Happy Holidays AND Merry Christmas ;)

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas! And a happy holiday season. I'll be back after the holidays with more posts, videos, encouraging messages and Get Real author interviews.

AND - to start the New Year off right - a fresh giveaway :)

Merry Christmas!

"God and sinners reconciled..."

Because Linus totally got it right...

Getting Real with author Stephanie Morrill

Thanks for coming by, Stephanie, to get real with us!

Here's what Stephanie had to say:

What does it say about me that my first thought when I hear the phrase “Get real” is that it’s being said sarcastically? Like if you say to your best friend, “Someday I want to be a novelist,” and she rolls her eyes and says, “Get real.”

But I think Get Real is the battle cry of this generation. We’re suspicious of anyone who seems to have it all together, and we question and wrestle with our information sources—from the nightly news to the Holy Bible—as we search for truth. In a world where much of what we see is fake, thanks to cosmetic surgery and Photoshop, we’ve become a people who are drawn to authenticity.

Stephanie Morrill is a twenty-something living in Overland Park, Kansas with her husband and two kids. Her only talents are reading, writing, and drinking coffee, so career options were somewhat limited. Fortunately, she discovered a passion for young adult novels and has been writing them ever since. Stephanie is the author of The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series and is currently working on other young adult projects. She enjoys encouraging and teaching teen writers and does so on her blog www.GoTeenWriters.com. To connect with Stephanie and read samples of her books, check out www.StephanieMorrill.com

Another good word from Ransomed Heart Ministries

Re-Creation
Toward the end of his days on earth, as the darkness of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday raced toward him, Jesus gave us this remarkable promise: In the re-creation of the world, when the Son of Man will rule gloriously, you who have followed me will also rule, starting with the twelve tribes of Israel. And not only you, but anyone who sacrifices home, family, fields—whatever—because of me will get it all back a hundred times over, not to mention the considerable bonus of eternal life. (Matthew 19:28–29 The Message)             Did you catch that? The re-creation of the world! The religious fog would have us believe that when we die we go to church forever, there to sing hymns for millennia. A horrible distortion, and not the future as Jesus understood it. He called the next chapter “the re-creation of the world,” sometimes translated as “the renewal of all things” (NIV, NRSV). A renewed heavens, a renewed earth. My friends, I hope you understand that we get the entire glorious kingdom back. Sunlight on water; songbirds in a forest; desert sands under moonlight; vineyards just before harvest—Jesus fully intends to restore the glorious world he gave us. Paradise lost; paradise regained. A hundred times over.             This was what was in his own thoughts when he said, as he passed the cup to his brothers in the upper room just hours before Gethsemane and the Gestapo, “I’ll not be drinking wine from this cup again until that new day when I’ll drink with you in the kingdom of my Father” (Matt. 26:29 The Message). Jesus knew as sure as he knew anything that a new day was coming and with it a glorious kingdom. And there he knew we would feast again—not merely sing—and raise our glasses, and he would break his fast. Food, drink, laughter, life. The joy set before him. Cana was just a foretaste. (Beautiful Outlaw, 246-247)

Noah built the ark for 100 years without rain...

Here's an encouraging video on the topic of Faith today from author/speaker Julie Gorman. Powerful and encouraging reminder of what this word means to us as believers. Made me cry! (happy tears, by the way)

Click here.

Lessons from Buddy the Elf

Buddy's reaction to the news that Santa is coming is priceless. Hilarious, as only Will F. can be. But there's a lesson here, and one we should really soak in this Christmas season.

Can we say that about Jesus?

"OH MY GOSH! Jesus is coming!! JESUS IS COMING!"

Have you ever felt that excited about the second coming? Guilty here. I haven't been until lately.

Or..."I know him!! I KNOW him!!!!"

Do you?

Honestly, for the first time in my entire Christian life, I feel a bit of that excitement toward Jesus. I was saved as a 7 year old child and rededicated as a teenager to "nail down my salvation" because of uncertainty. I'm 28 now, so that's a considerable number of years.

Yet, because of the storm I've been in and the trial I'm wearily and warily facing these days, I can fully say from the depths of my heart... "I KNOW Him."

Do you?

But I don't WANT to....

I had a recent conversation with a girl friend about forgiveness. Someone had offended her greatly, then she "ironically" (though this was clearly a God-thing) ended up drawing their name in a prayer card drawing at her church to have to pray for them for the week. She confessed that she couldn't. That she closed her eyes and tried and...nothing.

She said "now what?"

I thought about that for awhile. Forgiveness is hard, and messy. Not nearly as clear cut and simple as some like to think it is. We feel like forgiveness means letting the other person get away with their sin or offense. We feel like it means we surrender and give up and get "gipped".

Those are lies from hell, friend. Forgiveness sets US free. Keeps our communication open with the Holy Spirit. Forgiveness isn't "what you did was okay". It's "I'm turning you over to God to deal with".

And isn't that better anyway?

It is. But flesh and feelings get in the way and its impossible to do sometimes.

Good thing God specializes in the impossible ;)

So  my answer to her was simply "start small". God blesses obedience, that's truth. And He understands our hearts. That's also truth. So I told her to tell God her grievances against this person and why she felt so bitter toward them, and then to pray "God bless X" (person's name) Just that. Start from there.

That sounds like such a pitiful prayer. Like surely it couldn't even count. But sometimes the smallest gestures mean the most. If she could break through her wall and utter those three small words, big things could happen in her heart and even in the heart of the other person.

God only requires a mustard seed from us.

