccer win with my grandson. Then a completely wonderful drive home with a sunset that should be on a postcard. A truly spectacular day indeed.
As you all know, because I torture you with this information, I enter writing challenges and competitions. Yesterday, the Destination Unknown challenge issued the last line of the story. Quick reminder, they gave us the first line, then two twists, then the last line … and it is all supposed to flow nicely. After the first twist, I am betting several dropped out. Then the second twist I am quite sure there were those who said no thank you. Now, this last line…is not as odd as I thought they were going to do. After reviewing the story I have in place, it actually and humorously works quite well. I believe I have about a week to finish it, then submit. Who knows, maybe I will make the top three again, or maybe even…if I dare to dream … winner. But I can say that this challenge has made me use my brain, which will aid in the next book, I am sure.
I mention the challenge and its rules, because as they revealed the first line, my brain instantly went “huh?”. The first twist actually gave me a “hmm. Maybe”. The second twist, I was ready to say “not me”, but … then the competitor inside of me said that I would not be beaten. I threw together a couple of hook lines that grabbed traction. I put it through a story analyzer and laughed at its evaluation. And now, with this last line, because of the story content, this line will bring a sense of backhanded humor to the story. When the competition is done, I will post it.
So, when this challenge put in place items that were out of the normal range of thinking, a part of me wanted to retreat and just not try. I wasn’t feeling it. However, as I let the thoughts simmer on low, the heat of challenge accepted rose, and I am so glad I did. I really like the story. Much of our walk with Jesus is formulated the same way. He gives us a path. We politely decline. Then he gives us another piece. We mull it over, then decline again. A third piece or fourth piece or even fifth piece…still looking for a way out. But…something in our spirit changes, and we decide to accept the challenge. When we do, the final line of the story appears, and what we have accomplished is marvelous. Not only for us, but for the path we walked in eventual obedience, and the Kingdom.
The Father knows how moody we are, how toddler temperamental we are, how menopausal and second childhood acting we can be … this is why when he gives us a path, he adds little nuggets along the way. He knows that we will come around, and when we do, the ending will blow our minds away.
When you get that lead to do something out of the norm, do not dismiss it right away. Take a moment and walk the path of your story. Think about the possibilities. While you are there, look for the nuggets. Watch what He can do with just little pieces of simple obedience. Should you choose to try to get out of it, I would like to remind you of Jonah. Just saying.
Today, go to Him. Ask him for the first step and a nugget. He will be pleased that you are willing and able. Take those first steps and enjoy the beauty He provides. In that beauty comes the peace you are seeking.
Be blessed.
**Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. – Colossians 3:2-4
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