Book of a Lifetime ~ Valerie Ronald

 

I remember the smell and feel of the new school scribbler on the desk in my childhood bedroom. Within its blue cover, blank pages waited to receive my first attempt at writing a book. I was eight years old. Now that I could read and print, I was eager to record the story swirling around in my head. Determined to fill the notebook, I laboured with my limited vocabulary to describe scenes of a log cabin and the family living in it, especially a girl just my age. My stubby pencil hardly kept up with her adventures pouring out of my mind. The notebook was never filled as my focus moved on to some other childhood interest, but I remember the excitement of creating a whole world from my imagination. 

Throughout my school years and post secondary education in journalism, writing was my passion. I planned to make it my career and hoped someday to publish a book. I worked for a few years in my chosen field but too soon marriage and a growing family took over. I barely had time or energy to journal occasionally, never mind write a book.

Fast forward fifty years and finally the dream is becoming a reality. My first book will soon be launched. Each Shining Moment is a devotional compilation of my many moments of lingering in God’s light. They comprise a lifetime of experiences and lessons gleaned from my walk with God and time in His Word. But it is not the book I thought I would write when I first dreamed of being published so many years ago. I imagined a work of fiction with exciting characters, vivid settings, and a riveting plot. God was not included in the story then.

It wasn’t until life became hard that I knew I needed to include God. I struggled in a painful marriage, raising my children alone while my husband pursued his own adventures, eventually abandoning his family. Then came a time of clinging to God through the deep valley of a cancer diagnosis and an uncertain future. I am so thankful God renewed my health and brought me to a place of peace and blessing, giving me an opportunity to finally write a book.

Now I realize that the book I was meant to write needed to rise from the ashes of adversity so others could hopefully identify and learn from what God taught me. Looking back over the deep truths God instilled in me in those hard places, I see His perfect timing and wisdom in having me wait until my senior years to write this book.

It is not about me. It is all about Him. 

"Take words with you and return to the Lord. Say to him: Forgive all our sins and receive us graciously, that we may offer the fruit of our lips."  Hosea 14:2 NIV
 

 Valerie Ronald writes from an old roll top desk in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, with her tortoiseshell cat for a muse. A graduate of Langara College School of Journalism, she writes devotionals, fiction and inspirational prose. Her purpose in writing is to encourage others to grow in their spiritual walk. 

The Power of Words by Carol Harrison

 
We know the power of words. They can encourage or defeat us; tear down or build up. My writing journey towards my first book includes both.

As a child and teen, I enjoyed reading and writing but never thought beyond short stories, paragraphs, and school reports. I enjoyed the research and creativity. In grade 12, the teacher asked us to write a short story. I wrote one called, “The Rebel” and worked hard on edits and more edits. I typed it out and handed it in, pleased with the result. My paper came back with very few red marks on it and a very good mark. Yet the teacher had written one sentence at the bottom, “unrealistic point of view.” That one comment negated the great mark on the front of the paper, at least in my mind.

The next year in first year English at university, the first report I handed in came back with a failing grade. I made arrangements to chat with the professor and find out what I did wrong and how I could improve.

His answer, “You’re in university. You should know!”

Those two incidents made me believe I couldn’t write. I decided to stuff my love of writing deep down inside and tell no one about it. I’d hand in assignments done to the best of my ability and that’s it. I didn’t even want to journal. But I did continue to read and enjoy other peoples’ writing.

Decades later, my husband, Brian, told me, “You should write Amee’s story.”

My response came quick and firm, “I can’t write!”

He continued to ask, nag, cajole. The word I used to describe his encouragement depended on how I felt at that moment. I kept insisting I couldn’t write. I didn’t know how. I’d never told him why I believed that. He didn’t believe in my lack of ability and continued to try and encourage me.

 
More time passed and I gave in and began but deleted just as many times. Then Amee began begging me to write her story so people would understand about her and that God works in our lives. Now I had two people encouraging me to write.

 
I began to sort through reports and daytimers and any place I had information on the journey we’d been on. I researched and reminisced. I organized chronologically. Then I began to write a memoir once again. I got bogged down and discouraged.

 
My friend told me about a one-day writers’ conference in Saskatoon. My response, “It wouldn’t be for me. I’m not a writer.”

Her reply, “It says it’s for everyone.”

