How to Saturate Your Writing with Prayer by Sandi Somers

This spring, much of the Canadian prairies was hot and dry. My lawn kept crying out for more moisture, quickly revealing dry spots after only a couple of days. In addition, our hot spring came at a time when I was planting my annuals. Early each morning, and sometimes in the evening, I watered to ensure the new roots would become firmly established. 

Then on June 14^th, the first heavy rain fell in my area—three inches (7.5 cm). In the next month, we continued to get more rain—15 inches (37.5 cm) at the time I began writing this post. It’s been wonderful to see how the lawns drank in the moisture and turned a lush green. The flowers flourished. 

This is a picture of what our prayers for our writing can be like: we can sprinkle a few words for God to bless us. Or we can saturate our writing with prayer. But how? 

Recently I attended a virtual Prayer Summit with the Kingdom Writers with CJ and Shelley Hitz. A number of speakers emphasized many important prayer concepts, many of which challenged give more thought and focus to my requests and praise. I’ve summarized a number of points from different speakers in the hope that they may help you, too, to saturate your writing with prayer. 

Seek God first in your writing, Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith advised us. Spend time with Him, seeking His heart. Give Him moments of intimacy and focus on Him—then discover where He has touched your heart. What topics would He have you focus your attention on? What specifically should you write? 

CJ Hitz emphasized it is important to make Scripture the base of your prayer. Read Scripture prayers in the Bible and pray them over your writing. Doing this will ensure you are bringing God’s heart and mind into the picture. 

Another specific way to seek God in your writing is through Business meetings with God in which you journal a two-way conversation with God. Phil and Shae Bynes suggested you follow a process to receive the strategies of the Spirit: 

P – Praise and gratitude; always begin here

R – Review your journal to refresh earlier conversations with Him

A – Ask for His mind, heart, and perspective

Y – Yield to what He wants to share with you.

E – Engage with Scripture

D – Decree alignment with God’s will. Delve into His promises 

As you write, Dr. Mark Virker suggested you visualize Jesus sitting beside you, guiding your thoughts. 

Recognize the enemy wants to disconnect you to God, your writing, and your purpose, Shelley Hitz said. To counteract, pray Ephesians 6:10-18. Visualize putting on the whole armour of God, piece by piece before each writing session. In addition, praying with one or more people together for your writing projects. “If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you” (Matthew 18:19 NLT). 

As well as praying with others, our own InScriber, Ruth Snyder, recommended assembling a prayer team for your projects--which will strengthen you, give you an accountability group, and bring God’s power. Share praise items and requests on your progress, and also alert them to pray when the enemy interferes in such areas as family problems, illnesses, blockages. 

And lastly, pray for your readers. You are ministering to them. It will renew your vision and writing with a fresh vigor and may open massive doors of opportunity, said David Lee Martin. 

Which of these ideas inspires you to saturate your writing? What Scriptures do you bring to your writing? 

Image by Pixabay 

Thoughts on Meekness and Majesty by Ruth L. Snyder

 On the first Sunday in December, I had the opportunity to help lead worship at my local church. We shared some well-known Christmas carols including Joy to the World, What Child is This?, and Go Tell It on the Mountain. We also sang some other songs, including Meekness and Majesty by Graham Kendrick. As we were singing, I thought it fitting that we sang this song the same day we sang Christmas carols. Although Meekness and Majesty was not intended to be a Christmas song, it definitely captures the mystery and wonder of Christ coming to earth to be our Saviour.

Meekness And Majesty (This is your God)

Meekness and majesty,
Manhood and Deity,
In perfect harmony,
The Man who is God.
Lord of eternity
Dwells in humanity,
Kneels in humility
And washes our feet.

O what a mystery,
Meekness and majesty.
Bow down and worship
For this is your God,
This is your God.

Father's pure radiance,
Perfect in innocence,
Yet learns obedience
To death on a cross.
Suffering to give us life,
Conquering through sacrifice,
And as they crucify
Prays: 'Father forgive.'

Wisdom unsearchable,
God the invisible,
Love indestructible
In frailty appears.
Lord of infinity,
Stooping so tenderly,
Lifts our humanity
To the heights of His throne.

Graham Kendrick
Copyright © 1986 Thankyou Music

According to Graham Kendrick, he wrote this song to be used as the theme song for the 1986 UK Christian Conference, Spring Harvest. The song has touched the hearts of many people over the years, becoming one of Graham Kendrick's most well-known, and most often recorded compositions.

