Validation

As someone who writes, a question I’ve been mulling over is “Why do you want to be published?” (referring to traditional publishing) But really, this same question could be posed to anyone… “Why do you want to accomplish ______ in your chosen area?”

I get hung up on this question every time.
I don’t like my answer, even though it’s painfully honest.

I want to be published traditionally because I want the validation of it. I want someone to say that my work is good enough to warrant a contract and even payment. I want that seal of approval on my work. That proof. Something I can hold up and say, “See?!”

But every time I even think those words I hear a still, quiet voice in my heart saying, “Isn’t My approval enough?”

God did not use a cookie cutter when He created us. What’s right for my friend isn’t necessarily right for me. God may have called one of us to walk to the beat of a different drum. The key is to be obedient to what God’s called me to do. My calling, not someone else’s calling.

That means risking being different and maybe even appearing wrong. Sometimes that may mean the appearance of taking the easy way or a short cut. But the truth of the matter is that if it’s what God told me to do, then for me it’s right (and the other way may be the wrong way for me).

I need to obey what God's called me to do and look to Him for validation. Only Him.

So tell me, is validation something you struggle with? 
How do you deal with it?

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Done Nothing Wrong

My poor little car.

It was sitting in its parking place, minding its own business but ready and waiting for the next time we needed it when BAM!

A family truck rolled downhill from the barn, sideswiped a tractor, took out a porch post and took a bite out of my car.

My poor car.
It had done nothing wrong.
It wasn’t even in the wrong place at the wrong time.
It was exactly where it was supposed to be, doing what it was supposed to be doing. But it didn’t matter. It was still knocked out.

While still down for the count, still right where it was supposed to be, waiting to be back in service, insult was added to injury. The back window shattered. We don’t know how or why. It’s happened before here. Once when a rock was thrown from the mower and once from thermal shifts in the winter. But this time there was no way a rock shattered the window—the is shielded from rocks by they deck. There wasn’t any huge thermal shift in the temperature. Sure, it cooled down a LOT after being hot, but it doesn’t seem like it’d be enough to cause it to shatter. Still, the window is shattered.

I’ve seen this happen to people. They’re exactly where they’re supposed to be, doing what they’re supposed to be doing and BAM! They’re knocked down and put out of service. Then, while they’re waiting and mending, they’re kicked from behind. Broken even more.

My heart cries for them. Why Lord? They were in Your will, doing exactly what You gave them to do. Why did all this happen? Wasn’t it enough they were hit the first time? Did they have to have that final blow?

As people we see the damage of the here and now. We see the seemingly unnecessary and unfair events and injuries and we want to shake our fist and rant. But God’s ways aren’t ours. He sees the big picture and knows.

'For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.'  Jeremiah 29:11 NAS

I’ve learned as I’ve watched this happen time and time again. Months, maybe years later, I’ll see the fruit of their time spent waiting and healing. Their roots will be deeper and the fruit of their lives will be sweeter and more plentiful.

When you see someone slammed by life, broken and knocked out of service for a time, stand by and lift them up in prayer. Pray that they don’t become discouraged but that their faith will become stronger through this time, that their roots will grow deeper and their fruit sweeter.

God knows what He’s doing. Trust Him and pray for them.

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Control vs. Trust

Joanne said something a couple weeks ago that really encapsulated things going on inside my head. She said that sometimes needing to know what direction to head is really just a form of control.

I was in the midst of “Which way do you want me to go in 2012?” prayers and felt like I was talking into the wind. Each year I like to outline a few goals. Not resolutions. Those simply do not work for me. They anchor me to my failure whereas goals spur me onward. So I was seeking God's direction. And getting nowhere fast. Oh, I know a general direction but the specifics I was seeking were white washed and it was frustrating me.

I wanted a verse for 2012.
I wanted a word for 2012.
All I had was static fuzz and the impression that I simply need to rest and trust God.

In my bull-headedness I was trying to learn what direction God wanted me to go so I could take over. So I could say (or even just think) “Roger that, God. I'll take it from here.” and go on my merry way, plotting, planning, scheming, and doing.

But that's not what God wanted from me or for me.


Wait for the Lord;
be strong and let your heart take courage;
yes, wait for the Lord.
~Psalm 27:14

He wanted me to be still.
He wanted me to hold tight to His hand.
He wanted me to follow His lead on a moment by moment basis. Sensitive to His leading, not racing ahead doing my own thing.

'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.'

~Jeremiah 29:11

God knows the plan. He knows the direction and He knows what He wants me to do. If I hold tight to Him, He will lead me.


Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
for You are the God of my salvation;
for You I wait all the day. ~Psalm 25:5

And when I'm waiting and all around me is still looking like a white out, then I need to wait and continue to hold on to Him. I don't need to see where I'm going. I need only hold His hand. When it's time, He'll lead me forward, whether I can see or not.