She's going to try. I can't wait to hear how it goes. I told her she didn't even have to mean it yet. Just pray it and do her part to be obedient. God tell us clearly in His word to love those who persecute us, to forgive so we can be forgiven. And that starts with prayer.

If you're struggling to forgive today, start small. Think mustard seed. Mutter those three words between clenched teeth  and with clenched fists, if you have to.

And watch how God can use it.

Spiritual stretch marks...

Mommies of the world know about stretch marks.

Whether you gained 5 lbs in your pregnancy or 65, odds are, you have a few. Me - I slathered up in cocoa butter daily during my pregnancy, and still escaped with a few battle scars, as we like to call them. (sounds more noble, doesn't it?) It's part of it. And more than worth the reward of mommyhood.

The other day, a dear friend told me she could see how much I'd grown lately spiritually and how it had encouraged her in her own walk. What a blessing! She said she was amazed at how far and fast I'd come. I blurted out "Girl, no kidding. I have spiritual stretch marks!"

It's true. Have you ever been there? In the position of learning a spiritual truth so quickly, so thoroughly, that you felt it was almost TOO fast? That you're hanging on to Jesus's hand and dragging your feet and yelling "WAAAIIIITTTTT!"

But His timing is perfect, so you might as well just "pick up your shoes", as I tell Little Miss when she's scuffing her feet on the floor, and keep up the pace. He's always on time, never late. I read in a devotional book recently "God's timing is perfect. Your timing is wrong."

Just as stretch marks from pregnancy leave behind a permanent reminder of that unique experience and time in our life, spiritual stretch marks serve to document the journey Jesus leads us on. The trial. The pain. The tears. The prayers. The hope. The darkness.

The victory.

Wear your battle scars proudly, friend.

And remember - Jesus has scars too. And by His stripes we are healed.

Breathe it in...

This is war...

This Scene We're Living in Is No Sitcom
We are now in the late stages of the long and vicious war against the human heart. I know-it sounds overly dramatic. I almost didn't use the term "war" at all, for fear of being dismissed at this point as one more in the group of "Chicken Littles," Christians who run around trying to get everybody worked up over some imaginary fear in order to advance their political or economic or theological cause. But I am not hawking fear at all; I am speaking honestly about the nature of what is unfolding around us . . . against us. And until we call the situation what it is, we will not know what to do about it. In fact, this is where many people feel abandoned or betrayed by God. They thought that becoming a Christian would somehow end their troubles, or at least reduce them considerably. No one ever told them they were being moved to the front lines, and they seem genuinely shocked at the fact that they've been shot at. Hello? That's what happens in war-you get shot at. Have you forgotten? We were born into a world at war. This scene we're living in is no sitcom; it's bloody battle. Haven't you noticed with what deadly accuracy the wound was given? Those blows you've taken- they were not random accidents at all. They hit dead center. On and on it goes. The wound is too well aimed and far too consistent to be accidental. It was an attempt to take you out; to cripple or destroy your strength and get you out of the action. Do you know why there's been such an assault? The Enemy fears you. You are dangerous big-time. If you ever really got your heart back, lived from it with courage, you would be a huge problem to him. You would do a lot of damage . . . on the side of good. Remember how valiant and effective God has been in the history of the world? You are a stem of that victorious stalk. (Wild at Heart , 85-87)

Christmas magic...

Last Thursday night, I got to do something I've never done before.

Caroling!
My four year old Little Miss, a handful of other kids, and about ten middle-aged adults (mostly women, and two men) donned coats, real candles, and a basket of peppermint goody giveaways and began ringing doorbells in one of the women's neighborhoods. The kids stood up front and belted out Jingle Bells, while ringing their own miniature bells they'd been given and waving their battery-operated fake candles, and brought Christmas joy like that area had never seen ;)

At first, it was awkward, but fun. We weren't a professional choir, but some of us (not me) sang better than others, and overall, it was really nice. The moms, dads, and children that answered the doors always grinned and clapped for us. The babies stared in wide-eyed wonder. And the dogs barreled out to sniff us before giving reluctant approval. But then something shifted.

Somewhere around the time the final strains of Jingle Bells and We Wish You a Merry Christmas floated away into the night, and the first notes of Silent Night were breathed into the air, magic took over.

Holy magic.

Christmas magic.

As the song drifted around us, it enveloped us all. Men, women, children. Parents holding their pajama-clad children leaned against the door frame of their home and closed their eyes, or silently mouthed the words along. Peace took over. Joy. Hope.

We weren't performing anymore, we were worshipping a tiny baby in a manger.

Have you experienced the wonder of Christmas yet this season? You don't have to look far to find it. The magic is in the air. All around you. Just stop, listen and breathe it in.

Breathe Christ in.

Merry Christmas, indeed.

Three Men Walk Into a Blog...

I never would have thought that one of my all time favorite go-to blogs for encouragement, spiritual growth and inspiration would be written by 3 middle aged men :)

But it's true.

And if you need a dose of encouragement, spiritual growth or inspiration (or just a really fun place to hang out!) then please check out the below link and visit authors Dan Walsh, Harry Krause and Jim Rubart for a bit. You won't be disappointed.

http://3menwalkintoablog.com/

So good it hurts...

This song usually made me stab the radio dial in my car so fast, I broke a nail. I wanted to get away from it, to escape it's beautiful, heart-wrenching, achingly honest truth. It made me nervous that the song and its lyrics was right - and I didn't want to think about such things when life was going well.

And now - I reach for the radio dial as fast as I can, once again.

To turn it up.