"I was listening to our senior pastor teaching a theology of the Trinity, with his characteristic mix of scholarship and passion for knowing God. There was a moment when he was opening up an aspect of God's Triune nature, and it seemed as if the presence of God filled the room. It was a holy moment as if God turned up to say: ' Yes, this is who I am'. It strengthened my conviction that we need more of the revelation that flows from teaching the Word of God in our worship, and that our worship will rise in proportion to it."

             - Graham Kendrick

(Read more here)

I appreciate how Graham Kendrick contrasts Jesus, the Son of God, with the characteristics He took on as Jesus, the son of man:

Son of God                               Son of Man

Majesty                                     Meekness

Reflects God the Father            Innocent, pure

Wise                                          Learns obedience through suffering

Invisible                                    Dies on the cross

Loving                                      The perfect sacrifice

Infinite                                      Offers forgiveness

Unapproachable                        Invites us into His presence

Biblical truths taught in this song can be found in:

• Ephesians 3:14-21
• Philippians 2:5-11
• Colossians 1:15-23
• Revelation 5.

David Crawley shares some interesting thoughts about the different versions of the Christmas story shared in the Gospels of Matthew (majesty) and Luke (meekness):

"Matthew introduces his subject as "the birth of Jesus the Messiah." This child is to be Saviour, Emmanuel, "God with us", "king of the Jews" and "ruler". Magi from foreign lands come to pay homage. They visit Mary and Jesus in a house and offer precious gifts.1

On the other hand, Luke underlines the lowly circumstances of Jesus' entry to the world. He tells us of there being "no room in the inn" and the need to improvise hastily with "bands of cloth" and the animals' manger when the birth occurs. Jesus is visited by peasant shepherds rather than lordly magi.2 In the Magnificat, Mary acknowledges her "lowliness" and anticipates that through this birth God will lift up the lowly and bring down the powerful from their thrones.3"

We are all born with these two questions driving us to look for answers:

• Am I worthy?
• Am I loved?

Because of the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we are worthy and we are loved! What Christmas carols help you celebrate this wonderful gift?

Merry Christmas to one and all.

Grateful for Shadow Mentors by Ruth L. Snyder

 This month we are blogging about those who have influenced our lives through their books. As I thought back over the years, I became teary-eyed, realizing again how blessed I have been in so many ways. God has provided numerous people to mentor me directly and indirectly. I'm grateful for all of them. 

Books, reading, and writing were all important in my early years. Since my family lived in South Africa, across the ocean from all our relatives, the only connection we had was letters sent and received by snail mail. I was only six weeks old when our family left North America, which meant I "met" and learned to love my relatives through reading and writing letters. Since there was no internet at the time, books helped me experience life in many different realms.

I still remember the day I learned how to read. Actually, I was just spouting off a memorized version of a favorite book while pointing at the letters. When I figured out those squiggles on the page had meaning, whole new worlds opened up. I read dozens of books about Noddy's adventures. Enid Blyton made me laugh and cry. She helped me experience life with Noddy—a great example of showing, not telling!

"The best way to treat obstacles is to use them as stepping-stones."

-Enid Blyton

My mother spent countless hours reading books to us. When we were preparing to return to North America, she started reading books about Canada. One of the books she read was Love Comes Softly, by Janette Oke. The characters and their journeys captured my heart and mind, and her descriptions of the Canadian Prairies made me feel like I was going to a place I already knew. (I didn't know that I would have the opportunity to meet Mrs. Oke in person decades later at one of our InScribe Fall conferences.)

“The truth of God's love is not that He allows bad things to happen, it's his promise that he will be there with us—when they do.”

-Janette Oke

Reading godly books is one of the anchors that pulled me through my teen years. I was shy and found it hard to reach out to people I didn't know. Perhaps that is why Ann Kiemel's books had such an influence on me. The stories of her trust in Jesus for practical needs, and how she sang to strangers and told them about Jesus challenged me. She made faith seem so personal and enjoyable.

"One simple person plus a great God can do things..."

