Lovin’ The Work by Bob Jones

 If I had a tattoo it would read, “John 17:4”.

What? Not John 3:16? Is there any other verse in the Gospel of John that makes for a better tat?

Yep.

“Father, I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.” John 17:4 (New American Standard Bible)

John 17:4 would be a conversation starter as  a tat. “What does that stand for?”

Better still, John 17:4 is my guiding light. When I breathe my last and taste heavenly air for the first time I want to be able to echo Jesus’ words.

The phrase from the real Lord’s Prayer is my creed. God gave me work to do. Do the work.

Writing is work. It’s awesome work.

Writing won’t make you a six or even a four-figure income (mine is still in the threes) but it is good work. It’s God’s work.

I like to think that perhaps the best way to love your neighbour is to do your work. And do it well.

Work is a way we partner with God. It’s our stewardship of talent, ability and passion to God’s glory. When I write I’m doing the work God gave me to do.

How about you?

What would you get as a tat to guide you into God’s best?

Bob is a recovering perfectionist, who collects Coca-Cola memorabilia and drinks Iced Tea. His office walls are adorned with his sons’ framed football jerseys, and his library shelves, with soul food. He writes to inspire people to be real, grow an authentic faith in Jesus, enjoy healthy relationships and discover their life purpose.

Follow his writing at Pointes Of View.

Our Daily Bread Revolt - Bruce Atchison

I actually had a friend once who said to her mother, "Then give them this," after she told her that there were starving people in India who would want that food. Though that mother had a point, her daughter's remark made her angry. In fact, she gave her daughter such a hard slap that it stung her cheek all the rest of that day.

We certainly can be picky about food, the Israelites especially so. Numbers 11:6 (KJV) shows how bored they became with God's provision of food. "But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes."

And why did God feed Israel this way? Deuteronomy 8:3 (KJV) explains why. "And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live."


But as sweet as manna tasted, the people wanted meat. Though God gave them quail to eat, he also did that to show them their error in complaining to him about the Manna. Numbers 11:20 (KJV) says that he wouldn't give them meat for five or ten days, "But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?"

Children are much like those Israelites. I remember the terrible food we had at Jericho Hill School for the Deaf and Blind. They fed us such child-unfriendly food as parsnips, squash, and the worst coleslaw I've ever eaten. The liver was dry and the canned peas were a disgusting shade of greenish-brown. We also tired of lumpy oatmeal porridge which we had to eat most mornings.



It's understandible how eating the same food day after week after month after year after decade can become tedious. Nevertheless, we ought never to grow tired of spiritual nourishment from the scriptures. I wrote a blog post recently about how immature Christians just want to work signs and wonders rather than delving deep into God's Word. I find that I never tire of studying the scriptures. It's my prayer that none of us will ever tire of it.

Fall Conference - Get to Know Our keynote Ann-Margret Hovsepian!

Did you miss the interview with keynote speaker Ann-Margret Hovsepian? Watch it here!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRlcIXGKDsw&feature=youtu.be

This year's conference in Wetaskiwin is going to be epic! Lots of time to interact and tap into your creative side. Check it out and register at:

https://inscribe.org/fall-conference/

Words for Life - Marnie Pohlmann

The bookstore smelled like a freshly opened package of paper with an undertone of cardboard boxes. I breathed deeply as much to enjoy the scent as to take in oxygen to calm my racing heart. I nervously made my way through the aisles, trying to look like I belonged, wishing I had my kids with me so I could hide behind them.

“May I help you find something?” The store owner smiled as she approached. I recognized her from the church I had started attending, but I didn’t think she knew me.

“Um, maybe, ah,” I stammered. I lowered my eyes and blurted, “I think I’m looking for a devotional to read every day.” Already berating myself for not really knowing what I wanted, or even what I needed to be looking for, I felt this Christian woman could see how far I had fallen away from my upbringing, from God.

“Well, we have a lot of daily devotionals. Do you know any of the authors who would interest you?”