Spiritual brussell sprouts

Have you ever wondered if anything you do counts?

Church work. Ministry work. Gestures toward friends. Efforts toward family members. Blog posts. Facebook statuses. Tweets.

Prayer.

Does it matter? Count for anything?

Is any of it effective?

I've struggled with that lately as I've waited for answers to my prayers. Prayers for friends going through trials. Listened to them struggle and ask and grasp for an invisible God who they BELIEVE is there..."but"...

Always a but.

It's hard.

I wondered if my prayers (for myself and for others) were effective. How does intercessory prayer work? What's on the line? How much of it "counts" if the other person is a hardened wall? How much of my effort and time and prayer is effective if the other person's will is stuck? Does anything happen? Is Heaven moved?

Is the heart of God moved?

Too many questions,  not enough answers.

But a wise friend pointed out to me one answer that quieted my soul for a little while, and gave me a Restart.

She essentially said: If we stop thinking of prayer as being effective only when we get what we want, and start thinking of prayer as giving glory to God, then it's always effective. Since the Bible tells us to pray, then prayer is obedience--and obedience always gives God glory.

Giving God glory is effective. It matters. It count.

We just have to get past our own flesh and humanity to realize that some days, that's all we have--and that's ENOUGH.

That truth is sort of like spiritual brussell sprouts. Really good for us, but hard to swallow.

Have you had your greens today?

Back it up...

Do you remember at the start of this new blog of mine, we had a chance to Get Real with author Katie Ganshert? Well today I'm posting a link to HER blog, because her post is so timely for those of us in a storm.

http://www.katieganshert.com/blog

It's titled GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING.

I think you can already begin to see why this resonated with me. Why it's probably already resonating with you.

Please read her post and be encouraged today. And come back here and let me know that you were. :)

Writing in faith...

Write it down.

You'd think as an author, that would come naturally to me, but I think it doesn't just because I AM an author. I write so many other things, that at the end of the day, I'm spent and have no more time/energy/creative flow to devote to my own story.

But how backward is that? It should be the most important one of all. Sure, it doesn't have a pressing deadline and a fabulous editor in New York waiting for the finished product or the benefit of an advance check hanging on it...but it's MY story. My life. My heartbeat.

I need to write it down.

And you know what? So do you. Because I've realized it's one of the most important, effective tools (besides prayer, of course) in fighting against the enemy. When you pour your heart onto the page and document your journey, your storm, your trial - you're providing your testimony. Revelation 12:11. "And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony."

That's putting our testimony into the same, though rightfully second place, category as the BLOOD of CHRIST.

Wow.

Pretty powerful stuff (to be the understatement of the year)

When we provide our testimony, we get truth. We see the journey for what it is, and we get to remember and see PROOF of all the times and all the ways Jesus came through for us. The enemy can't poke us with lies or downplay God's power with thoughts like "well it wasn't that big of deal" or "you just overreacted" or "it would have worked out anyway" when the pages are soaked in tears and we clearly, vividly remember the pain of that entry. The enemy can't fill our heads with lies of "God doesn't care" or "God has forgotten you" when we see His fingerprints all over our stories. God gets the glory from our testimony.

Another benefit - when we record it all, we'll have the whole saga to share with others, to offer hope and encouragment for their own story. We won't forget those crucial key elements, however small, that kept us going each day. The blessings God used to remind us of His love. The power is often in the details and the details are sadly what we forget first.

So go back to the beginning and start documenting your storm. I'm going to do it to, because while I've been writing down pieces here and there, I don't have it all down yet. And I know that's a big part of this journey for me, a big piece in the puzzle of freedom. My prayer thoughout my trial has been that God would get the glory. What better way than this to start that process? Stepping out in faith that the story will end will.

This chapter might downright stink. But God isn't finished yet.

Write it down.

PS - the winners of the two Liz Johnson giveaway books are...eyeballucy and Laura Jackson! Congrats ladies, you're going to love her stories! I'll forward your email addresses to Liz and she'll be in touch. Thanks for entering!

Getting real with Amy Leigh Simpson

Today we're getting real with author Amy Leigh Simpson. She's a fantastic writer who is waiting for that first contract - and can't be far from it, since she's not only incredibly talented, she just landed agent Chip MacGregor. Score :)

Amy and I met at the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) conference last year, connected over the internet through blogs and Facebook during the following 11 months, and at this past ACFW conference in September a few weeks ago, realized how much our friendship really means to each other! She is a beautiful, sweet woman of God who can write, sing, and bonus - her husband looks a lot like Jude law. ha! I'm so glad to know her, and so blessed she contributed to my blog today. 

ABOUT AMY:

Amy Leigh Simpson is the completely exhausted mother of two of the most fearless, rambunctious, and adorable tow-headed toddler boys in the Midwest. She writes Romantic Suspense and loves to take readers on a spirited journey of finding grace and redemption through stories that are equally inspiring, nail-biting, and hilarious--and maybe a little saucy! Check out Amy's blog about life, lit, and the love of writing at http://writersbreakroom.blogspot.com/

Here's what Amy thinks about getting real....

Ever feel empty? Like you have nothing to give?

I’d like to offer a magic formula or maybe a pep-talk on how to juggle all the pieces of life without breaking a sweat; how to emerge victorious at the end of each day with a full dose of sanity. Unfortunately, as much as I’d like to hide behind some flowery words and a perfectly airbrushed smile, life is messy, and this mama is still trying to manage the clutter.

