Those shots are blanks. They roar at us or past us, but they're blanks. God's mercies are new every morning and His faithfulness is above the heavens. I may feel wounded by the shots of those blanks, but I mustn't think they'll destroy me -- I must take those thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ.
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[cp_dropcaps]B[/cp_dropcaps]rowsing Twitter this morning, I noticed the hashtag #WhyIWrite and I decided to click on the link to read why others write. Not surprising, the answers or reasons are very similar—very familiar, albeit with an occasional condescending comment. It’s the occasional condescension that trips me up from time to time, but over time I’m learning to not take negative opinions so seriously (and I sure hope those twitter writers weren’t derailed by some of the rude comments). Insults, along with self-doubt, really have an effect on creativity, so it’s been instructive to me to weigh negative comments carefully, glean what…
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Keeping a journal is sure a marvelous way to watch for the Hand of the Lord in our lives. I say marvelous bcz of the many times I’ve seen the “rest of the story” or the completion of the story as I’ve gone back and reread passages written in days gone by. Had I not kept a note or had I not written a thought, a description of an event, a heartfelt prayer, or lamented a painful sorrow, I’d not have connected the beginning to the end of a trial — an answer to an ache or God’s plan for…
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[cp_dropcaps]S[/cp_dropcaps]o much on my mind lately that I’m overwhelmed if I indulge in thinking too long without something to specifically direct my thoughts. Were it not for prayer, singing and morning Bible study, I don’t know where I’d be. I know that’s an over used phrase — I don’t know where I’d be — but it’s over used bcz it’s true. More true than we might realize, I’m sure. If you’re a believer — redeemed by grace through faith in Jesus — think where you’d be without Christ. Think of where you’d be without that precious hope. Think of where…
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So the idea I wrote about yesterday… I implemented it and added one more thing to the idea: Journal it! Make an account of that next thing — every day — that one thing I added. Accountability is a powerful tool. So is follow-through and accomplishment! So I have this notebook and will just keep writing the day/date and the item and I’ll keep a running number — honestly, I truly hope to see 266 things added. Using this method *and* my This Beautiful Life planner journal, I will have a very tangible accountability tool/marker for this year. I marvel…
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Though I use it most every day, it’s only every now and then that I take note of the verse imprinted on the cover of the notebook I’m currently using: “May the Lord bless you and keep you, and give you peace.” from Numbers 6.24-26 I have dozens of such books since I began note-taking & journaling many years ago. I’ve made a concerted effort to revisit the books from time to time — not only to see where I’ve been compared to where I am today, but to see what the Lord was showing me in Scripture, sermons, notes,…
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I began working on my new This Beautiful Life journal/planner/notebook, and once again I’m stymied by my answers. I see the designated spaces for specific answers and am reticent to write mine down. My tendency is to be very tentative about what goals I write (thinking if I write it, I’ll be committed to doing it). One day I might only write a few goals — another day I might write down things that would take two lifetimes to accomplish. My abstract sequential / concrete random thinking style seems to prevent me from ever making a definitive list. Have you…
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Have you ever asked yourself what you’d do if you knew you were dying? Or, how would you live differently if you knew this year was your last year to live? I was talking with my friend on the phone this morning and as I was recounting different ongoing family situations, I related that even though we had a real “wake-up call” last summer, we haven’t changed things we do or don’t do all that much. As I hung up the phone, it occurred to me that I must not take, or respond to, wake up calls all that seriously. …
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As I mentioned in my previous post, one evening a month, I have the privilege of sharing a message with a “TitusTwo” group of women. As I wrote out that message on Communication, I was mindful that there was going to be a presentation by another sister at the meeting. My friend mentioned that her friend had written a book and would be sharing about it with the group. Thinking there really might not be time for me to share a message, I still wanted to be prepared — but looking back now, I’m not sure it was necessary for…