-Ann Kiemel Anderson

During my teen years, I had the privilege of living on the campus of Prairie Bible College. I didn't realize what a rich heritage this was until I left. Orchestral, choral, and instrumental music surrounded me. All through high school, Bible class was part of the curriculum. Twice a year Prairie hosted conferences where speakers like George Verwer, Helen Roseveare, and Elisabeth Elliot challenged me. 

I remember Helen Roseveare sharing about how God was with her when she was abducted in the Congo and mercilessly raped. She also shared about a time when she came across a group of people gathered around a pot of gold they were refining with fire. She asked one of the men how he knew when all the impurities were gone. He invited her to climb a tree and look down into the pot. She was startled to see a clear reflection of her face in the molten gold. Her guide told her, "That means the fire has done its job. When I can see my face, I know the gold is pure." She challenged us to allow God to refine us so that others could see Jesus reflected in our lives.

"We are called to reflect the Lord's beauty through our lives as much as through our words, and God will use this in His own perfect time."

-Helen Roseveare

My mother read Through Gates of Splendor to us. It made me wonder what my reaction would be if some of the same events happened to me. Several years later Elisabeth Elliot came and spoke at Prairie. That was when I was introduced to her book, Passion & Purity, and challenged to allow God to be in control of my love life.

"One reason we are so harried and hurried is that we make yesterday and tomorrow our business when all that legitimately concerns us is today. If we really have too much to do, there are some items on the agenda which God did not put there. Let us submit the list to him and ask him to indicate which items we must delete. There is always time to do the will of God. If we are too busy to do that, we are too busy."

-Elisabeth Elliot

After high school, I returned to Prairie as a college student. My studies to earn a Bachelor of Religious Education degree were challenging, but enjoyable. I discovered many more authors but especially appreciated Charles Swindoll and his amazing storytelling ability. Those stories drew me in and opened me up, preparing me to hear and accept the deeper biblical truths he taught. 

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.  

Attitude, to me, is more important than facts.  

It is more important than the past, than education, than money, 

than circumstances, than failures, than successes, 

than what other people think, say or do.  

It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill.  

It will make or break a company... a church... a home.  

The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude 

we embrace for that day.  We cannot change our past... 

we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way.  

We cannot change the inevitable.  

The only thing we can do is play the one string we have, and that is our attitude... 

I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.

And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes”

-Charles Swindoll

Looking back, I realize my shadow mentors were all gifted storytellers. Their polished writing made me want to communicate more clearly. And now that I think about it, they all reflected Jesus Christ to me in ways that I could grasp. It is my hope and prayer that in some small way I will be able to do the same thing for my friends and readers.

Writing and God: Making the Impossible a Possibility! by Ruth L. Snyder

 This month we are exploring the idea of writing dreams. Some people may scoff, saying we need to be more realistic. I disagree! As Christian writers, we serve the God of the impossible. 

In fact, I would go as far as to say that God delights to do the impossible through us because when that happens He gets all the glory. God, who created the whole universe, made us in His image. One of the ways we imitate our Creator is through expressing ourselves using creativity.

Thoughts on Creativity

Creativity is one of my passions. It makes me sad that too often people believe they are not creative. I believe God made us all creative, that creativity can be cultivated, and that creativity has different angles we need to consider. Creativity can definitely be a challenge. One of the main blocks to creativity is often our own mindset, struggling with imposter syndrome.

Imposter Syndrome

As writers, we often fight imposter syndrome, wondering if we are writers, thinking we don't have anything important to share. I believe part of imposter syndrome is spiritual warfare. If God is calling us to write, we need to be obedient. When we step out in obedience to write, we may be attacked, spiritually. God wants to set people free, and he often uses the written word to help people understand who He is and the salvation He offers. Satan wants to keep people in bondage. When we allow God to share His message through us, we need to be prepared for opposition, and also failure.

Creativity and Failure

We often see children as being creative. Part of this is because children aren't tied down by rules and etiquette like we adults are, and they haven't failed as many times. When I was growing up, I was taught that failure was a bad thing. Now I realize that failure is not permanent—I only fail if I give up. Most of us don't get things right the first time we try. Did you know that Thomas Edison went through thousands of iterations of the light bulb before he found a material that conducted electricity without burning up? When something doesn't work, do we learn from it and keep going? Are we committed to obeying God, no matter what? Are we willing to step out of our comfort zone and dream the impossible?