My life as a mom is fulfilling, and so very wonderful, but often my patience, my joy, my energy become dwindling resources—that gauge falling lower and lower until a desperate light flicks on and signals all the ways I am empty and in need of filling. The babies are up at 6 A.M., caffeine is flowing, I may have spent a few precious moments in the Word, and then countless transactions take and take and take until I am scraping the bottom, trying to be enough.

The problem is, I’m not enough. My intelligence, my rationale, my ability to love, any of my skills that I rely on to make it through the day fail me. Why? Am I not trying hard enough? Praying enough?

You may think you see people who look all put together and carefree. Shoot, I know people who think that about me! But let me just say—for the record—I’m not. And I know why.

There is a scripture in 2 Corinthians 4 that calls us jars of clay—which is a way of saying that I am merely a vessel. But why a jar? Why not a vault, a tank, or some bulletproof safe? A jar, especially one made of clay is fragile, weak—and much more vulnerable to shatter when its empty. Why can’t I be supermom—all brawn and steel and composure? Why must I be this needy and flimsy thing?

Because I need God! You need God. As much as we try, we are not self-sufficient. We were made for him—flaws, weaknesses, the whole dysfunctional kit and caboodle was designed to depend on God for EVERYTHING.

As much as you might try to carry it all, wear all those hats, be everything, you can’t. And this is not me telling you to quit trying—quit striving for greatness. But this is a wake-up call for those of you who are weary. There is rest. There is a fount that never runs dry.

John 4:14 says “but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

Are we all just full of ourselves? What are you filling your jar with—your efforts or the One thing that is always more than enough?

Even when you feel empty, if you tap into the right source, your jar will always be full.

So you see, there is a simple answer—seek Him. Let Him fill you up. There is no greater source. Not one.

THANK YOU, Amy!

We'd love to hear comments from you, dear Reader. Are you tired? Where do you fill up? Who can relate to this post today? (I'm raising my hand...)

It's been a long winter...

I watched The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe not too long ago on TV, and one line resonated with me so powerfully.

Mr. Tumnus: Here it's always winter, never Christmas. It's been a long winter.

The delivery of his line brought tears to my eyes because my soul was aching in agreement. There was a long pause between the two sentences in his line. And was confessed with such sorrow in his eyes. "It's been a long winter."

Being real with you, as this blog is all about - I'll confess. I'm there today. It's been a long winter in my storm.

If you can relate to this, I'll pray for you too. Just let me know in the comments.

Some days, I think it's okay to just hurt. To tell God "It's been a long winter." He knows the cries of our soul anyway. And He still promises Spring.

Right Beside You

I hope this ministers to you today...

I've had many "rather sink than swim" moments this week. If you can relate, please let the lyrics of this song soak in today. Jesus is right beside you. Me. Us.

You're not alone.

"Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

For such a time as this?

Sometimes the thought of "God's timing" brings more sinking-pit to your stomach than relief. Right? If we're honest with ourselves, I think that's pretty evident. I know it does to me more than it should. As humans we want what we want NOW - we're a microwave generation of Christians. We want the results and the fruit and the harvest TODAY.

Trusting God's timing is hard because, even though in our heads we know His timing is perfect, we don't always act out that belief. We don't show we believe it.

But do we want to be the kind of Christ follower who sticks with head knowledge and not heart trust?

I recently interviewed a politician for the local newspaper I freelance for. We had a great conversation and the Congressman made an excellent point that has resonated with me even still. I asked him when he first considered getting into politics, and what inspired him to take that leap. He said his friend suggested it to him long ago, but at the time, his children were young and he couldn't imagine living half the year in Baton Rouge and missing that time with his family. So even though the CALL felt right, he put it off because the TIMING wasn't right.

Now, he's in a position of even higher power than the position he'd have been in had he jumped into the political arena then. Now, he's in Washington! And while we were talking, the only thing that kept bouncing around my head was from the book of Esther. "For such a time as this."

Knowing he was a Christian, too, I pointed this out and he wholeheartedly agreed. His passions and beliefs and agendas fit what America needs NOW. What our state needs NOW. He is smack dab in the middle of God's timing in ways that are beyond understanding. It's perfect - because it's from God.

Maybe we should trust God's timing a little more, hmm?

Whatever storm you're in today, whatever trial you're facing - whether its born of sin and consequences, whether it's born of circumstances outside your control, whether it's born of another person, whether it's born of a faith journey/lesson from the Lord - REGARDLESS of whether you're a victim or an instigator in the storm...Romans 8:28 applies. Thank God!

"And we know that all things work together for good, to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

Trust His timing today, dear Reader.

He really does have this under control :)

Getting Real with Liz Johnson

Liz Johnson is a fellow author and not just that but a fellow LOVE INSPIRED author. And not only is Liz a talented writer and skilled in her marketing job, she's one of the most precious spirits I know. Her love for God and compassion for people has touched me more than she'll ever realize! 

And I'm not surprised Liz volunteered to do a giveaway on her post here today - just one more example of her sweet, generous heart. TWO books, for that matter! You won't want to miss leaving a comment below to sign up for her autographed freebies, one of which is a compilation that made the New York Times Bestselling list! 

GETTING REAL WITH AUTHOR LIZ JOHNSON:

Get real. Two short words. We learn how to read and write them by the first grade. We use them in everyday language and throw them around without much thought. But learning to live them out can take a lifetime.

The urban dictionary defines “get real” as a reality check. And that’s certainly a good start. But I think getting real goes deeper than that. It’s not a one-time check. It’s an on-going pursuit for authenticity. It’s tearing away the disguises that we so often wear. I suppose that leads to another question. Why do we wear masks and hide our true selves? Who among us hasn’t played a part, pretended to be someone richer, smarter, or deeper than who we really are?