With her encouragement and Brian’s as well, I moved outside my comfort zone and went. That day I learned lots from the presenters and met so many wonderful people. Encouragers. Presenters. Published authors. I heard about a monthly meeting of Christian writers in the city and finally became brave enough to attend a meeting. Eventually I allowed myself to be vulnerable and read what I had begun. I asked for help because I felt stuck.

 
A published author who attended asked if I really wanted an honest critique. I agreed I needed that. She said, “If this is to go beyond family, cut this and this and start here. Then she walked away.

 
On the way home, after fussing a bit about her answer, I decided to start a new word document and begin where she suggested. If I didn’t like it, I could revert to my original draft. It worked. I became unstuck and the words began to flow. Finally, I had a finished manuscript ready for multiple rounds of edits.

My first book, Amee’s Story was published in January of 2010. God has used it to touch many people over the years. The writing continued since then as well. It felt like floodgates had been opened. I’m grateful for the writers of InScribe who have helped and encouraged me in my journey and shown me the power of encouraging words.

Carol Harrison has written a variety of things since publishing that first book in 2010 from her home in Saskatoon. She appreciates learning first hand the power of words and welcomes the encouraging ones to offset those we find ourselves believing that are discouraging.

First Book? by Lorilee Guenter

 

This month we were asked to consider our first book. The book that I am stalling on sending to an editor immediately came to mind. I have received feedback on it, and I've almost finished reworking the awkward sections. I have read it aloud to myself so I could identify jarring sentences and disjointed thoughts. But then I stopped mere chapters before I finished this revision. In doing so, I have a reason that keeps me from contacting an editor. The novel is not finished.

The more I thought about the question, the more I found myself reconsidering what a first book might be. Indeed there are other "books." None of them are cohesive enough to continue revising, for now. I may return to the ideas and characters at some time in the future. It would require a major rewrite to get them into a polished form. But they are still books, hidden on my shelf. They have structure and character.

I contemplate further and remember my first time participating in NaNoWriMo (national novel writing month). It was November 2014 . I wrote 50,000 words as I followed a main character. Is it a book when the best next step is to chop it into the start of a few short stories? Maybe. Would I want anyone to read it in its current form? Absolutely not! Do I want to reread it for any gems hidden inside? Not at this time.

Then I considered the novels I have in various stages of completion, the reflections I have been encouraged to gather into a book and various short stories hidden on my computer (or on scraps of paper) one of them must be the first book. Then I remembered I started writing an outline for a mystery near the end of grade 8. I was making notes on setting and character. I did not have or take opportunity to put flesh on the story. We moved. It got stored with school papers and other things we didn't have room for in our much smaller home. Mice moved into the storage container, and my story became material for a mouse nest. Perhaps it is for the best. I've learned a lot about crafting a story in the decades since then.

So far my first book is unpublished. If these early attempts count, my first book will never be published. However, I may yet publish something. It might be a novel, or it might be one of the collections I've been encouraged to consider. In the meantime I'll keep writing. I have to. It is one of the ways I process everything I am currently learning. It is one of the ways I process my place in God's larger story. While I may not know what my first book is, there is no uncertainty about God's story.

Lorilee Guenter enjoys gardening, reading and more. During the summer, her and her husband often hit the trails at nearby parks. He carries a camera. She carries a sketchbook. She never thought she'd write a book. 

Thank you, Mrs. Lowry by Michelle Joy Teigrob

 

My first book came out when I was 12 years old, thanks to my Grade 8 English teacher, Mrs. Lowry, who chose to notice and respond to two needy students in her class.

My twin, Maria, and I had recently immigrated to Canada. The experience of culture shock entwined with pre-teen hormones meant we had entered the most excruciating time of our lives yet. We were probably the most painfully shy, awkward, freckle-faced girls our teacher had ever met.

Overwhelmed, resentful, flailing to find a place to belong, we turned to the greatest solace of our lives at the time – books. Maria and I read obsessively in those years. Anne of Green Gables was a lifeline. I honestly can’t imagine how we would have coped during that period of emotional upheaval without the ability to read.

(I teach new immigrants to read now, people who never learned what letters mean, even in their first language. Perhaps my junior high experience is part of the reason I am so passionate about this work.)

With her bright red lipstick, dangling gold earrings, and heels, Mrs. Lowry was unlike any of the teachers we’d experienced in our small, rural school in Belize. She laughed and spoke loudly, enjoyed the Cats musical immensely, and planned to move west shortly to be with her second husband after a failed first marriage.