Impossible Dream #1—Book Coach

If someone had told me, even two years ago, that I would be coaching people through the process of writing and publishing a book, I would have thought it was impossible. However, God opened the doors for me to learn the process myself by taking courses and making my share of mistakes. At the beginning of this year, I prayed and asked God to show me what goals He had for me. He told me to aim to help 20 people write and publish a book this year. I am over halfway there, and have been amazed at how He has brought people to me, most of whom I have never met in person. 

Mentors

InScribe Christian Writers' Fellowship has been a huge encouragement for me and stimulated me to grow in many ways as a person, and as a writer. I have found friendship, encouragement, prayer support, and training. Thank you to each of you who has influenced my life! Serving on the executive forced me to learn new skills and take on challenges. I had on-the-job training in how to maintain a Wordpress website, how to plan and run a conference, how to publish and launch a book, and how to deal with complicated issues that had the potential to bring disunity.

I have also had the privilege of learning from many diverse coaches. Last year I worked with Market Like a Nerd, which stretched me both intellectually and financially. I also flexed my creative muscles while working with Murielle Marie. When I looked for business coaching from a Christian perspective, I found Anita Albert-Watson helpful. Shelley Hitz has been a steady influence on me for several years. I started learning from her before she started her first program, and continued following her when she and her husband started Christian Book Academy, which provides incredible training for those who want to learn how to self-publish. Now I am working with Erica Latrice, who gives practical help to those building a Christian business in AmplifyHer.

Impossible Dream #2—Entrepreneurs Write app

If someone had told me a few months ago that I would have my own app, I would have thought they were crazy. Last week I met with my app designer to lay the framework for my app. I have a list of items I am working on. Once I send them to my designer, he will put everything together for me. The goal is to have the first phase of my Entrepreneurs Write app available in September 2020. There are more complicated portions of my app that will be released down the road.

One of my clients told me, "You make the seemingly impossible, seem like a possibility." I'm thankful that God is allowing me to reflect Him in this way. 

What dreams do you have? How is God helping you make them a reality?

Ruth is on a mission, determined not to let people’s powerful stories go to the grave with them.

She guides Christian entrepreneurs along the book writing journey, providing a safe place for them to birth their stories. 

Ruth has shared her expertise on platforms like Thrive Global, Women in Publishing, Authority Magazine, The Write Coach, and Author Audience Academy. She guides people through practical steps that make writing a book an attainable goal.

She is dedicated to making sure her clients are in the 8 percent of people who successfully get their book written, published, and into the hands of eager readers.

Ruth’s clients write their book outline in a day. They go on to write their first draft in 30 days. In six months or less, powerful stories are birthed and authors are holding their published book in their hands.

“Ruth makes the seemingly impossible feel attainable with her easy to follow steps.”

Learning to Listen to God's Voice - Ruth L. Snyder

This month we are sharing "God Moments" with each other. I find this a delightful, and thought-provoking theme. I love how God speaks to each individual in ways that are meaningful to them. He truly is a good, good Father!

I'm grateful my parents modeled listening to God from before I was born—we flew to South Africa when I was six weeks old because my parents obeyed a call from God to serve there as missionaries. When I was six years old, my parents listened to a plea (similar to the Macedonian Call in the book of Acts) from a man who asked if anyone would help him tell his people (in Botswana) about God. As a family, we experienced many "God moments".

A favorite place to walk and listen to God

Over the years, God has spoken to me in many different ways, and often with a combination of the following:

1. The Bible
2. Prayer
3. Circumstances
4. Friends
5. Thoughts that wouldn't leave me alone

I'm continuing to learn how to listen to God better. 

Usually, I sleep well and don't wake up in the middle of the night. However, there have been many times when God has woken me up in the middle of the night and impressed on me that I need to pray for a specific person or prayer request. When I wake up in the early morning hours, I've learned to pay attention to who is on my mind and pray for them. Sometimes I hear about specific answers to prayer, and sometimes I don't.

God has also been dealing with getting rid of idols in my life. He has shown me that anyone or anything that I put above Him is an idol. If I act out of fear, I am allowing people's perceptions to be in control. If I eat comfort food rather than bringing my problems to God, I am making food an idol. It is not only important for me to start the day by spending time with God and in His Word, but also to talk with Him and listen to Him as I walk through each day. 