Though it tarries, wait for it; for it will certainly come, it will not delay.
~Habakuk 2:3

Do I know what 2012 is going to hold for me? Absolutely not.
Do I know the direction I'm going? Not really.
But I know that I need to rest in God and trust Him to lead me through the white out. I don't need to be in control. I only need to hold tight.

Trust and obey.

There's no other way.

Dear Heavenly Father, forgive me for trying to take control. I want Your will, in Your way, in Your time. Help me to hold fast to Your hand and be sensitive to Your leading in all things. You can see through the storm and You know the way at all times. Make me know Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. In Your Name I pray, amen.

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Don't Dally

It's the time of year when I watch for the last hummingbird to come through. Each day is a little shorter and often each night is a little cooler, until, one morning I shiver as I stand at the kitchen window, hoping the last of the hummers flew south yesterday so they aren't out in the cold. If I see one at the feeder, tanking up on the sweet feed, I want to tap on the window and say "Don't dally, little one. Fly! Fly fast. You've waited so long that you're in great danger here now."

Even as I look for them, God whispers in my heart. “Don't dally, little one. Fly!”

Being the procrastinator I am, and one who is overly attached to my comfort, I know there are things I dally over, thinking, “Just one more.” I want to draw out the moment, savor it, choosing to forget that sometimes my “savoring” is simply ugly disobedience fancied up to make it more acceptable in my mind.

Other times, I choose to simply not listen for His voice because I'm busy doing my own thing.

In all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:6

God gave the hummingbirds instincts so they would know when to move on, and they do. Usually. What about me? Am I tuned in and sensitive to God so I can feel the change and know when to move on? I want to be. I don't want to stubbornly linger and end up shivering and shaking through a cold night I was never meant to be in, yet many times I think I do just that.

I will lead the blind by a way they do not know,
in paths they do not know I will guide them.
I will make darkness into light before them
and rugged places into plains.
These are the things I will do,
and I will not leave them undone.
Isaiah 42:16 

The key is to stay close to God. To stay in close communion so when He says “Fly!” we hear Him, recognize His voice, and fly.

He's promised to guide us In the way He wants us to go. Just like He's given hummingbirds instincts to know when to fly south for the winter, He's given us a heart to hear Him.

Your ears will hear a word behind you,
“This is the way, walk in it,”
whenever you turn to the right or to the left.
Isaiah 30:21

Lord, help me know when to spread my wings and fly, and lead me in the path You have for me. Please, give me courage and help me to follow Your prompting and trust in You. Thank You for being my guide.

I love You, Lord...in Your Son's name, amen.

Won't you come by Living by Grace so we can chat about what we can learn from hummingbirds at this time of year?

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My 3 Fs

Fickle, Failure, & Faithful
These three words have been on my mind a lot this past few weeks. And I do mean a lot.

Yes, I am fickle. I'll admit that right up front. But it's not just girlie fickleness—it's that many times I honestly do not care which way I go. (When I have an opinion I'm just plain mulish. Ask my husband. *eye roll*) So when I see things opening up one direction and feel a leading, I'm good to go with it, and I do. But that tends to lead toward... failure. Or seeming failure.

How so? Well, as I venture through different doors I may get part way through and the door closes on me. That doesn't bother me at all—I see it as God clearly closing the door. Other times I get through the door and I'm ready to take off. I have everything prepped and ready and I'm excited. But the room that open door led to is empty. Not a single thing in there. Failure.

Or is it?
Well, I know from experience that people looking on often see it as failure. And fickleness. Now, I really don't like being seen as a fickle failure. Does anyone? But yanno, the it ain't over 'til it's over... and it ain't over yet! (See my eyes rolling as I snicker?)

This is where faithfulness comes in. Well, actually, faithfulness is woven throughout as I try to faithfully stay close to God and faithfully obey, and faithfully evaluate where things are. And this is exactly where I've been the last couple weeks: evaluating. (And that, my friends, will be another post! It's in the works.)

I've walked through a door recently and everything came together beautifully. Everything. I was ready to run and prepared for a marathon. But the starting gun never fired, leaving me toed in at the starting line. The door that was flung open to me led to a room that's empty. Not a single thing there. All the encouragement and help and cheering on that I've received and now when friends ask, excited for me, I have to tell them it opened to... nothing. Since I prayed much over the event (and still do) I'm not upset by it—but every now and then those first two f words ambush me. Yanno, fickle and failure.

So tell me, 
where do you think faithfulness fits with fickle and failure? 
Does seeming failure imply fickleness, or worse, faithLESSness?

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Called vs. Offering

In this month's ACFW course, Terry Burns is teaching a class that changed my life last year and started me down a path that still surprises me. A path where I have to use my mouth instead of my pen—which is NOT easy for me! I'm a wall flower and I love being one. One of my favorite places is the airport because I can just sit and people-watch. It's one of my favorite past times and at the airport no one thinks you're shy or worse yet a snob because you aren't talking to anyone.