“No,” I admitted. “But I don’t want anything too short or simple, like a Daily Bread. I want something deeper.” I rushed on, clarifying, “And I want Scripture, not just a preachy opinion about the Scripture.”

I could feel her eyes measuring me. “I think what you might be looking for is a Bible.”

“Oh, I have a Bible,” I assured her, thinking of the small, pink Bible with the tiny print I had bought as a teenager to carry in my school bag. I wondered if I could find it.

“Let me show you the one I am thinking of. It’s a Daily Walk Devotional Bible. There is a short piece explaining the section of Scripture that is read. It’s set up to read each day and go through the Bible in a year.”

The Bible was weighty in my hands. I flipped through, seeing the daily layout and the explanations that gave both educational information as well as application to life. It felt warm and comfortable.

“This is a New Living Bible, which is a paraphrase that is easier to read than an NIV or King James Bible.”

I nodded as though I understood what the differences could be. The cost was more than I wanted to spend, but I knew I would pay the price to be able to discover how to serve the God who gave forgiveness and healing.

This Bible walked me gently back to a committed relationship with God. So many verses were underlined and written into my journals as God’s Word spoke to my specific circumstances, sins, and fears. Sometimes I would compare the words to the King James Version I had grown up with. 

I still return to a Daily Devotional Bible whenever I feel lost or dry. I recommend this type of reading to anyone who wishes to develop a habit of daily Scripture reading or who wishes to spend time learning and listening to God, but I also caution them not to beat themselves up if they miss a day or three. Just start on the present date, not trying to "catch up." It's more important to absorb what is being read than to read it all in a certain time.

Over those years I claimed two verses for healing and for the hope of writing.

“For God has not given (me) the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”  

2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)

“That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all your wondrous works.”  

Psalm 26:7 (KJV)

Food For The Journey by Alan Anderson

The writing prompt for this month asks, “Which Scripture verses keep you nourished as you travel the writer’s path?” There are three verses of Scripture I’m including in this post. They speak to me as motivation for my writing. They humble me as they remind me of my vulnerability as a man and a writer.

Writing is Healing

Wow, to think God called me to write. That is still so hard to believe for me. When I write I always aim at showing hope to readers. As a Christian I live in hope. With this hope I look to a life beyond this one. I write as a man broken, sinful and weak yet also healed by the wounds of the Saviour. This is amazing. This is humbling.

But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,    and by his wounds we are healed (Isaiah 53:55).

I have to remember I am who I am because of Christ. To those who are not Christians this might sound like an odd statement. To those healed and forgiven of their sin, this is fundamental to one’s identity and life.

Writing is Nourishing Peace

(James 5: 13 – 16) Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. ¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

On my writing journey I need nourishment, to feed my soul. The Bible and Sunday liturgy at church provide food for my writing. It is food that humbles me. You see, as a Christian I am cognizant of my brokenness, my fragility as a person. This in turn helps shape my writing, or at least I hope it does.

Through my church community I am cared for, prayed for and find a welcome place. Both my wife and I find a sense of peace belonging to our church. Inner peace is a result of being part of community of God. I am mindful that in my writing I want to bring this sense of peace.

Writing feeds my emotional and spiritual health.

  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls (Matthew 11: 28-29).

If the fog of depression tries to claim me again I write down what is going on inside me. As I write in this context I pray the words will bring a sense of healing to me. I hope it is acceptable to say that I write for myself as well as readers.

The people who respond to my writing are those acquainted with grief, suffering and calamities that come with being human. They are the ones who also comment on my blog. It is like they hear my voice in the words I write. They know I am familiar with being “weary and burdened.” I also hope they find rest for their weary and burdened souls. This rest binds us together.

