Patience

I am learning a lesson about patience, but I wish it were over now! I guess that's why I need to learn it. We wanted to buy a new house, but due to a complicated financial situation, we must wait. We have both gone for interviews for new jobs, but we must wait to hear the answers.

When I found out about having to wait to make an offer on the house, I was so disappointed that I cried myself to sleep. We live in a house that's way too small for us. Stuff is junked wherever I can find room. I want to move to a bigger house so that we have air to breathe and room to stretch.

I was sitting in my tiny kitchen a few mornings ago, thinking about our situation, and feeling sorry for myself. Suddenly, I heard that still, small voice inside my heart. I listened.

It seems that the house we are in was picked out especially for us for just the right time in our lives. I remembered that when we found it, there were no better options on the market and we were in a crunch situation. God knew what He was doing and He provided this place for us for this time.

Usually, I don't have much tolerance for things that don't go my way or that I can't understand. That's a human failing. Most of what God does in my life requires me to have faith beyond my ability. That's why He says in His Word that we should wait on Him and fear not. He says that His grace is sufficient for us. In situations like these, I rely on His grace so much that I know it has to be neverending. His grace allows me to calm down and think things through.

I believe God knows what He's doing and that He will not let us drop from his hands. His ways are nothing like this world we live in, where a simple mistake is cause for harsh retibution and ridicule. God's grace allows us to stumble again and again and to get back up and try until we finally make it and see that He has been standing there cheering us on the whole time.

I hope to have a good ending for this house and job episode in our lives. God told me to be patient, but I know He has good things in store. And when they have come about, I will be faithful to write them down and share the joys of His love with everyone.

A New Twist

I have started a new type of manuscript today. I usually write for young adults and children and today I have begun a new manuscript for women. I am a 'flowery' type of writer so it is necessary for me to edit out all the extra description when I write for children so that they can understand it more clearly. Writing for women is different in that lots of description and extra detail is a good thing. So today I have started a new project to go along with the others already on my plate. I know of an author who can put out 400 page novels in two months, though, so my goal is to be able to do that one day too. I did write my 30,000 word (about 125 pages) young adult novel in two months and it took another month to edit it.

There is so much great information on the internet about writing. Today I want to share two sites that have provided me with the training and inspiration I needed to continue writing even when I felt like quitting. I have provided links to both sites in my Useful Links section below and I think they're worth taking a look at. The Institute of Children's Literature takes you from beginner to trained writer (and even possibly published writer) by the end of the course. American Christian Fiction Writers is mainly for Christian writers who write fiction for adults or older teens. Both are great places to learn.


Bible Verse and Thoughts for Today:


For the next week I am going to share my thoughts in little bites on:
Matthew 25

In this chapter, Jesus is talking to His disciples and shares several parables. They include the parable of the ten virgins, the talents, and the difference between the sheep and the goats. I believe that all of these examples are about Christians or those who profess to follow Jesus.

The five wise virgins represent Christians who keep their love for God and for others (oil) until the very end. The five foolish virgins are the Christians who go about their daily lives content that they will be saved but who have no more faith in Him and who do not show His love to others on this earth. The wise virgins are those who remember to deliberately love others and God throughout their lives. They are pleasing to God and will spend eternity with Him. The ones who ran out of oil and lived their lives selfishly are disappointing to God and will not share with Him in eternity when the time comes.

I do believe that God takes it seriously the way we live our lives. Our small decisions matter, especially when dealing with other people. God loves His children, but He expects them to behave in ways that make others want to know Him too.

I have heard many stories from non-Christians about the rudeness and self-righteousness of Christians being the reason they don't care to know Christ. That is truly sad. Especially since Jesus says in John 13:34-35 that all men will know His disciples by their love for one another. And I do believe He means it when he says in Mathew 5:44, "But I tell you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you."




Note: I am not a theologian or a licensed minister (although I did graduate from an unaccredited nine-month Bible college.) The things I write about the Bible and Christian living are my opinion alone. If you read them and find an error please leave a comment. I share these things because I believe them to be true. I want others to be inspired to live for Christ as I am when I pray and study His Word.

It Is a New Day!

Today I am celebrating the first post to my new blog! I am excited because this is the next step for me toward becoming a professional writer.

This afternoon things were not going well for me. I learned a valuable lesson though. From now on, when I have edited and rewritten a project for the umpteenth time in a row, I am going to have faith in the ability God gave me and stop editing. I am going to submit my project, whether it be a contest entry or submission to a editor, when I believe I have done all to make it as good as I know how. That way, I cannot use editing as an excuse for not submitting.

I am also going to remember that my family is not my sounding board for all my projects. I drove my poor family crazy today asking for advice and opinions about my contest entry.

I have a lot of wonderful information to share about the craft of writing and as I learn more I will post it here in an effort to help others learn as well. I hope to include a Bible verse and my short thoughts on it every other day. I look forward to hearing what others have to say about the verses and thoughts on writing also. Please leave me a message when you're done reading it.


Bible Verse Thoughts for Today:

Lamentations 3:22-23 "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is [His] faithfulness."

It is true. Every morning, His compassion renews for us - just like a father for his child. That's how God sees us - as His little children, no matter how old we are or what we have done.

Just as we would not cast away a child who forgot to make his bed or who had a temper tantrum and broke a favored glass bowl - so God does not cast us away when we make mistakes. He remembers His love for us everyday. Not one of us is left out - no matter what we have done in the past. Every day is new. The slate is wiped clean. It is a great day to start fresh in life! Have hope for the future and place your trust in God.