One of the points Terry made this last week in the class is that of being called to write vs. your writing being an offering to God. It's a topic that made me do a lot of deep thinking last year, and now I'm doing it again this year.

A big part of me says writing is my offering to God. But peace hasn’t come with that thought. Yet it scares me to death to think that God called me to write. There seems to be so much more responsibility with being called. Yes, regardless of called or offering, your writing must be your best, but being called deals with God's purpose for you. Sometimes I hope that being called to write (if indeed I am) is about what God has for me to learn because let's face it—I learn and think best with my fingers on the keyboard or a pen in my hands. But then I see my thinking and laugh. The world doesn’t revolve around me. I’m here to bring glory to God, to fulfill His purpose for me. Could a call to write be for something as simple as what it will teach me? Does it have to go further than me and the files on my computer or my journal?

For fifteen years I tried to ignore the feeling that God was calling me to write and it just about destroyed my family. It seems that writing isn’t an option for me—as much as I’d like it to be. Life would be so much simpler if I weren’t trying to juggle four teens, one grade-schooler, marriage, homeschool, computer work, and writing. So much easier! But the best things in life usually are NOT the easy things, and God didn’t call us to a life of ease.

Not all of us here are writers but I think the same principle applies. Are you called to what you're doing or is it your offering to God? Does it make a difference in how you do things?

So tell me, do you see there’s more responsibility if you’re called to write (or whatever it is you're doing) vs. it being your offering to God?

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Choosing to Celebrate

Have you ever felt like you fell short? Miserably short?
That's how I'm feeling.

I set out to celebrate the 40 days before my birthday, and life was so dog-gone busy that I didn't do near as much celebrating and seeking as I wanted to. I was hoping to make it through the book of 1 Samuel in my studying, but I'm only in chapter 11 of 31 chapters. I planned on staying up-to-date in my Esther study posts, but I missed several weeks and barely kept my nose above water in the Tuesday night study, never mind writing a weekly post.

But the fact is that I'm still standing and not down and out and that, in itself, is cause for celebration. So I'm choosing to celebrate in spite of falling short of my goals.

One night at Bible study a prayer was answered in a way that I had no doubt it was the direction from God that I'd been seeking. I don't remember ever receiving an answer like I did that night, and if another lady hadn't been sharing a neat answer to prayer I might've done a happy dance right there in someone else's living room.

One of the things I was seeking direction on was concerning a domain name I purchased a couple months ago. I've been thinking of moving my blog to a different domain, but I didn't want to jump first and think later, as I'm prone to do, so I had been talking with God about it. That night at Bible study God directed me to move to the new domain.

I was really hoping that I'd be able to move on my birthday, but other things have been going on and I wasn't able to get the site up and going, let along move. But that's okay, it will come in time. There are still lots of details to work out, but just experiencing God's direction like that was fantastic!

Other things have happened in ways that points to God's hand working and it's been so cool to see and realize that God is working behind the scenes even when I don't see any obvious evidence. The timing of the Esther study is a perfect example. I learned so much in this study—things that I've been able to apply immediately to where I'm at right now. Things that have made a difference in my life and changed how I see my current events and how I approach those events. Only God, who loves me enough to be intimately involved in the details of my life, would work things as He has. What a great an awesome God!!

Life has been in a pattern of change recently, and you've seen a little of it here at Patterings with the author spotlights, but things here will be settling down now. I'll be returning to what I love blogging about most: Finding the extraordinary God in our ordinary lives.

I hope you'll continue to join me. =]
Oh! I almost forgot! Today is my first post at The Barn Door. I'd LOVE it if you stopped by and said hi! Check out why I have No LadyBug Love.

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Why Be Strong and Courageous?

Last week I started a Bible study on Joshua, Judges and Ruth. We're using Kay Arthur's study book, Choosing Victory – Overcoming Defeat and I'm loving it. My plan is to blog my way through this Bible study, and I hafta tell ya, I'm excited!

Joshua. What do you think of when you hear Joshua's name? The wall of Jericho? Me too. But there's so much more to Joshua than just those walls! Moses had two right-hand men: Aaron, his brother, and Joshua.

Joshua was a warrior. He was the one doing the fighting when Aaron and Hur held Moses' arms up while Israel fought against Amalek. (Exodus 17:8-13) He was the chosen and appointed leader after Moses' death.

When Moses commissioned Joshua (Deuteronomy 31:7-8) he said “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall give it to them as an inheritance. The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

God gave Joshua a seemingly impossible task. He had spent 40 years watching Moses closely and helping him as he led Israel through the desert. He knew how well the nation listened, and didn't listen. He knew how Moses struggled and wrestled on behalf of the people, and when he was appointed as leader, I imagine it was not something he cheered over. Joshua spent a lot of time with Moses and I have a feeling the men knew each other well.