Mrs. Lowry gave us a writing project – a story birthed from our own imaginations. All the Grade 8 students would have been required to complete it, of course. Breathlessly inspired by our Lucy Maud Montgomery books consumption, my twin and I took to the task as if we had been asked to save the world.

Intoxicated by the joy of creation, we planned and wrote and planned some more with possibly greater intensity than our heroine author ever did. We did so for our own sakes, not with the goal of getting the highest grade or becoming world-famous, but because we came alive as we wrote.

Mrs. Lowry decided our stories – both mine and my twin’s – needed to be published. Perhaps the tales showed some flair, though both of us cringed later to reread them. My twin even went so far as to destroy her copy some years afterward, she was so embarrassed by it. Certainly, the stories weren’t good enough to warrant the extra cost and work to get them typed up and hard-bound.

At the time, however, we were overjoyed. Our stories would be published! The winner of a lottery could not be as happy as we were on learning this news. I felt as though my bliss lifted me above the ground for weeks. My culture shock and pre-teen hormonal troubles shrank to almost nothing during that period.

I firmly believe this is why Mrs. Lowry decided to put in the extra work and cost to publish our stories – she noticed the struggle of two new students, and she decided to do what she could to bring just a bit more joy into their lives.

Thank you and bless you, Mrs. Lowry. Your kindness will always be remembered.

Michelle Joy Teigrob is an author, college instructor, mom of three, and wife of one. She grew up as a missionary kid in Belize, Central America, the youngest of 10 children. In addition to her twin’s death, she has since lived through the loss of two other sisters. Michelle is launching a blog on her journey through her wrenching sadness. Visit www.michellejoybooks.ca to learn more.

With Joyful Hearts by Peggianne Wright

When the Advent Season approaches every year, there's a certain feeling or emotion that begins to well up inside me and I begin to feel like my heart will burst from my chest. The same goes when I read a verse in the book of Luke; Chapter 10, verse 27. And because of that, there's a longing to share this feeling with all those around me. So, in 2024, one late autumn day, I sat at my computer, I thought about the time left on the calendar before Christmas and my first published book, With Joyful Hearts, was born.

Earlier in 2024, I produced—entirely in-house—a Lenten reading plan and study guide. It was developed from a Bible study my friend from Arizona and I had done together via Zoom during Covid. Relatively successful, I had unknowingly laid the groundwork for my introduction as an author in the world of self-publishing including two Advent devotionals (with two more planned in the series of four), an updated and expanded version of the "homemade" Lenten devotional, and two K9 related books that had been in the works for many years.

I confess that I struggle with imposter's syndrome; especially when I hear someone say, "Oh, you're self-published." The funny thing is, I've never approached a book project with the focus on sales or perceived success. My love for writing and teaching and inspiring is the root and foundation for all the books, devotional pieces, and stories I've written. God blessed me with a creative eye, a desire to do these things, and the gift to string words together in a meaningful way. Success to me is holding a real book in my hand and knowing it is my work. Success to me is a message from that one person to say my words were meaningful to them in some small way.

Each book I have written has taught me something new about myself both as a writer and a human. The technical skills I gain with each project help me to elevate and improve on the next. But, the lessons I experience in patience, grace, and humility benefit me in all aspects of life. The frustrating technical issues, the compliments from a reader, and the joy of seeing the overwhelming success of a fellow writer all help me learn and grow.

I have been further blessed to receive invitations from my church seniors’ fellowship to speak about my books and share the messages I’ve written.

As I continue to work on the many writing projects I have planned, I do so, not in pursuit of fame and fortune; if God intends that for me someday, then okay. But, in the meantime, I write books and devotionals to provide encouragement and enjoyment to the few who read them.

So, as the calendar turns to July, my thoughts turn to Advent—yes, Christmas in July—and I will begin work on the third book in my Luke 10 Advent Series. With Ardent Strength: Experiencing the Blessings of Advent will become my focus over the next while, pouring my heart and soul into its every page. And when the calendar pages fall away, the feeling of Advent will once again fill me and, I hope, you too, With Joyful Hearts.

He answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.'" (Luke 10:27 NIV)

Peggianne Wright is a published author and is the founder of the pet parent ministry Paws To Pray, blending her passion for the Lord and all-things-K9 to form this unique, faith-based community. Peggianne is an ardent Bible study student, devoted dog mom, wife of 44 years, and lover of music. Her blogs Spiritual Scribbles and Fur-Kid Fanatics can be found on her website www.PawsToPray.ca and you can follow her on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PawsToPray/ and on IG @Sister_In_Prayer.

A Labour of Love by Bob Jones

The July writing prompt was to share about the first book I wrote and published.

My experience is summed up in four words – A Labour Of Love.

A Lifetime 

Rare is the gift of undeserved presence. As a pastor of thousands of people, there are those who entered my life for a moment, and some for a season, all for a reason, but few for a lifetime. Kristen Miller Fersovitch was for a lifetime.

Thirty-six years ago, our family arrived in Edmonton in August fresh from Montreal, the newest additions to a pastoral staff in a historic church. A portion of my role was to provide Christian education opportunities, especially for children. One of those children was eight years old, a peer to our eldest son, and part of our Sunday School. We had no idea then the incredible influence she would become.

Kristen was born into a musical family with parents who travelled North America, so it was quite natural for her to take centre stage in kids choir presentations, church worship teams, and as a featured soloist in musical performances. She was precocious, strong-willed, a competitive athlete, believer, and fiercely loyal to her younger sister and friends. She was a bit of a handful during her teenage and young adult years, but settled quickly after marrying the love of her life, a fireman and giving birth to three wonderful sons.

Cancer 

You can only imagine the devastation of a diagnosis of cancer, all that this horrible affliction brings, and then a second diagnosis of terminal cancer at the age of 28. She had just delivered their third son, and her eldest son was only five. Prayer, fasting, medical intervention, juicing, trips south of the border for special treatment, and more prayer from around the world, could not keep death at bay from her bedside.

She won the hearts of Edmontonians with her tenacious battle during radiation treatments, losing her hair but never her smile, singing at Christmas on the largest stage in the city in front of thousands with a scarf covering the effects of the radiation. She was candid and bold in publicly sharing her faith, along with producing a CD of songs she wrote about God in her journey. Her voice is still one of my favourites and I can't hear it without tearing up. And I was only her pastor, invited into private, precious moments of family time during her courageous struggle. I never felt I did enough.

When she passed away on Thanksgiving weekend, 2013, her celebration of life was held in the largest church in the city, covered by major news networks, and eulogized by the most popular news anchor in Edmonton, one of many who had become her friend.

During the years of her cancer journey, the most asked questions were, “How does Kristen do it? How does she stay so joyful, optimistic, and hopeful amid such a painful struggle?”

In 2015, the first book I published was in answer to those questions. 

Ornament 

The book was a specially crafted, gift-sized, hard cover, with interior artistry provided by a friend of the family, featuring colour pictures of her life, family, and ministry. The title, Ornament, was the inspiration of another of her friends, because like an Christmas tree ornament, Kristen was “on display for all to see”. Her family gave me permission to include her writing, and her husband wrote the final chapter. Each chapter concludes with a reflection and simple direction about developing a personal faith in Jesus just like Kristen’s.

Kristen was real, far from perfect, but a testament to trusting God even with the struggles of leaving her young family. Carrie Doll of CTV summed up the feelings of so many in her tribute in the book: “She was beautiful and real and funny. She challenged us to live the best life we can—in the face of tragedy, in the face of despair. Not by telling us to, but by leading by example.”

Ornament (access the book on Amazon) caught on and became a Canadian bestseller and was awarded the most inspiring story of 2015 by the Word Guild. Readers loved her story and sent messages of the moving and transformative effect of the book.

All the proceeds from the sale of Ornament: The Faith, Hope and Joy of Kristen Fersovitch, went towards building a trust fund for the post-secondary education of her sons.

Kristen often said during the toughest times, “Even if He doesn’t heal me and I die, I will trust Him.” 

She would want you to know that and to live by that faith, hope, and joy.

Thank you for reading. I would love to connect in the comment section. God bless. 

On the Making of Books by Lorrie Orr

 

Welcome to July's new prompt: Tell us about your first book. Was it a childhood project like Madeleine L’Engle’s? Was it a book you published, and if so, what success did it bring you? On the other hand, maybe your first book is in folders in your computer. Or sitting in a closet under a pile of other items. Or in a landfill. Perhaps your first book is still a dream. Or maybe you haven’t dared to dream—yet.