Blog: scarredjoy.wordpress.com

Taste and See ... by Jocelyn Faire

Would you like fries with that? (Yes)

 Would you like to supersize that? 
(No, well yes)

Taste and see that the Lord is good. Psalm 34:8 NIV

There have been seasons of life dubbed as being in the drive through blessing zone; the times when there were not enough minutes to start the day with that quality devotional. The days I was not even able to go to the bathroom alone without an urgent knock on the door ... please let me have 3 minutes of peace. The days my book shelf housed: Where does A Mother Go to Resign? (Barbara Johnson) Those are the spiritual fast food days when you must pick up inspiration via the drive through ... and I see my daughter in that era now. Those were the days that taught me the importance of continuous communication and prayers with my God. Taste and see that the Lord is abundantly good.

If only she'd eat ...

The voiced concern of a friend's husband as he wonders why his Life Partner of more than forty years cannot eat. The fifteen year cancer battle has ravaged every part of her body, and now she is succumbing. But she has rallied many times; this time I think she will not rally ... She has battled fiercely. She and I had a prayerful conversation two weeks earlier. She said to me, “I just want to go home.” I told her I could understand, she had fought the good fight. "No, I just want to go to my house, I don't like the food here." Truth be told, she hasn't eaten much in the last nine months. Not only has her appetite decreased, her ability to eat has diminished as a result of radiation to her jaw. The words of Second Corinthians come to mind, of outwardly wasting away while being renewed inwardly day by day. The prayers of many are sustaining her and her family. Meanwhile meals are being delivered. There is a lot to be said for food service to families sitting at hospital bedsides. This is part of the comfort care. Taste and see that the Lord is kind.

When I think of comfort foods, I think of tapioca pudding still warm, with added melting chocolate chips, topped with a scoop ofvanilla ice cream. Or a whole grain turkey craisin picnic wrap with dill pickles, plain potato chips and ice cold coke. Or a hearty warm vegetable soup with a thick slice of multigrain bread. Or cinnamon buns and coffee with a friend. It is not just the calories we ingest, it is the context to go along with it. 

Memories are linked to foods and meal times; specific foods recall certain events. Scriptures can also be event or genre specific. I love to page through my Bibles to find numerous hand-written dates/places/events associated with the times the words were most meaningful.

These are a few of my favourite comfort verses ...

*When in need of Hope: You'll know then that I am God. No one who hopes in me ever regrets it. (Isaiah 49:23 MSG) Beside that I have starred* and written I declare, June 2013 this is one of many verses about that hope in God that does not disappoint.

*When I'm feeling down and blue: I rally with Psalm 42:5 (NASB) ... Why are you in despair oh my soul, and why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise him for the help of His presence. This reminds me that while I may feel discouraged at the moment, the feeling will pass, because I will experience His presence again.

*When overwhelmed: Isaiah 41:13 springs to mind. For I am the Lord your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. With this verse, I have lifted my right hand both in my mind and in reality as I walked into high anxiety scenarios.

*When Life restructures: The walls you're rebuilding are never out of my sight. (Isaiah 49:16MSG) These verses inspired my daughter to create a wedding painting, these words were also used for that wedding in Dec 2016.

If only we would eat ... there are times in life, it seems we cannot eat, those are the times we need to help feed one another. Bring those meals ... a word of comfort alongside a great bowl of soup. Deliver pizza to a family if you can't make food. There are many ways to offer meaningful nourishment both scriptural and edible.

Taste and see that the Lord does Supersize!!  

Sometimes Jocelyn also blogs at: http://whoistalking.wordpress.com  This summer she will be planning nourishing scriptural and edible menus for numerous family events.

 Life and Faith canvas photo, taken at Providence College, artist unknown

My Head is dead, but yet I live by Eunice Matchett

A few days ago, while we were on a wee trip through British Colombia, hidden among all the natural beauty, an evergreen tree struggled to exist.  Or so I thought. On a closer look, although its crown was brown and brittle, the lower half of the tree had branches that were lush and green. As it disappeared behind us, my mind went on a side trip.

Wind, storms, or rockslides could have battered the tree when it was tiny, and to the naked eye, killed it. But… beneath the ground there must be a tenacious root system that refused to give up.

I thought of my own life and compared it to that two-toned evergreen. Storms that buffeted me, the fallen rocks on which I’ve stumbled, came and went again. In the midst of these trials I was driven to my knees. And it was on my knees when my root system grew, and new sprouts shot up.