Look at those things that Moses said to him:

• Be strong.
• Be courageous.
• You'll lead the people into the Promised Land.
• You'll conquer the land for the people.
• God will go ahead of you.
• God will be with you.
• God will NOT fail you.
• God will NOT forsake you.
• Do not fear.
• Do not be dismayed.

Hmmmm. Interesting. Joshua was a warrior who had been groomed for leadership but these things seem to suggest that Joshua felt that the task God had called him to was far beyond his ability. I don't know about you, but that's something I can relate to! I've often felt that the task God has given me was far beyond my capability.

Israel mourned for 30 days after Moses died, and then the book of Joshua starts off with God speaking to Joshua. In fact, much of the first chapters are God directing Joshua, and Joshua turning right around and relaying God's commands and instructions to the nation of Israel. (Tuck that tidbit away.) One of the first things we read in Joshua is God reaffirming what Moses had said when he commissioned Joshua. Check this out:

Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord you God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:7-9 (NAS)

That's almost a mirror image of what Moses said to him! In the first chapter, Joshua is told to be strong and courageous 4 times. Sounds like Joshua needed to hear that. It's something that we need to hear, too.

When God gives us a job to do, we don't need to be dismayed or tremble in fear because God will not forsake us or fail us. He will be with us and He will go before us, and for all those reasons we can be strong and courageous.

What a list of promises to hold onto as we stand on the bank of our own Jordan Rivers!

Coming up next: What I learned about success as I memorized Joshua 1:7-9.

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Smoothness

Ocean waves Uploaded by Krassenceto

Is it only the crashing surf of the ocean that wears a stone smooth? No, it's not, but it's one of the first ways we think of. Times of great storms in our lives are also the times we remember the longest, times we know that God is working on us. But it's not the only time.

When David fought Goliath look what he did...
He took his stick in his hand and chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the shepherd's bag which he had, even in his pouch, and his sling was in his hand; and he approached the Philistine. ~1 Samuel 17:40

Tranquil Stream Uploaded by bsmith4815

Those stones hadn't been beaten smooth in the ocean, nor even a great river. They were in a brook. There's nothing fierce about a brook, but the water was enough to wear stones smooth. In Jeremiah 2:13 God calls Himself “the fountain of living waters.” God and His Word is like water in our lives—He smooths our rough edges with His constant movement in our lives.

Sometimes our life might feel like we're caught in the surf, constantly being pounded as storms lash us. Other times life is more like a river, or even a little brook, meandering and mellow. But even during those easy times, God is wearing the rough edges off us, making us smoother and more fit for His use.

stormy stone beach Uploaded by H o g n e

In Sunday School this week, Brad, our department director, said, “God's always working in our lives—it's just whether we recognize it or not.” He didn't know it, but he simplified and summed up in one sentence something I've been mulling over for a few weeks. Just because life is mellow at the moment doesn't mean that God isn't working in our lives. The Living Water is always moving, wearing away the sharp angles and smoothing us so we're more fit for His service.

Let the Living Water flow over you and polish you smooth.

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Shallowness

I'm not a deep thinker and I've had a relatively easy life. To be honest, I feel like a very shallow person living a life of ease. As I read through the Bible and read about the lives of those great saints, and then read biographies of missionaries, my feelings of shallowness increase and I'm more convinced than ever that I'm living a dream life in my own little bubble.

Just this morning I read in a devotional that “God never uses anyone to a great degree until he breaks the person completely.” I understand this and know it to be true, but I'm left wondering if God will use me at all since I have such an easy life and am not a deep thinker. I know not everyone is called to be a Matthew Henry, a DL Moody, or a Nate Saint, and I know they were ordinary men used by an extraordinary God. But what about those of us who really want to be used by God yet live a life that seems to only skim the surface?

Please understand, I'm not looking for pats on the back or excuses for shallow living on easy street. This is something I've been mulling over for a couple of weeks now and I want to hear your thoughts on this.

Does depth of character only come from great trials and tribulation? Is it possible for God to use someone who leads an easy life?

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Another Surprising Twist

My birthday was quite a day. An amazing day. First thing in the morning I went to one of my favorite sites, The Seekers, to make sure I didn't miss the fun they had planned for the day. They had Tina James, senior editor from Steeple Hill Love Inspired—my target publisher and a book giveaway every hour. That adds up to a must read early status! =]

As I read the interview I came to a sentence that I had to read about 4 times before I was sure I wasn't seeing things. Here's what it said: “We are also interested in stories featuring missionaries abroad in exotic locations during various historical periods.” Now, for those of you that know me really well, know that I went on high alert right then. But I pressed on with the article, determined to read it all and leave my comment to get my name in the hat for the book drawings. (Yanno, important things first. *eye roll*)

When I left my comment, I copied and pasted that sentence and mentioned how it had caught my attention because I'm an MK who happens to love history. And writing. But then I sat and stared at the computer screen as my brain went into overdrive with ideas, possibilities and what I would need to do so I could write a historical missionary novel.