Lately, God has been speaking to me about obeying the speed limit. I have never received a traffic ticket, but that doesn't mean I always obey the rules. In the past, I usually drove anywhere from 5-10 km over the speed limit on the highway. My conscience started bothering me. Most people don't see me as a rebel, because I tend to be sneaky in the way I rebel. God reminded me that He knows, even if no one else knows. He sees my heart. Going the speed limit is not so much about the speed, but about submitting totally to God and obeying those He has put in charge.

Two resources I am digging into this year are 4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice by Mark Virkler and a Bible Memory seminar with Graham Best.

I will end with one of my favorite "God moments" from this past year. One day last summer, my boys begged me to take them to garage sales. We wrote down addresses that were advertised and went from sale to sale, discovering new-to-us treasures. At one sale I noticed there were three lawn mowers for sale.

That evening, I pulled our lawnmower out of the garage, filled it with gas, checked the oil, and pulled the cord. It had worked the week before. No matter what I tried, it would not start. I prayed, and I asked a couple other people to try, but it still wouldn't start. Then, I remembered the garage sale with three mowers. My schedule was full and I knew I wouldn't be able to get back to the sale until late the next afternoon. "Lord, keep a lawnmower there for me."

The next day, I prayed several times. We really didn't have money for a new mower. Finally, I was able to drive to the place we had been the previous day. I held my breath as I walked up the sidewalk. When I looked up, there was one mower left! "Thank you, Lord!"

I approached the owner, an elderly man, and told him I wanted to buy his lawnmower. "You know, I just don't understand. You saw I had three lawnmowers for sale. This is the best one, but nobody bought it."

I smiled. "God kept it here for me."

"This is my favorite lawnmower. I wouldn't even be selling it if my relatives hadn't given me a new mower as a gift. I still like this one better, but I can't sell the new one."

I felt sorry for him, but happy for me! He showed me how it worked...one pull and it roared to life. The price was less than half what a new one would cost. I came home feeling like God had blessed me with a Cadillac lawnmower. God is indeed a good, good Father who takes care of us in amazing ways.

How has God spoken to you? What is your favorite "God-moment" from the past year?

Cracks: Good? Or Bad? by Ruth L. Snyder

The writing theme for May has to do with writing in the cracks of time. Although I am going to write about cracks, my post is not going to follow the theme in the truest sense of interpretation. Instead, I invite you to think about the idea of cracks and whether they are good or bad.

The first thing that comes to my mind when I hear the word, crack, is a meaning with a negative connotation. Something that is cracked is usually broken. A broken teacup is not able to be used for its intended purpose of drinking tea. Does that mean the teacup is worthless and needs to be thrown in the garbage? Not necessarily. Check out these twelve creative ways to use broken china.

When people speak of a person "cracking under pressure", that also has negative connotations. The phrase is used to describe someone who is not able to handle a certain type of stress, such as performing in public. We all have stress, but when that stress is more intense or lasts for a long time, some people have a mental breakdown. However, sometimes cracking under pressure is a good thing. Think about a lowly egg. If we could not crack the shell, we wouldn't be able to enjoy the egg and be nourished by it. The same is true of many nuts.

The crack of dawn could be seen as a positive thing if you are a morning person and you are looking forward to a new day with fresh opportunities. The crack of dawn would be seen as negative to someone on death row awaiting execution on that particular day.

We also talk about cracking the code. This is one of the few instances when the connotation is usually positive. To crack the code means you have solved a riddle, figured out a message, or found the answer to a puzzle. (Have you heard the fascinating story from World War II around secret code and how the Allies were able to crack that code?)

What about cracked jars? Good or bad? It depends! Cracked jars are not able to hold water or other liquids. Perhaps you have heard the parable of the cracked pot? The pot with the crack compared itself to another pot with no crack and felt worthless until the owner showed it how the crack created something beautiful.

In 2 Corinthians, godly people are compared to jars of clay.

"For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us," 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 NIV.

God knows that we are cracked pots! He understands our sinful human weaknesses. We may be ashamed to let people see our cracks—hurting families, addictions, sinful choices, broken marriages. But God redeems those cracks in us. Those cracks are intended to bring us to our knees, admitting we cannot do life without God. When we repent and ask for help, He takes those cracks and allows His glorious light to shine through. He fills us with His light and then His light glows through our cracks to illumine the darkness around us. Others with the same cracks we have will feel like we understand. As we allow God's light to change us and shine through us, we often have opportunities to share the good news of the Gospel with those around us, dispelling the darkness of sin.