I’m guilty of this more often than I’d like to admit. Like that time I bought an armload of clothes at the mall because my friends were, too, and I didn’t want them to think I couldn’t afford them. Even though I really couldn’t. I wanted to be accepted as part of their group, so I added to my credit card bill.

Or what about that time I joined in the gossip about someone I didn’t really know? I just wanted to be part of a group and feel like I belonged.

I was putting on a façade and hoping that the people around me would accept the pretense on display instead of actually accepting me. All to fit in. But don’t we already belong? When we’re adopted into God’s family, we’re children of God. “The Spirit himself bears witness to our spirit that we are God’s children.” (Romans 8:16). We belong to Him and with Him. He’s chosen us and drawn us into his family.

For me, getting real really means laying down the fear that I won’t be accepted and instead clinging to the truth that God has already accepted me and trusting that that’s all I need.

That’s an ongoing battle for me, and I need regular reminders that the things I know and don’t know, the things I do and don’t do, don’t define me. If that’s a continuous struggle for you, too, let’s encourage each other to look to the One whose approval and acceptance matters most.

www.lizjohnsonbooks.com
www.twitter.com/lizjohnsonbooks
www.facebook.com/lizjohnsonbooks

Here are the novels Liz is giving away! Leave a comment to enter! Drawing will be held later this week! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! 

I won't be posting on this blog again until next week, but coming up on Monday, don't miss the next installment of my Getting Real author series. You'll want to catch an amazing post by fellow author Liz Johnson and what getting real means to her. PLUS, she's doing a giveaway. Want to win a free book for yourself or for a Christmas gift? Just leave a comment next Monday to enter.  :)

I pray this Thanksgiving weekend is a time of refreshment, blessing and the peace of Jesus that passes all understanding. May you find a shelter from your storm this holiday.

PS - for some post Thanksgiving advice, visit me Saturday the 24th at http://www.girlsgodgoodlife.blogspot.com

I know pain is just a place...

Listen to the words of this video today. You might be as blown away as I was if you consider this as Jesus singing to you. WOW! What hope.

My favorite line in the lyrics?

I know pain is just a place
The will has been brokenDon't let the fear become the hate
Don't take the sadness to the grave
I know the fight is on the way
When the sides have been chosen

The sides have been chosen, dear Reader, and if you're a follower of Christ, you're on the winning team. No matter what happens this side of eternity. One day, the tears will be erased, and all will be right with the world - literally. The pain will be gone. The fears, vanished. The hopes, fulfilled.

Yes, there is a fight. Daily. A struggle to keep our heads above water and our souls out of the mire - but in Jesus, we have rest. Peace. Victory.

Jesus's got this, friend.

A portrait of appreciation

I work a part time job now outside of the home, and with this being the first time I had to work and Little Miss didn't have school (Thanksgiving break), there were some pretty rough tears from the poor sweetie who was confused about her routine being different, and missing her mommy (in advance) 

She hasn't done that since she was about 2. It made for a rough morning for her, myself, and my husband, who was her designated babysitter for the day. Hard for her to stop crying, hard for me to leave while she was crying, and hard for my husband not to take it personally that she was crying. Yet despite offers of donuts and other various no-fail-cheer-up-material, she still cried. HARD. Buckets, even. 

She was so focused on what she was losing, she couldn't see what was being offered her. 

She was so stuck on what she couldn't have, that she was blinded to the blessings in front of her. 

Yikes. Sound familiar? I know it struck home for me. 

How often do we get so caught up in the specifics of how God "isn't" answering our prayers, that we don't see what He IS doing in our lives? He's blessing our socks off, and we're stuck on the "but You didn't do X". 

We blame Him for failing us when He's standing there with a box of piping hot donuts and chocolate milk. We tell Him His provision and gifts aren't enough, yet He's offering us a gift of absolute epic value - Himself. His presence. His promises. His strength. His peace. His joy. HIM. His Son. His Holy Spirit. 

Wow.

My challenge for all of us today, no matter what storm we face, is that we Get Real with God. Take off the mask of indifference, shed the facade of apathy, and ACCEPT His gifts. With open arms and open hearts. 

Dry your tears, and eat a donut. 

Then bask in your Father's presence. He is Constant. Good. and Sovereign. 

Winner of launch giveaway & gratitude lessons

And the winner of the free book launch giveaway is.... AUDRA!

Congrats! Please email me ASAP at betsystamant@yahoo.com and I'll tell you what choice of books you have to choose from :)

Thanks to all who entered and be sure to check back here and on my other blog (www.betsy-ann.blogspot.com) for more giveaways from time to time!

I might not post every day this week because of the holiday approaching, but in honor of that, I'd like to encourage, as my four year old says, "an attitude of gratitude". It's easy to get bogged down in our storms. But counting your blessings isn't just a popular hymn. It's a real attitude that makes a real difference. Just like we talked the other week about the importance of getting our eyes off ourselves and our problems and onto someone else, it's critical we pause occasionally to be grateful.

Can't really think of a better week than this one to try it!  ;)

What are you thankful for despite your personal struggle/storm/trial right now? Let's not do the typical answers we all like to give, such as family, children, job, etc. Dig deep and get specific. We ARE thankful for our families - of course, I'm not saying we aren't or that isn't significant - but let's go beyond that. Don't give the easy answer :)

I think my answer is I'm grateful that through my storm, Jesus has met me in a way I've never known. If it hadn't been for this storm that put me on my knees in a new way, I'd have never met Jesus in this new way. And that makes the hurricane-strong winds worth it.