Since then I've begun some preliminary research online and I have plans for contacting people I know who might be able to point me in the right direction for more information, as well as contacting mission agencies that I know were in Ecuador in the early days. I'm centering my research on missionary life between the years of 1900-1960, with an emphasis on prior to 1950. I'm also focusing my research on missions in South America, especially Ecuador, but I'll be researching and studying much more than just Ecuador and South America because I'd like to write more than one missionary novel.

I have reasons for doing this. It's not just a whim.
~God has called me to write.

~Missions has had a huge influence on my life. I am who I am today because of missions and missionaries who invested in me.

~That sentence that caught my attention has been sitting on the Love Inspired Historical website for who knows how long and I never saw it until my birthday.

~For 40 days before my birthday I celebrated and prepared for the upcoming year. I was seeking (and still am) God's will for my year. I want His best and I want to follow Him. God is a God of infinite detail and I believe His hand was in the timing of me seeing that sentence.

~For 20 years I've been wanting to do something to increase missions awareness so more will pray for them and be involved in their outreach. Last year, part of my 40 day birthday celebration was a missions spotlight for that purpose. (It's archived under the Missions Matter tab above.) Writing missionary novels—fictional missionary stories—will get missions and missionaries in front of readers.

~I want to help people see and understand that missionaries are real people. They aren't super-spiritual people who speak in thee's and thou's and have no fun! Missionaries are approachable and need prayer and support, but so often we seldom hear about them as we sit here in the States. They're off our radar screens—to our detriment.

In the few days since that sentence wrapped itself around my neck, I've thought of nothing else. I've been doing preliminary research and a lot of thinking and soul searching. When I shared this with some of my friends, they didn't laugh. They encouraged me and started praying. My family and those that know me best (warts and all) see this as a good fit. I'll be diving into research, knowing it will be more than just research—it will be challenging on every level, especially spiritually. I'm looking forward to it. I love reading missionary stories. I find them interesting and I always grow as I read them. The other research I was looking at having to do was a drudgery. This is a joy.

You'll be in on the highlights of my research. As I come across thoughts and quotes that challenge me I'll post about them here. I've already found one and I'm anxious to share it with you.

I wanted to share all this with you here because I truly believe this is one of the results of my 40 day celebration and preparation. Have you been thinking about what you can do in the last 40 days of this year to help prepare you for the upcoming year? The 40 day countdown starts on Sunday, November 22 –a week from today.

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Diligence in Sounding Out

Whooo-ey! What a weekend! We were out of the house all day on Saturday (I'll post some pictures of what we were doing this Saturday *g*) and Sunday I GOT to work through extreme tiredness and a brain that was AWOL to meet a deadline--which I met, and had the right attitude about! =] Today started with a bang and now we're finally hunkered down to school work. Finally.

Now that my brain has returned I realize I didn't get a winner posted yesterday. The winner of Leann Harris' book Guarded Secrets is Sunny!

Don't forget that Maggie Woychik's book giveaway is still going on and will be open until late Saturday night. Leave a comment to be entered in her drawing! =]

On deck for tomorrow: an Author Spotlight with Erica Vetsch and her debut novel.

These days my mind is full of school work, and much of my time is spent at the table doing school--so here's a post from last year that centers on school and looking for God's will. Two things I'm doing a lot of even now. =]

~*~*~*~*~*~
My youngest has been reading to me lately, and it's been a learning experience. Many times I've had to tap the word and even remind him to look at the word he was sounding out. I asked him, “How can you know what the word is unless you look at it?”

God's special neon 'Duh' sign flashed at me.

It was as if He was asking me how I planned on knowing what His will for me was unless I kept my eye focused on Him and sought it out. Just like my son can't sound out a word he isn't looking at, I can't sound out or decipher a plan I don't have my eyes on. I'm as bad as my little boy. I'll look at the word, then at the picture, then fiddle with the corner of the page and wonder what's on the next page, then scratch my ear and rub my nose, all before I even realize that my attention has wandered from the direction from God that I'm trying to seek out. I need to constantly refocus and remind myself to seek God in this matter, not just be content with my wandering thoughts and wandering life.

For if you cry for discernment, lift your voice for understanding; if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will discern the fear of the Lord, and discover the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. ~Proverbs 2:3-6

Lord, help me to focus on You and seek diligently what it is You want me to be doing. I want to do Your will, please help me to fix my eyes on You and seek it. I love You, Father, in Your name I pray, amen.