Are cracks good or bad? What do you say?

Abide: My Word for 2020 - Ruth L. Snyder

As I was praying about what God wants me to focus on in 2020, I came across this "Find Your 2020 Word of the Year" Quiz from Dayspring. When I answered the questions, "Abide" came out as the answer. The more I think about it, the more the word resonates with me.

According to Dictionary.com, "Abide" means: remain, continue, stay, dwell, reside, remain steadfast, keep, patience, put up with, endure, sustain, wait for, submit to, remain faithful, and expectation.

Strong's Concordance gave the following definition for the Greek word which is translated as abide: "to stay (in a given place, state, relation, or expectancy), to continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry for."

The meanings that seem to be most relevant for me are:

1.  Dwell — God seems to be opening the door to purchase a home.
2. Remain faithful — I want to choose to be faithful in the responsibilities and relationships God has placed in my life.
3. Wait for — I want to wait for God's perfect timing in my life. This means I need to be in close communion with Him so that I can hear His voice and be obedient.
4. Expectation — I'm excited about what God has for me this year. This week our new Lakeland Christian Writer's Group met. It's exciting to see the people God is calling to share the messages God has laid on their hearts! I'm one of the speakers at the HerStory conference in Edmonton at the end of March. In April, Jayson and I are going to a Mexican orphanage for a week with a group from our church. The business coach I've been working with for the past year has invited everyone she works with to join her on a Caribbean cruise at the end of May/beginning of June. In July I'm looking forward to attending my first international Music for Young Children conference in Toronto. I have been teaching MYC for 10 years and look forward to improving my teaching abilities. September is always a highlight for me because I get to meet with all my InScribe family members. I'm excited to present a workshop on social media marketing at the conference. 
5. Stand — This word reminds me of Ephesians 6 where we are exhorted to stand firm, with God's armor in place. On January 4th I read Faith Bigger Than Fear, and God challenged me to pray boldly. When I asked God what he wants me to pray boldly about, these requests came to mind: 1. That I would have a profit of $50,000 in my business this year. 2. That I would faithfully and specifically pray for my husband. 3. That we would purchase our home this year. 4. That I would be able to help 20 people get their book published in 2020.

Our pastor invited anyone interested to join a church renewal study. On the first Tuesday of January, we met at 6 o'clock in the morning to pray and study together. I was delighted to hear our pastor say, "The theme of our study is 'Abide'!" We will continue to meet every Tuesday morning at 6 am for at least the next 14 weeks. The study includes daily devotionals, Scripture reading, reflection questions to encourage thoughtful journaling, and memorizing. Our group challenge is to memorize Romans chapter eight in fifteen weeks. I'm looking forward to learning and growing along with my brothers and sisters in Christ. (You can find more details about Church Renewal and The Way Discipleship Pathway: Abide at https://churchrenewal.com/)

A habit I started last year that will continue into this year is meeting almost weekly with a spiritual accountability partner. We have been working our way through the Celebrate Recovery step studies.  (Celebrate Recovery is a Bible-based program for those who are working through issues like addiction or abuse. You can find more information at https://www.celebraterecovery.com/.) My accountability partner challenged me to start learning to listen to God by journaling and writing down what I hear Him saying to me. Here's an example from December 30th:

My Dearest Child,
I'm glad you are learning to trust me more. I long for the day when you trust me fully. I know you've been deeply hurt and you are learning to establish boundaries. That is a good thing. I have boundaries too. Sharing your love with other people is good, but not when it destroys who I made you.
Ask me and I will flood you with my love. Seek my face and I will show you who to share that love with. Continue to heal. Continue to grow. I am with you and will guide you in the way you should go.
All my love,
Jesus

This last year has been a year of growth. Now I'm going to work on abiding.

What about you? Do you have a word for 2020? I'd love to hear about it :)

The Meaning of Christmas by Ruth L. Snyder

God has prepared my heart for Christmas in several ways this year. In September, a friend loaned me the Mark of the Lion Series by Francine Rivers. The trilogy tells the story of a slave girl in the Roman empire and how she came to understand the freedom and forgiveness offered through Jesus Christ. At our InScribe Conference, I purchased a copy of Sigmund Brouwer and Hank Hanegraaf's book, The Last Disciple, which is also set in the Roman empire era. These books reminded me that Jesus Christ saves us from the power of sin, but that doesn't mean that our lives will be easy. In fact, following Jesus Christ may require that I give up my life. (This is currently happening to many brothers and sisters in Christ around the world.)