Regardless of the mistakes I’ve made, God provided a fresh start just as he did for that tree. Consequences of the wrong directions I’ve taken throughout my life remain as the dead crown, reminding me of the destruction my unthought out actions caused, but they don’t hinder my growth.

On my own, I know I would have ended up like that dry, brittle, treetop, but thankfully, my existence does not depend on my own abilities. My heavenly father has established an unmovable root system within me, and although I stumble and fall, when I clue in again, a new sprout shoots upward making me stronger.  

Journey Food by Lynn Dove

I love this month's theme about which Scripture verses keep me nourished as a writer...

As with all Scripture that feeds my spirit as well as my writer's heart, it's hard to pinpoint just one verse that encapsulates the journey.  My blog, "Journey Thoughts" is all about my journeying with God through the mountain top and valley experiences of life.  A writer faces those same peaks and lows: the first time an article/book is published, or the first (of many) rejection letters.  My writing career has seen its share of highs and lows but through it all the Word of God is constant and unchanging!  It encourages me throughout my writing process and transforms my heart to not give up when I'm faced with those discouraging moments.

There are two passages of Scripture that I have displayed prominently as I write:

"In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”  Proverbs 16:9

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.  If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever.  Amen.” 1 Peter 4:10-11

The first passage my husband and I chose as our life verse when we got married 39 years ago on June 2nd.  Over those many years, there have been so many numerous twists and turns on life's journey together they are too numerous to recount.  Whatever road we walked, whether in plenty or in want, joy or in sorrow, sickness and in health, we learned to lean on and trust in God.  Sometimes we tried to navigate on our own strength, and that's when we had to reclaim Proverbs 16:9 and submit to God again to chart our course, because His way was (is) always the best way!

That verse has also guided my writing through these many years.  I did not ever intend to be a published author, but God had a different plan!  With three books published, and numerous articles and stories published in anthologies and magazines, I still am humbled and amazed by where God has taken me with my writing.  All Glory goes to Him!

The second verse in 1 Peter, is actually a call to minister, and the responsibility that involves.  To those of us who have been called by God to write, we are ministers of our words.  It is a privilege but also an awesome responsibility to write so others may be kingdom-affected.  I purposely changed the verse to make it even more applicable to me as a writer. 

"“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.  If anyone speaks (writes), they should do so as one who speaks (writes) the very words of God. If anyone serves (writes), they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things (writings) God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever.  Amen.” 

This keeps me very mindful that to write is a gift from God.  Writing should bring Him Glory, and I must write thoughtfully and carefully so that my words do not bring dishonour to Him.

Amen.

Lynn Dove is the award-winning author, of the YA “Wounded Trilogy”- a contemporary Christian fiction series with coming-of-age themes.  A wife, mom, grandmother, and free-lance writer with articles published in several magazines and anthologies including Chicken Soup for the Soul books, her blog, “Journey Thoughts” is a Canadian Christian Writing Award winner.  Readers may connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and at lynndove.com 

The Writer’s Bread of Life by Nina Faye Morey

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life.

Whoever comes to me will never go hungry,

and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

~ John 6:35 NIV

The Word of God nourishes and supports me so that I am able to remain faithful, focused, and fruitful on my writing journey. I look to God’s Word for:

Inspiration

My heart is stirred by a noble theme

as I recite my verses for the king;

my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.

~ Psalm 45:1

Scripture is a great source of inspiration for my writing—both fiction and nonfiction. I often draw on Jesus’s parables for short story ideas, and I regularly employ His technique of using everyday experiences to illustrate my messages. The themes and plots Jesus employed in His parables could certainly form the heart of many insightful, present-day novels. For instance, the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15: 11-32) provides the essential plot for a coming-of-age story. The Book of Revelation formed the foundation of possibly the best-selling Christian fiction of all time, the Left Behind series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. The Saviour’s Second Coming, the Pretribulation Rapture, and the End Times all served as the backbone on which they built their plots. Many of the themes, ideas, and characters contained in the Bible provide wonderful sources of inspiration for powerful and profound stories.