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Bad Things with Big Benefits

Bad things happen. There is no disputing that. But when bad things happen to good people we often wonder what in the world is going on. I'm sure the people in Jeremiah's time did too.

The prophets were all saying wonderful things, but Jeremiah wasn't. He was telling them that God had forsaken the people of Israel. Then Nebuchadnezzar carried a portion of the people off to captivity: a bad thing for those captives. They were pulled from their homes and families and carted off. This was bad! But God had a special purpose for that bad situation.

“Thus says the Lord God of Israel, 'Like these good figs, so I will regard as good the captives of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans. For I will set My eyes on them for good, and I will bring them again to this land; and I will build them up and not overthrow them, and I will plant them and not pluck them up. I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the Lord; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.'” ~Jeremiah 24:5-6 NAS

God used their captivity, their bad situation, to save them while He sent even worse consequences to those who were left in the seemingly better circumstances. Those in captivity were watched over by God. The others were abandoned.

goodbye rainbow by eklektick

When bad things happen, they happen for a purpose. God gave the captives “a heart to know Me.” He wanted them to draw near to Him and get to know Him better and He blessed them with a heart that wanted to know Him and He made them His people in heart, not just in name.

Does the same thing happen today? You betcha. How many times have we heard, seen and experienced God working through bad things?

When I was 16 I started playing basketball and I loved it. Totally loved it. I worked hard and it paid off. I quickly made it to the starting string and continued improving. But God had other things in mind. He knew what was going through my mind and how basketball—sports--was shaping me and my plans for the future, and it seems He had something else in mind. So He sent 'bad things'. And those bad things saved me.

See, I ended up with Guillan Barre, which kills your nerve endings. When your nerve endings die, your muscles atrophy and when your muscles atrophy, you can't walk well. Have you ever tried playing basketball when what's left of your muscles don't get the message to move? It doesn't work.

While I watched my teammates and friends play ball, I grew closer to God. He made Himself real to me and I learned more of His nature and love for me. I didn't go into teaching like I was thinking, and it's a good thing since it would have driven me to sheer lunacy. I also didn't go into physical or occupational therapy like I was toying with, and that's good too since I never would have made it there either. Instead I went to Moody Bible Institute and took some great Bible classes and met my husband and here I am, doing what I do.

God used a bad thing in my life to bring about the big benefits of knowing Him better and directing my life.

When bad things are happening and it feels like we're being sent into captivity, let's look around for God. He likes to work through bad things for our benefit.

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Puddled Ducks

Cara Putnam has been in the author spotlight this last week and Carly Kendall is the winner of the Cara's new release A Promise Kept. Congratulations, Carly! And a big thank you to Cara! :-)
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Driving past an empty field one day I saw a pair of ducks floating in a puddle. I wanted to stop and tell them that there was a beautiful farm pond only half-a-mile away, but I realized the silliness of the thought even as I sped past.

I think I'm like those ducks--contentedly sitting in my muddy puddle, satisfied with so little when God has so much more for me. I sit and twiddle my toes in mud instead of moving to the place God wants me to be—a place of blessing and great riches. A place where God can use me.

Why do I do that? It's easier to stay in my cozy hole than it it to face the unknown. It's easier to sit in my puddle than to spread my wings and fly to a spot I've only heard is 'just over there'. It's easier to mind my own business than to possibly embarrass myself.

I cannot know the riches of His glory while sitting in my little mud puddle. I need to move to the pond God has for me in order to experience the surpassing greatness of His power. Father, open the eyes of my heart that I may know the hope of Your calling.

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened,
so that your may know what is the hope of His calling,
what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.”
Ephesians 1:18-19

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Hearing Range

This week Janet Dean has been with us here at Patterings and she was giving away her new release, Courting the Doctor's Daughter, and Renee is the winner! Congratulations, Renee! And thank you, Janet!!!

Coming up this week is Adding Zest's Grand Opening! It might even be tomorrow. Might.

Also, Lisa Lickel will be in the author spotlight, and she's giving away not just one book, but TWO!! Be sure to join us!

And now...
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Hearing Range

I just went out to call my son and as I stood at the edge of the deck I realized it was hopeless. He'd never hear me. He was inside the barn tinkering with the go-cart and it was running, causing a racket in there. Rather than calling him, and hollering for nothing, I simply came back inside. I'll call him later, when the noise stops.

I think God does the same thing with me. He may go to call me and see that I'm in a barn where it makes it harder for me to hear His call, but not impossible—He just has to yell louder. Other times He may find that not only am I in a barn, but that I also have lots of noise around me. I think those are the times He does something like I did. He waits until the noise stops.

Sometimes the noise goes on for too long and I miss what He was calling me for. Other times I turn off the noise in time to hear His call, but the best times of all is when I can easily hear Him. Sure, I can be in the yard or in the barn, but as long as my ear is always listening for Him I'll be able to be like young Samuel and run to Him and say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”

It's more than being within hearing range, it's listening for the call.