What are you thankful for?

Getting Real with author Cathy West

Rejection – The Unwanted Guest

Ever had somebody show up at your door uninvited?

Depending on who that person is, this can be kinda cool, or really awkward. When my kids were little, we lived in a constant state of toys on the floor, dishes in the sink, socks stuck to the curtains…you get the idea. If anybody stopped by, it was most likely another Mom with kids in tow and her shirt on backwards. It really didn’t matter what my house looked like. She was here to see me. To let our kids play with abandon, whilst we caught up over coffee. If my mother or somebody from church stopped by, now that was a different story. I’d spend a frantic few minutes rushing around, tidying and trying to remember if I brushed my hair that morning.

I am not a neat freak. Not by any stretch of the imagination. I don’t have one junk drawer. I have several. Yet it bothers me when people come to my house and things aren’t perfect. Why is that? Why do I prefer to put on the mask that says everything is perfect rather than telling it like it is?

Why? Because I want to be liked. I want to be accepted.

I avoid rejection at all costs.

But…you say…aren’t you a writer? Yes. Yes, I am. God does have a sense of humor.

Once I began the search for my birth mother, it didn’t take me long to figure out where all these weird and wonderful feelings came from. The minute I saw that space on my adoption papers where my name should have been -

Unbaptized  ****** 

The last name was my birth mother’s surname, but I knew it was not my own. Not the name she wanted me to have. They may as well have written bastard. It’s an ugly word, but it speaks to the depth of feelings that slammed me that day. Rejection moved in, shoved all logic aside, rearranged everything I knew about myself, settled in and waited for me to feed it.

And I did. For days.

I wrestled with that image of myself as a newborn, laying in a crib. Who held me? Who talked to me? Who fed me or comforted me when I cried? The nurses at the hospital, I suppose. I wonder what they thought of me, this tiny abandoned baby with no name. Unwanted. Unclaimed.

Someone who has never felt such soul-deep pain cannot possibly understand it. I still don’t fully understand those feelings. Why now, as an adult, mother, wife, did I suddenly want to curl up in a ball and cry myself to sleep? Why did I ache for that baby? It all turned out okay in the end. I was given two loving parents and a wonderful home. What did it matter how that happened?

It matters because it did happen. And I needed to acknowledge it.

If you want to overcome rejection, accept it.

There is nothing I can do to change the way I came into this world. I accept it. I see it now as part of God’s plan for my life. And I know that in the deep places, the recesses of my memory where that first small seed of rejection was planted and allowed to grow, something else was placed there.

Hope.

God knew who I would become. He knew who my parents would be. He turned a hopeless situation into victory. He created a family. He had a plan and it was good. I am forever grateful for His loving hand on my life.

And those feelings I dealt with all my life, and still deal with? Sure, they show up once in a while and I invite them in. Sure, it sucks to read a nasty review of my writing. It hurts to hear that a publisher doesn’t want my next project. It’s sad when a relationship crumbles, when people reject you and choose to walk away. But this is life. This is how we learn. This is how we grow. I process what I’m feeling, but then I move on to things that make me feel good. My family. My friends. Pictures like the one above.

When I find myself drawn back to that dark place, I back up. Fast. It doesn’t always work. Some days I give in, open the door and have a chat with my old friend. That unwanted guest. But we don’t have that much to talk about. He doesn’t stay long and I am glad. He doesn’t belong here anymore.

I am no longer threatened by rejection. I know it will show up again. And again. I don’t welcome it, but I refuse to run from it.

I have lived through it.

And I have survived.

What about you? Have you ever felt rejection so deep you thought you’d never get over it? 

Catherine West is an award-winning author who writes stories of hope and healing from her island home in Bermuda. Educated in Bermuda, England and Canada, Catherine holds a degree in English from the University of Toronto. When she’s not at the computer working on her next story, you can find her taking her Border Collie for long walks or tending to her roses and orchids. She and her husband have two college-aged children. Catherine is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America, and is represented by Rachelle Gardner of Books & Such Literary. Catherine loves to connect with her readers and can be reached at Catherine@catherinejwest.com

Website: http://www.catherinejwest.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatherineJWest

OakTara Website: http://www.oaktara.com

Blog: http://www.thisisablogaboutbooks.wordpress.com

GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15765320-hidden-in-the-heart---a-novel

                   http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10783349-yesterday-s-tomorrow

Amazon Links:

Yesterday’s Tomorrow – http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/160290278X?ie=UTF8&tag=httpwwwgoodco-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=160290278X&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2

Hidden in the Heart - http://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Heart-Catherine-West/dp/1602903298/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1348705936&sr=1-1&keywords=hidden+in+the+heart+catherine+west

Hidden in the Heart

 

Everything Claire wants seems to be beyond her reach…

After losing her mother to cancer and suffering a miscarriage soon after, Claire Ferguson numbs the pain with alcohol and pills, and wonders if her own life is worth living. Adopted at birth, Claire is convinced she has some unknown genetic flaw that may have been the cause of her miscarriage. She must find a way to deal with the guilt she harbors. But exoneration will come with a price. With her marriage in trouble and her father refusing to answer any questions about her adoption, Claire begins the search for her birth mother. For the first time in her life, she really wants to know where she came from. But what if the woman who gave her life doesn’t want to be found? For all

those who have loved, experienced loss, and lived life’s roller coaster.