Guidance

Your word is a lamp for my feet,

a light on my path.

~ Psalm 119:105

There are times in the middle of a piece when I’ve lost my sense of direction and feel uncertain about the path I’m taking. No matter how lost I feel, God’s Word always points me in the right direction. It shines a light before me, so I don’t stumble down a treacherous path and fall in the darkness. There are also times when Scripture counsels me on how to deal with those cynical critics who make disparaging comments about the references to Christian faith in my writing (1 Peter 3:15).

Reassurance

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible,

but with God all things are possible.”

~ Matthew 19:26

Whenever I’m plagued by self-doubts, this verse bolsters my spirits. My attempts to write may be going nowhere and success might seem beyond my reach, but I know I can rely on God’s help to do what appears impossible. I may be an imperfect vessel, but His Light will shine through the cracks (2 Corinthians 4:7). Another Bible verse that helps me persevere when I encounter those inevitable potholes on my writing path is Philippians 4:13: “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.”

Affirmation

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm.

Let nothing move you. Always give yourself fully to

the work of the Lord, because you know that

your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

~ 1Corinthians 15:58

It is easy to get discouraged when I experience rejection after rejection. But if I wish to serve the Lord and truly believe in what I’m doing, it’s much easier to maintain my resolve. As a Christian writer, I believe that God has blessed me with this gift and called me to create (Ephesians 2:10). He plans for me to prosper, giving me both hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). While those who consider themselves worldly give me cold shoulder, I must remain firmly committed to my purpose (Proverbs 16:3). Since the Lord desires that I serve Him through my writing, I must put on His armour of light so that it may shine within me—and through me light the darkness of the world (Romans 13:12).

These are just a few of the Scriptures that sustain me as I pursue my writing path. What verses provide nourishment for your writing journey?

Photo Credits: Pixabay

My All Time Favourite Writing Verses - Tracy Krauss

Many of the verses shared so far are also ones that I have found inspiring, encouraging or motivational over my years of writing.

Karma Pratt shared Galatians 6: 4- 5 with me a few years ago and I keep it on my bulletin board because it reminds me to write what God wants me to write - not what someone else says I should - and to do it with all my heart, soul and strength. (Check Karma's post this month for more.) 
Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life. (The Message)

I have long appreciated Habakkuk 2: 1 - 3 for its admonition to write what God gives, committing the result to Him, and Sandi Somers mentioned this in her first post this month.
I will stand on my guard post
            And station myself on the rampart;
            And I will keep watch to see what He will speak to me,
            And how I may reply when I am reproved.
  Then the LORD answered me and said,
            “Record the vision
            And inscribe it on tablets,
            That the one who reads it may run.
“For the vision is yet for the appointed time;
            It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail.
            Though it tarries, wait for it;
            For it will certainly come, it will not delay. (NIV)

InScribe's key verse for the year of 2018 fits really well here, too: Isaiah 54:2 says, "Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes." (NIV)
For me, this speaks about stepping out of my comfort zone when it comes to my writing. It also speaks to us as an organization - to expand our metaphorical territory, possessing the good inheritance God has given us as writers of Christian faith.

Our theme verse for this year's Fall Conference is also a wonderful encouragement to write for God's glory. Psalm 45:1 says, My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer. (NIV) May we all be inspired this year to be 'skillful writers' as we present our 'verses' to the King of Kings!

Finally, I end with perhaps my all time personal favourite verses which I try to apply to my writing life, and often use as a prayer. They are actually two separate verses from Psalm 90 - (verse 12 and verse 17) which when taken together, motivate me to give the best of my time to what I believe God has called me to do and ask for God's blessing on my endeavours.
Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. (v12)
May the favour of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands. (NIV)

Tracy Krauss writes from her home in northern BC. For better or worse, she relentlessly writes what she believes God is calling her to write. Visit her website for more: tracykrauss.com  - fiction on the edge without crossing the line - 

My Scripture Verses for Writers - Ruth L. Snyder

This month we have been asked to share some verses that keep us fuelled for our writing journey. Most of these memes were created using the Wordswag app. A couple of the memes I created by hand.