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Empty Words

The WINNER of Julie Lessman's book is Doreen! Thank you so much, Julie, for being with us this week! :) And don't forget, next week is Janet Dean, and I loved Janet's first book. I'm looking forward to Tuesday with her!
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Empty Words

I really didn't mean them as empty, but because I failed to back them up with action, they became empty. I said 'Yes, Lord' with mouth, thought 'I need to know for certain this is God's direction' and then did nothing other than lay out a plan. I completely stalled out.

THEN, when one of my near-and-dears asked me about it, I glibly said, 'No, I don't think I'm the one for the job.' And as soon as it was out of my mouth the conviction hit. There wasn't a rooster in sight, but I think I might've heard one crowing. Or maybe it was the birdie on my shoulder squawking. But I knew as soon as I said it that I needed to really rethink that position.

I realized that I had laid out a plan for determining whether it was God's direction or mine, and then promptly allowed everything else to crowd out the very part that would verify that it was God or me. How dumb is that?

The truth of the matter is that this thing that I was dithering about is not an easy task. It's something that could have a far reaching affect on my family and it'd be sooooo much easier for me to just stay happily in my cave than to follow through with my 'test the waters' plan and possibly see that it IS God's direction for me.

When I realized all this, and finally sat still long enough, and started praying through this...again...God gave me an opening to work with. It was like He was waiting for me to approach this His way, not mine. It's made me remember that doing the right thing in the wrong way, isn't good either.

It's about doing God's work God's way.
The One who calls you is faithful, and HE will do it. ~1 Thess. 5:24 (NIV)

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Running in Circles

...it's something we all do. Especially me.

This last week I ran in circles. Circles that I didn't have time for. Circles that made me dizzy and my knees knock. I spent the week thinking and praying. In that order. Big mistake.

This morning when I sat down for my Bible reading I turned to the next reference on my list (I'm reading through chronologically) while asking God to direct me. My mind was full of seeking God's will, and here's what I read:
Wait for the Lord;
be strong and let your heart take courage;
yes, wait for the Lord. ~Psalm 27:14

Did I mention that the circles I was running in terrifies me? When I read Psalm 27:14 I was struck all over again by it (this is a favorite verse of mine).
Wait.
Take courage.
Wait.
I'm not a patient person. I tend to leap before I look and then scream all the way down. I do NOT want to do that this time. So, once again, I followed my trail of verses on this topic. (Isn't God good!! He knew I needed to be directed to that verse and that wait/take courage topic today.)

I still don't know if I should leap, but that's not the issue any longer and I have peace. All the Psalms I read this morning were from the time when David was fleeing Saul. David knew he was God's chosen and anointed king, but he didn't rush and snatch the throne. He waited for God's timing and God taught him great things during those years. That's what I want. God's timing for doing God's work—whatever that work is.

As I continued to follow my trail I was directed to Psalm 25:3, but I ended up on verses 4-5. “Make me know Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all the day.”

I'm claiming those verses especially as I wait and seek (and take courage). But not just those. As I continued on with my reading schedule I was directed to Psalm 31. I tell ya, God is so good!

For You are my rock and my fortress; for Your name's sake You will lead me and guide me. ~Psalm 31:3

God WILL lead me. I have His word on that. I don't need to worry about it. I don't need to run in circles. For His name's sake He will lead me.
Thank You, Father God!

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Burn Up

The other day I entered the dining room and saw a paring knife sitting beside the four wick candle I've been burning this month. My darling husband had decided that the candle was burning its wicks too fast, leaving a whole lot of wax unused, so he helped it. He trimmed the wax from the top of the candle and dropped it down into the melted wax. He did that many times and even trimmed off the side to feed the wicks and keep them burning longer. His objectives? To enable us to see the flames and to keep the wicks burning long enough to burn up all the wax.

Our Heavenly Father has similar goals for our lives. He wants the flame of our life to be visible to those around us and He wants us to burn up for Him, not burn out.

Your are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; ~Matthew 5:14, 16

Originally, the whole purpose of candles was to illuminate the darkness. We're to be doing that, too, but we can't be effective if our flame is obscured by walls of unused wax. That's when the paring knife needs to come out to trim down the wax. Sure it changes the candle's appearance, many times leaving it much less appealing, but if the end goal is to illuminate the darkness, that's what needs to happen.

Too many times we're so concerned with having a visually appealing candle that we don't worry about how long the wicks last. If they get a little too long and start to smoke, we just trim the wick, without thinking about the burn time we're losing. God goes about it differently. He trims the wax and drops the shavings into the melted wax pool to raise the wax level, not worrying about the outward appearance. He wants the wick to burn all the wax.