Whatever your story, tell us about it. (Prompt taken from July 2018 InScribe blog)

My first book is a co-writing project, still unfinished. It will never be published in full, and is read unconsciously by those I interact with as I move through my days. This book is my heart and my life, literally, for as Solomon urged his son to write his father's teachings on the "tablet of your heart," so I am collecting wisdom and words from my heavenly father. I gather them when I read and listen and observe, and store them deep within my mind and soul. Some of this wisdom emerges in other forms of writing more visible to the human eye, but everything I produce springs from the experiences of the life God has given me. He is my co-author, encouraging and inspiring me with his faithful presence in my life.

I have written many other books, physical ones, including a small book of children's Christmas crafts, photocopied and stapled for a women's event many years ago, a children's story illustrated by my 3- or 4-year-old daughter, numerous journals, and several commonplace books. On my computer sit 50,000 words of an unfinished mystery novel, a small collection of poems, a Christmas devotional book, and numerous story starts. I can't not write.

For many years, including lack of knowledge and confidence, I didn't move forward with publishing my writing beyond a few articles and short stories. Any queries to publishers were ignored or rejected, not an uncommon experience for many authors. I began to wonder why I should even bother. I didn't have a blockbuster novel or an important name or a large social media following that would impress any publisher.

In a casual e-mail exchange with Brenda Leyland, our lovely blog co-moderator, she mentioned Siretona Creative, a publishing company founded by another InScribe member, Colleen McCubbin. Well. I was introduced to the ins and outs of various ways to publish a book. Colleen shared her great knowledge of the industry and also gave me the confidence to move forward. To make a long story short, my first fully published book was released just over a month ago.

Life is Short but Wide was built on the many letters I wrote to my husband's parents during our 21 years in Ecuador - wonderful source documents! Mum had saved each one and stored them in boxes for me. It was my eldest daughter who said, "Mom, you should write a book with these" that gave me the impetus to begin writing a memoir about those formative and eventful years. I am so glad that I persevered and now have my words able to reach many people. I hope readers are encouraged as they read the stories of someone who experienced different events in a unique setting, but who felt the same emotions, learned much about God's love and faithfulness, and who found beauty in the life given to her.

Now I feel like a floodgate of possibility has opened with the publication of this book. Ideas swirl continually in my brain. What to write next? I nod in agreement when I read Solomon's words "Of making many books there is no end."

Lorrie Orr writes from Vancouver Island.

Her first book, Life is Short but Wide, a memoir of 21 years

in Ecuador, was recently published.

More of her writing can be found at

Substack

her slice of life blog

The Beauty of Jesus by Colleen van Nieuwkerk

I attended Pioneer Girls from Grade Two to Grade Nine and then became a leader for the next thirteen years.

The aim of this club program was “to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ in every phase of my life, based on Colossians 1:9-10, New Living Translation, NLT, “So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.”

Songfest was a big part of our club evening, and we often sang the song, “The Beauty of Jesus.” When I consider how the concept of beauty has influenced my life, I know that some of its roots began in that clubroom as we vocalized these words:

“Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,

All His wonderful passion and purity;

O Thou Spirit divine may I truly be Thine

Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.”

@Albert W. T. Thomas, Author,

Public Domain, hymnary.org

As I consider what the creation of beauty in my writing means, I ask myself:

Do my words give honor and glory to Jesus as the Lord of my life?

Do my words for Jesus allow me to feel His pleasure as I focus on my people and the impact they may feel as they read them?

Do my words stir up word pictures of the beauty of creation, of my life of faith and family, or how I choose to portray beauty even in hard and difficult times?

I try to remember to ask the Holy Spirit to fill me and to give me God’s words as I begin to write. Sometimes I realize I forgot and stop right where I am to say I am sorry and then to ask to be

filled.

I believe the Spirit does fill me because I am His child. However, I had an experience recently where it seemed even though my hands were on the computer keys typing, the words were flowing out on their own. It was an amazing sensation, and is the only time this has happened.

That particular article was published in a magazine, and I have had people respond to me, giving thanks for my words as they embraced my meaning. I felt God’s pleasure at that point.

I am thankful God has taught me to appreciate the beauty all around me, the beauty in the words of other writers, and the practice of deepening my own way of walking in beauty as I share my words with you and with my people.