How much do you pray?

How much do you pray?

And what do your prayers consist of?

There's a popular reminder of how to pray, called JOY - Jesus, Others, Yourself. It means praise Jesus first, then pray for others, then pray for your own needs. That's helpful, but I feel like it's missing a lot and is also putting a legalistic spin on our prayers. We're committing to some sort of formula and feeling trapped in a box instead of freely, boldly coming before the throne of God. (Hebrews 4:16) 

We need to praise God in our prayers, YES - but even more than that, I think it's important to first confess our sins. Psalm 66:18 says if we regard iniquity in our heart, the Lord won't hear us. So if there's anything going on in your life or heart that is sin and stands between you and God, confess. Repent. Let Jesus take care of it and then pray with open communication. Wow, what a blessing that we get that opportunity! :)

So confess. And praise. Remember, God wants us to seek Him as the giver more than His gifts. Because of our flesh it's easy to get caught up in assaulting the heavens with requests and not giving more than a passing moment to HIM. God is a jealous God. He yearns for us - we matter to Him. Just as women yearn for the affection of their husbands, just as parents enjoy the attention of their children, just as men crave acceptance and respect - God yearns for us. Our time. Affection. Energy. Heart. Soul. Thoughts. 

Don't deprive Him, dear reader. 

Confess. Praise. And make your petitions known. For yourself, for your family, for your friends. For the church prayer list. For whatever is on your heart. Wherever the Spirit prompts you. 

Sometimes, we don't know what to pray, and God understands that. In fact, He gets that so intimately He addressed it in His word. 

Check it out - Romans 8: 25-27 says, "But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God."

THANK GOD FOR THAT! Sincerely. Truly. What would we do without that intercession? Wow. 

How do you pray? How often? And what do you need to change in your prayer life? Remember, prayer is not this organized, specific thing that you're going to mess up. It's simply talking to Jesus like you would a friend. 

Except, this Friend knows your mind and heart. So you might as well get it all out anyway ;)

Frequently...

I only had two people answer my poll yesterday, but they both answered "frequently".

I'm not surprised.

But reader - I've been there. RECENTLY. And here's what I learned.

We either believe God's Word, or we don't. I pray you do, because it's Truth. (whether you believe it or not :;grin::) That said, if we believe God's Word, we have to believe all of it. And He says "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

This wasn't some pie in the sky sentiment. It was a promise. IS a promise.

Someone close to me and dear to me suffered a loss not too long ago that really made them question their faith. Question where God was. Question why God didn't intervene and comfort them in the moment or the moments after. In the pain. They felt alone. Abandoned.

But God was there.

Why He didn't let that person feel it? I don't know. But I firmly believe that in the times when God seems silent, He is at work. About to do something in our lives to blow us away.

I've experienced this personally in my life recently.

God is there. He is at work. He doesn't stop. He doesn't sleep. He doesn't get distracted or busy or look away for even a moment. HE DOESN'T ABANDON US.

Here's the thing -

We have to be open to hear Him speak. That comes essentially through His Word, the Bible, and often through other Christians. But He is also in nature. Creation. Beauty. He is the innocence of children. I don't know how many times my preschooler has said something off the wall to me that was straight from the Lord. He uses anyone and anything to speak to us. Pray He gives you eyes to see and ears to hear! This is crucial, friend. We have to want it.

He also promises us, along with His promise to never forsake us, that when we seek Him with all our hearts, we will find Him.

He didn't say WHEN. He didn't say right then. He didn't say it would feel or look like we expect it to. But He promised it would happen. That we could trust Him.

This song sort of sums it up. Please listen to the lyrics.

BARLOW GIRL:

My favorite line in the lyrics? "We cannot separate 'cause You're part of me and though You're invisible, trust the unseen."

Amen.

'm praying for you today.

A quick poll...

I'd love for you to answer the following question, and be real. If you need to do it anonymously, that's fine too!

I've felt abandoned by God:
A. Frequently
B. Once or twice
C. Never
D. Every day


No judging, no assuming, no condemnation. There will only be encouragement later. So please answer and answer honestly!

Let's get real...

Let's get real and encourage each other today.

When was the last time you received a Word or Truth from God that applied to your personal storm or trial? What did that Word look like? How did you get it? Share in the comment section and let's encourage each other :)

Was your Truth from reading your Bible, or hearing a sermon at church, or reading a devotional that applied directly to your situation? Was it verbal balm from a trusted friend? A counseling session that really hit home?  You know what I mean - those moments where you tear up or feel that pressure in your chest from the Holy Spirit, that moment where you think "YES, God. YES. That's exactly it."

As I told a friend just the other day - "It's those moments where you feel like God Himself has come down to your living room, tucked you in a comfy blanket and handed you a mug of hot cocoa."

I love that God can - and does - use anything to speak to His children and meet them where they are. Sometimes He uses the more obvious methods like what I listed above.

And sometimes He uses something really surprising or even flat out cool. A TV commercial. A Hallmark card. A fiction novel. Creation.

If you seek Him and His word, dear reader, you WILL find Him. The Bible promises us that.

Will you seek today?

The midnight hour...

I have a praise today. I'm sharing it here because I'm SO elated, and because I believe it's crucial to praise God in the middle of our storms, in the middle of the hurt. We're faithful to Him, and readers - He is SO SO faithful to us.