But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. ~Philippians 2:17

I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls...
~2 Corinthians 12:15

Have you ever noticed that the unburned wax of the candle ends up being an empty shell that hides the flame? What's the whole point of the candle? The wax or the flame? If it's the wax, then we're right to worry about the shell that's left unburned. If it's the flame, then we need to allow the work of the paring knife and feed the wax to the wick, making sure the wax burns so it doesn't obstruct the light of the flame.

For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. ~Philippians 2:13

 

Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. ~Matthew 5:16

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The Harvest Call

The last couple weeks I've been thinking about service and God's will and now, thanks to Joanne and Monday Manna, God's call...which has brought me to this week's Word Filled Wednesday.



So where are you? (and where am I?) Are we praying for the Lord to send forth workers? Are we listening to His voice and His call? Are we saying 'Here I am! Send me!'? My prayers is that we are involved in three.

For links to more Word Filled Wednesdays
run to the 160 Acre Woods!

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Misplaced Talents

This week, Fiction Friday is at Cat's blog, A Work in Progress. Be sure to join us there for links to more fun fiction!
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Kelly jumped at the knock on her front door, her seam ripper jabbing into an already sore finger.

“Kelly? You in there?” The voice of her sister Laurie came through the screen.

“Yes, I’m in here, although I’d rather be somewhere else!”

“Sheesh! You’re in a lovely mood today. Kids been monsters?” Laurie had let herself in and made her way to the dining room where Kelly was working.

“No, the kids have been fine. In fact I haven’t seen much of them since they’ve been outside playing all morning.” Kelly picked up the seam ripper again and went back to work.

“What on earth are you doing?” Laurie bent over and studied the heap of fabric on Kelly’s lap. “How many times have you taken out that seam?”

“You really don’t want to know.” Disgust was evident in Kelly’s voice.

“You’re right, I don’t want to know.” Laurie eyed her sister and the clutter of sewing scraps and thread on the table in front of her. “Ok, let’s try this one. What are you doing?”

Kelly dropped the fabric onto her lap and gave Laurie a look that could have fried bologna. “Mortaring brick? Chopping down trees? Computer programming? What do you think I’m doing?”

The biting sarcasm made her sister laugh. “Well, that’s a relief! I thought you might be sewing.”

Kelly picked up the wad of fabric and her seam ripper once again. “I’m making a baby-doll quilt for Melissa’s birthday present.”

Laurie bit her lip, realizing it wasn’t the time to laugh. “How long have you been working on it?”

Kelly glared at her again. “All morning.” The seam ripper attacked the crooked stitches, jerking them out one at a time. “I can do this. It just takes me awhile.” Her voice rang with determination.

“Do you have to make the baby-doll quilt?” That earned her another glare so she tried a different tactic. “Are you throwing a party for her?”

Kelly sighed. “I don’t have time to plan a party this year, although I wanted to do a birthday tea party.”

“That would be so cool—a tea party for a bunch of 8-year-olds. Were you going to have them dress up and serve tea cakes on china and everything?” Laurie smiled, seeing her sister weaken.

“That was the plan, but now I just don’t have time. This silly little quilt is going to take up all my spare time.” The wistfulness in her voice was getting stronger.

“Kelly, why are knocking yourself out doing something you’re not good at and don’t enjoy, when you could simply buy a dolly quilt from Mrs. Cunningham, who could use the little extra money, and use the time to plan a tea party and make the tea cakes and a beautiful birthday cake? You’re so good at planning parties and get-togethers and making the food that goes with them. Everyone, even Melissa, loves your parties.”

Kelly once again dropped her sewing to her lap. “I wanted to give Melissa something that would last and a tea party doesn’t last; it’s over in two or three hours.”

“The party may be over that quickly, but the memories will last longer than that quilt you’re killing yourself over. Even without all the pictures you take of the parties and then put in a scrapbook!” Laurie spoke gently, understanding her sister’s heart.

“So, you think I’m wasting my time?”

“I think you’re wasting your talent.”

Kelly snorted in a very unladylike fashion. “Planning parties is a talent?”

“Yes, planning parties is a talent, a talent that not everyone has. Remember that party I planned for you two years ago?”

Kelly laughed at the memory of the horribly organized party her sister had surprised her with. Laurie had even made a birthday cake for her and it had been the ugliest cake anyone had ever seen, even though it had been baked and decorated with great love. “I’m beginning to think my idea of making a dolly quilt is about like you decorating a birthday cake—a very bad idea.”

“You’re a smart cookie, you know that?” Laurie hugged her sister. “Don’t waste your talents; focus on what you’re good at! Plan that tea party, bake all those little goodies and a hum-dinger of a birthday cake, and buy her a dolly quilt. Take lots of pictures and scrapbook them so she’ll remember forever; long after she outgrows playing with dolls. Do what you’re good at, Kelly, and use that skill for God.”
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Don't forget to join us at Cat's place for more Fiction Friday links!

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