Colleen van Nieuwkerk is GG to three sons plus 3; twelve grandchildren; and two great-grandsons. She loves to read and enjoys reading to the littles in the family as well as gifting books to them. Colleen writes curriculum for women as well as teaches and is currently writing the story in book form of how this all came about. She lives in northern Alberta and can be found online @colleenvannieuwkerk.com

Karen's Story by Sandra Rafuse

This is Karen's story. She shared it with me one day while recalling a very difficult time in her life, telling me one of the beautiful things God did for her and her two boys at a time of great sadness and difficulty. Something beautiful they would never forget.

 

🙶After my husband left me, I would go on a three mile walk everyday. During the first mile, I would memorize scripture.  During the second mile, I would pray.  During the third mile, I would sing. The walk went in a circle so I always ended up back at the place I had started. The pattern was the same every day. It never changed.

As the days and weeks went by, I began to realize I was seeing a "God thing" every day. It would be something special, or unusual, or unexpected. One day, as  I was crossing the road, I looked up and saw, facing me, a large, dark bird sitting on the branch of a tree. It stood up and opened its wings. . .they were huge. . .at least six feet wide! I was so stuck by their size!  When it lowered its wings and sat down, I continued on my way, keeping the picture of what I had just seen in my mind. Another time, a squirrel scampered into the ditch up ahead. It stopped, stood up tall, and watched me until I was quite near it. Then it crouched down and rushed away into the grass. 'That was unusual,' I thought. 'Having him wait like that until I got so close.'  And one time a swarm of bees went buzzing past me at high speed, racing to their new home, wanting to get there as quickly as possible. I had never seen so many bees flying that closely past me. Their noise and proximity were startling. 

I would share my experiences with my two sons, aged 10 and 13, and one day they eagerly asked if they could walk with me and experience their own "God thing". 'Sure,' I said. We started out on our walk and I prayed in my heart, Lord, don't let me down now. Please send them a sign that you are with us.

It was a pleasant day. The sun was shining down on us and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. We were out on a country road and the boys were excited, expecting to see something special but not sure what that would be. We chatted as we walked and one or the other would ask occasionally, 'Do you see anything, Mom? Have we passed anything we should have noticed?'  

"No, not yet. It's coming. It's coming.' We were in the middle of the second mile. 

'Is it going to happen?' They lifted up their questioning faces to look at me.

'Soon. Soon,' I responded. Oh Lord. I'm counting on you. You have given me so many signs of your presence in the past weeks. Please send something for my boys.

We were approaching the last stretch of the third mile. I could see that the boys were becoming skeptical. Their faces had lost that look of expectancy they had started out with and their walk was not as bouncy as it had been at the beginning.

'In just a minute. In just a minute,' I encouraged them. 

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a kaleidoscope of Monarch butterflies appeared and landed on some nearby trees and on us! They settled on the boys' and my shoulders, fluttering their wings delicately for a minute or two before they lifted up and flew away. The three of us stood there, speechless, looking at each other. No more looks of skepticism on my boys' faces. No more feelings of doubt. Just total unadulterated joy in each of us.  I felt so tremendously blessed that God had answered my prayers in such a unique and beautiful way. My boys were going to remember this "God thing" from him forever.❞

Three years after hearing Kathy's story, I was sitting in the staffroom of a school I was subbing in that afternoon. One of the teachers looked at me and asked, "Did you hear about the Monarch butterflies that are congregating in the bush near the front entrance?" I told her I hadn't but that I would check it out at home time. At 3:30 I walked out the door that was near the bush and I stopped and stood and looked. I could see dozens and dozens of butterflies fluttering in and about the branches of the bush. From top to bottom and all around. I couldn't take my eyes off them. I was reminded of Karen's story, of how beautiful it was, of how thoughtful and loving and kind God is when he answers our prayers. He is truly "the God who hears". My heart was full. I felt I had been given my very own "'God thing" that day.

El Shama is a Hebrew phrase meaning "the God who hears" or " the God who listens".

Sandra Rafuse lives in the small town of Rockglen, Saskatchewan, with her husband, Bob, a Gordon setter named Sadie, and a Peregrine falcon named Peet. She is a mother to two wonderful sons, a retired teacher, and an amateur writer.  Currently she is thoroughly enjoying having the opportunity to share what God has been teaching her through her life experiences .