Although writing is a calling, and often a gift, it takes work to become a skillful writer. I want to continue to fan my gift of writing into a flame that provides the warmth of encouragement, the light of truth, and even the heat of correction. I need to be sensitive to God's leading to know what He wants me to share with my readers.

Last year during our InScribe Fall Conference, Connie Inglis urged us to not only be aware of the spiritual element of writing, but to also start our writing times with prayer. This is an example of what I often pray.

Not all writing days go well. I will choose to give thanks when the words just don't flow. I will choose to give thanks when the needs of my family crowd out my writing time. I will choose to give thanks when my computer crashes.

As I write, I need to ask God for wisdom in discerning the truth. Sharing God's truth in a way that draws the reader in and makes them hungry for more is a challenge. 

I'm grateful that I don't need to live or write in my own strength. God wants me to rely on Him and is ready to help. Often my biggest struggle is giving up control and resting in my Heavenly Father.

It is natural to get discouraged when I don't see success in my writing journey. We all benefit when we help others by giving feedback, writing reviews, and celebrating book launches. When I focus on helping others, I often find that God blesses my writing as well.

Every day I need to make the choice to abide in Jesus. I need to talk with Him throughout the day. When His will becomes my will, I will want what He wants and it will be done.

How do these verses speak to you? Feel free to share in the comments.

Ruth L. Snyder squeezes writing in between caring for her husband and children, and teaching piano lessons. She is also enjoying sharing adventures with her first grandson.

Nourishing Scripture Verses - Wendy L. Macdonald

Which Scripture Verses Nourish You Best?

The question of which Scripture verses keep me nourished as I travel the writer's path stumped me at first because I’m nourished by a new one each morning. Now, before I explain how that happens, I need to warn you not to be impressed I’m one of those people who gets up early and reads her Bible every day.You see, I read the Word each morning while holding a hot mug of coffee (with the works) and while leaning against a hot water bottle (to keep my osteoarthritis quiet while I read to my heart’s content).

It’s not a good work’s thing—it’s a joy thing because I—capital L—Love my alone time in the Word—with the Word.

Drinking deeply from the Scriptures is one of the ways God healed me of eating disorders many years ago. I used to live a pretty crazy life before I understood:

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;

 but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 

2 Timothy 1:7 KJV   

That was the first nourishing verse I made note of during my recovery journey. And since then, I’ve feasted on a hearty fare of His words for most of the last thirty-five years. I’ve also continued to journal and jot down any verses the Holy Spirit nudged me to pay attention to.

A couple of years ago, I decided to share my verse of the day on my Social Media sites. Every day from Monday to Saturday, I schedule a post on my author Facebook page. Each post has a nature picture I’ve taken, a Scripture of the day I’ve chosen, and a short poem I’ve written that ties the photograph and Bible verse together.

Even if I think a post won’t be popular, I still share it because my words are from-the-heart-honest. I share out of obedience rather than for the pursuit of more followers. I wouldn’t enjoy pretending; but I do enjoy sharing how God is tending to my heart.

Now I’d like to share what my nourishing verse of the day was at the time I wrote the first draft of this post:

You are my refuge and my shield;

 I have put my hope in your word.

 Psalm 119:114 NIV

And here’s the tanka poem I wrote to go with it:

raindrops on roses

my garden drinks morning rain

I savour God’s Word

as I read pages of hope

finding refuge in each line.

~ wlm 

I’m nosey-to-know if you enjoy a daily dose of God’s Word.

Word Blessings ~ Wendy Mac 

Wendy L. Macdonald is an inspirational blogger and podcaster who loves to photograph nature on Vancouver Island. Her byline is: “My faith is not shallow because I’ve been rescued from the deep.” Her main website is wendylmacdonald.com where she enjoys interacting with readers.