My husband, a fireman, finished paramedic school last year and passed his practicals with flying colors. He's so talented in his field, he has a true hero's heart. But the written test was kicking his tail. He learns best hands-on, not by studying or through books, and was never a great test taker in school. Text anxiety, and all that. So while he studied and tried his best and truly knew the material - he kept failing it. This test was heaping a lot of pressure and stress on him and it had been going on for a year. The test is actually done on a computer, a series of multiple choice questions phrased as trick questions such as "which of these is most correct") and time after time (five times to be exact) he would get bad news. 5 fails. And the blow was worse every time.

He only gets 6 tries to pass it before having to retake the entire year of school again.

Yesterday was his 6th try.

We waited for 24 hours for the results on pins and needles, stressed to the max. I don't know HOW many people were praying for him before, during and after, but it was a lot. The heavens were assaulted by hearts and prayers and tears yesterday, and this morning, when we checked for the results - still nothing was posted.

I took my little girl to preschool and was waivering before faith and despair, faith and despair. I didn't want the consequences that failing this last time would bring - not technically, physically or emotionally/mentally/spiritually for my husband or my family. I was desperate for God.

He passed.

Friend, God often comes through for us in the midnight hour. His timing is perfect, and His plan IS for our good and for His glory. And today He gets ALL the glory from this grateful heart of mine.

Thank you, Father God, Abba, Ezer, for your faithfulness. You are constant, you are real. You are here, and you hear. You are Lord. I love you.

If you're still waiting, if your clock is about to strike midnight, don't lose faith. Don't lose hope. Keep crying out to our Saviour. He is faithful. I pray your hope is renewed today. Don't give up. He doesn't give up on us.

Impossible to sing this without crying holy tears...

When to ask, and when to trust...

This is a hard line in the sand for me to determine when dealing with a storm or crisis in life - When to ask? And when to trust?

I think the answer really lies in fully embracing both.

We're supposed to trust. We're supposed to 100% believe that God's "got this". Whatever "it" might be. We're supposed to rest in His promises. Believe Him. Let Him be enough to get us through.

But the Bible also tells us to ask.

James 4:2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.

and

John 14:13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.

God wants us to call out to Him, to ask for His blessings, His interference, His divine power. He delights in that, I'm convinced of it. He delights in seeing our trust, our hope, our belief that He is all powerful, all knowing, all present. That He is compassionate and kind and gracious and merciful and loves bestowing gifts on His children. That is all true.

YET...at the same time... I can't help but feel deep in my spirit that the following is also truth.

"Lord, YOUR will."

Because I dare not ask for otherwise.

Think about it.

Do we really want anything outside of God's will? If God gave us the choice, what would you choose? For example - say there was a job you REALLY wanted. It was more money, it was better hours, it was, in your mind, ideal. You begged God to land you the job. You pleaded and prayed and knew it just had to be the best thing for everyone involved. How could it NOT be??

So what if God gave you the choice? Said "you know what? I didn't have this in mind for you. This was not on my original, perfect plan for you. But you want this, so if you're really sure, then take it. But it's not my will."

SCARY.

What would we choose? Would we trust God's perspective on the whole picture and trust His perfect will and plan? Or would we demand what we wanted in our limited scope and barrel forward and later pay the consequences?

Puts it all in a new perspective, doesn't it? A little sobering.

So while today the battle cry of my heart is still pleading with God to stop the current hurricane in my life...I'm praying for His will.

Because I dare not ask for otherwise.

What do you think?

Getting Real with Lisa Wingate

Lisa Wingate is one of my favorite authors, and also one of the sweetest women I know. She's not only a fabulously talented writer, but her heart for people and the Lord shines through in a beautiful, real way. 

When I asked Lisa what getting real meant for her today, here's what she said:

What does get real mean to me?

That's a tough question. Get real is one of those phrases we throw around so much it has lost its meaning.   So, what would it take to sort the words out and give them meaning again?  It's interesting to think about.

"Get" implies the attainment of something you don't already have. It signifies something that's going to happen, and something that will require movement or effort. "Real" implies a state of authenticity, where something is neither dressed up, nor disguised, nor altered from its original God-given state in any way.

So, for me, I think get real is perhaps a process requiring continual movement, effort, and perhaps continual reflection and analysis as to what real means for each of us. Getting real involves stripping away the disguises, and the masks, and the parts of our God-given selves we sometimes keep hidden because we are afraid people won't like those parts or won't approve. 

It's hard to get real in a culture where we're constantly sold unreal images of perfection.  Unreality is all around us -- it's on TV, it's in the magazines, it's on the Internet.  We're bombarded with it.  Unreality looks pretty good.  It's beautiful, it's thin, it's dressed in great clothes, it drives awesome cars.  Who wouldn't want to opt for that over getting real?

The problem is that all that unreality is an illusion.  It's human-made, and like many things human-made, it's not good for us.  All that sparkly unreality convinces us that real isn't good enough, because real isn't perfect.  But if God created the people we really are, then how can real be anything but perfect?  God doesn't make mistakes, right?

It's mind-bending to contemplate.  Ultimately, reality is a vulnerable state of being. It starts with being honest with yourself, and then with the world. It is a high aspiration, but a worthy one. Perhaps the worthiest aspiration of all, to finally become what we were created to be by the God who stitched us together thread by thread before we even knew ourselves.

Here's to getting real.  May we each find the path and have the courage to walk it.

Here are a few links to find me on social media of various types where some days reality is even stranger than fiction :-)

Website:  www.Lisawingate.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lisa-Wingate-Readers-Circle/132187520154779?fref=ts

Pinterest:  http://pinterest.com/lisawingatebook/

Thanks Lisa, for sharing your heart with us today! So powerful.