Image by Erika-Lowe from Unsplash

Beautiful Words by Brenda J Wood

Image by ToniaD from Pixabay

HEBREW

HESED – unfailing, steadfast love.

SHALOM – complete peace and wholeness.

SELAH – a musical term meaning pause and reflect.

GREEK

AGAPE – unconditional, sacrificial love.

EKKLESIA – the called-out ones, church.

KOINONIA – fellowship, spiritual communion of believers.

CHARIS – grace, unearned, freely given grace.

APOLUTROSIS – redemption, bought back, bondage free.

TZEDEK – righteousness, spiritual perfection before God.

Here they are just words, but more importantly, they are how God sees us, loves us, welcomes us, forgives us.

Let us be thankful.

Brenda J Wood has authored more than fifty books. She is a seasoned motivational speaker, who declares the Word of God with wisdom, humour, and common sense.

Beauty and the Writer by Brenda Leyland

The Lord God made to grow every tree

that is desirable and pleasing to the sight

and good (suitable, pleasant) for food.

Genesis 2:9 (AMP)

It's been raining in our corner of the world. As we've had drought conditions and threats of wildfires over the past few seasons, we are more than enjoying this wetter one. Mine eyes dazzle to look out and see how alive and vibrant and green my garden looks in the diffused light. Do you think green is God's favourite colour? Such a beautiful world God has created for us to live in. According to ancient texts, there were all sorts of wondrous things in the original Garden, including trees that were beautiful, and pleasant, to look upon. Our world had not been created only with utilitarian efficiency and function in mind but also with beauty for our wonderment, pleasure, and well-being.

How often had I read that portion before actually noticing that tiny phrase 'pleasing to the sight'. I felt elated. However it first came to reside in my belief system, I grew up with the vague sense that a utilitarian way of life was the more important way. Flowers and beauty were fine in their place but not truly necessary, e.g., planting a vegetable garden was essential but planting flowers was less important, even optional, according to some. But there grew a secret recognition of what I found pleasing to the senses in my child's heart of the pretty things around me—it sometimes came as a ping of the heart or as a delicious shiver down my spine. I fell in love with the clove-scented flowers in Grandma's garden; was in awe of a midnight blue sky filled with billions of stars that felt so close I wanted to reach up and pluck some with my hand; was ever delighted with that contrast of light and dark in the skies after a summer rainstorm.

So learning that, in the grand scheme of things, lovely trees had been created just for their beauty solidified something on the inside. God was not just okay with us loving the beauty in the world, he'd established it in the original designs for this planet and its inhabitants. I felt released to delight in the beauty and creativity all around me. It was not a waste of time, effort, or resources to make my life and corner of the world I called home as lovely as possible. I had come to see early on that beauty is what truly inspires and motivates me at the core of my being. If I can find the beauty in a thing or task, then I can do it with joy in my heart.

In our prompt this month, we were invited to peruse the account in Exodus 35 where we learn of God's intricate planning for the building of the tabernacle. And how he gave special skills and gifts to various artists and artisans so that his dwelling on the earth would be beautiful in every way. This glimpse of God working with mankind and mankind working with God to create beauty, isn't it thrilling?

So, when it comes to my writing, I love the idea of joining forces with fellow creatives to develop the creativity, ideas, and skills God has given to me, to us, to create. I love that lovely old line in Proverbs 25:11, "A word fitly spoken and in due season is like apples of gold in settings of silver" (AMP). A bit of graceful beauty from my pen to someone's heart. Written to fit the situation and then offered at just the right moment. To me, it's a beautiful thing. And that phrase "apples of gold in settings of silver", how much more lovely can that phrase be?

As a writer I rely on creating word pictures to show the beauty I see around me. And how I imagine the world might be when it's made perfect again. I write to offer readers what delights me in the every day things, all the while hoping they will find their own inspiration to live with beauty, joy, and creative energy. In honour of the One who dreamed it up as it was originally intended. I write to remind myself, and my readers, to keep watching for glimpses of heaven in unexpected places. These glimpses point us towards the Beautiful One, the one who made us co-creators with himself.

(Top) Image by Andreas from Pixabay

Brenda Leyland writes from her perch that looks out on the garden, the birds at the birdbath, and the sky overhead. You can find her 'slice of life' writing on her blog It's A Beautiful Life. She is also on Facebook and Instagram (under Bren Leyland).