This fall, I joined the praise & worship teams at our local church. For the past two Sundays, I have had the privilege of helping choose and perform the music, based on Advent themes that our Pastor is focusing on leading up to Christmas.

On December first, we sang O Come, O Come Emmanuel.

The Jewish people were longing for a Messiah who would free them from the oppression of the Romans. Many who encountered Jesus Christ thought this deliverance would be a literal, earthly deliverance. When Jesus was crucified, some thought that meant he was not the Messiah. They missed the freedom God offered because they were looking for it in the wrong place.

Today before the service began, I was introduced to a song I had never heard before: Christmas is about the Cross.

Instead of preaching, our Pastor and his brother shared a skit about the struggle Joseph experienced regarding whether he should marry Mary or not after she told him she was pregnant. We closed the service by singing Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne. Often I forget all that Jesus gave up to come to earth!

Sometimes in North America, we focus on the wrong things at Christmas time.

• We put up Christmas lights and forget about the Light of the World.
• We sing Christmas carols that celebrate the birth of baby Jesus and forget that Jesus was born to die.
• We exchange presents and forget about the gifts of forgiveness and salvation through Jesus Christ.
• We prepare for Christmas day and forget to prepare our hearts to receive Jesus Christ.
• We put up a Christmas tree and forget that Jesus is the one who gives us eternal life.

It's not necessarily wrong to enjoy Christmas lights, Christmas carols, Christmas presents, Christmas Day, and Christmas trees. However, we need to remember that all of the festivities, feasting, and fun point us to Jesus Christ—to his birth AND his death and resurrection. 

This December, I am remembering it's all about Jesus.

What are you focusing on this Christmas?

Welcoming new seasons in life - Ruth L. Snyder

Do you welcome new seasons in your life? Personally I struggle with change. I prefer what I know, and what I feel comfortable with, as opposed to being stretched. However, I have discovered that I grow more in seasons of change. Probably because I am forced to rely totally on God.

I am currently in a season of change. One I would not have chosen. However, I'm learning to focus on what I do have control over and choosing to be thankful.

I can choose my attitude. 

Charles Swindoll puts it this way:

“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company..I a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes.”

I can choose to build into other people's lives

No matter what my struggles are, I have discovered there are always others who are struggling or hurting more than I am. 

• I can listen. 
• I can pray. 
• I can hug. 
• I can share my struggles, and how God helped me.
• I can share Scriptures that I find helpful. 
• I can share my testimony. 

One Friday my boys asked to go to garage sales. I noticed three lawnmowers at one place, but didn't think I needed one. That evening I tried to mow our lawn, but found out the lawnmower I had wouldn't work. A couple other people tried too...nothing. I thought of the garage sale lawnmowers, but knew I wouldn't be able to get back to the place we had been until late afternoon on Saturday. "Lord, keep a lawnmower there for me." 
Throughout the next day when I was tempted to fret, I stopped and prayed. When I returned to the garage sale, there was one mower left. I approached the older gentleman and told him I wanted to buy the mower. He shook his head. "I don't understand it. You saw I had three mowers for sale. This is the best one. And nobody bought it."
I smiled. "God saved it for me."
"You know I wouldn't even be selling this mower, except someone thought they were doing me a favour and they bought me a new mower. I can't sell the one they bought for me, even though this one is better. It's my favourite mower."
I almost felt sorry for him! 
"Would you like me to show you how to start it?"
I nodded. He demonstrated how to put on the choke. He pulled once and the mower roared to life.
"Would you like me to help you load it?"
"Yes, please."
I came home feeling like God had blessed me with a "Cadillac" lawn mower. I paid about a third of what I would have paid for a new one, and it has worked well all summer for me.

I can choose to take good care of myself

Since February I have been working on changing some of my unhealthy habits. I tend to eat when I'm anxious ... or stressed ... or nervous ... or ... you get the picture. I also find exercising regularly difficult. In February I read information from Fitera and decided to work on healthy eating habits and exercise. I also happened to be exchanging coaching with a fellow student from the Beautiful You Coaching Academy. She helped me set goals and pick strategies and cheered me on as I made changes. It was hard, especially when I didn't see any changes in the numbers on the scale. She helped me focus on consistency and the fact that I was feeling stronger and more energetic. God reminded me that my body is His temple, and I can glorify him just as much by exercising as I can by reading my Bible. Fitera provides an exercise routine where 1 minute of a weight bearing exercise is followed by 1 minute of cardio-based exercise. You have an option of doing 15, 22, or 30 minutes of exercise, and can start with your fitness level and work up from there. Fitera suggests you do their exercise program 3 days a week and then walk the other 3-4 days. I found my walks beside Jessie Lake inspiring and enjoyable. (The pictures on this blog post were all taken during my walks.) Over the weeks, the pounds started to slip away until I had lost 30 pounds. Now I am working on maintaining the habits.

I can choose to learn new things

Before this season of change started, I signed up for the life coaching course through Beautiful You Coaching Academy. They offer a four-month course, with reading materials, homework questions (answers were shared on the closed Facebook Group), bi-weekly calls, and the opportunity to practice skills by having a coaching partner. God's timing was perfect (as usual). The course, which started in February, gave me something positive to focus on, and I learned that I not only enjoy coaching, but I am also good at it (according to my clients). Now that the course is finished, I'm working on becoming certified with Beautiful You.

Just before I finished the coaching course, I also took on the challenge of working with a business coach from Market Like a Nerd. This has been a huge stretch for me, but I'm looking forward to reaping the results of having an online business.

I can choose to be thankful!

This has been one of the hardest years of my life, but I'm so thankful!

• I have a wonderful support team
• God has provided for all my needs
• I'm enjoying friends, both "old" and "new"
• God has drawn me closer to himself

Are you in a new season? What lessons have you been learning? 

Find out more about Ruth, her writing, and her coaching, at ruthlsnyder.com.

Equipped: How God Prepared Me to Write My Latest Book - Ruth L. Snyder

God is amazing! When was the last time you stopped and worshipped Him—not because you wanted or needed anything, but because you just enjoy fellowshipping with Him so much?

As I look back at how God prepared me to write Equipped: Ephesians 6 Devotionals to Empower and Make You Victorious in Everyday Struggles, I am amazed at His grace and mercy, and humbled that He chooses to use weak earthly vessels like me to share His glorious message.

I first heard about God, my Heavenly Father, from my earthly parents. I heard them praying when people were afraid to come to church because lightening struck the giant tree where our church members met. I watched their example of standing firm in faith against witch doctors and their curses. I experienced God's financial provision for our family.

Jesus Christ became my personal Saviour when I confessed my sin and accepted His forgiveness as a five-year-old. Four years later, I attended school five hundred miles away from where my parents were working, and the "faith of my fathers" became my own faith in practical ways. Several years after that, I was challenged to stand firm in my faith while attending a Christian school where others made fun of my devotion to Jesus. Camp ministry during my high school summers provided many opportunities to share the gospel, nurture others in their faith, and play the piano by ear. During these years a couple of high school teachers encouraged me in my writing and gave me practical experience working on the school newsletter and yearbook. After graduation, I chose to attend Prairie Bible College, where the foundation of my faith was further strengthened. I was able to experience a variety of work including cleaning, supervising, doing computer work for a college teacher, and helping teachers rewrite course syllabi. When I finished college, I enjoyed working in the Prairie Book Room, where I learned how to place orders, track stock, and deal with frustrated customers.

Then God began the training in earnest. My husband and I experienced the confusion and pain of infertility and a miscarriage. My first published article, Gifts From A Loving God, chronicled our journey through loss into the incredible and challenging world of adopting children with special needs. My writing journey continued as I took courses from The Children's Institute of Literature, joined The Word Guild and InScribe Christian Writers' Fellowship, entered contests and began blogging. This led to more opportunities for publication and eventually I wrote my first set of ebooks: Learn Twitter—10 Beginning Steps and Learn Twitter—10 Intermediate Steps. When people asked for a paperback version, I learned how to self-publish on Amazon with Twitter Decoded: Tips and Tools for Authors. My spiritual journey deepened as I experienced challenges in parenting, marriage, and leadership. My writing life and spiritual journey continued to intersect. God took me through deep waters where I knew I was helpless without Him: a prodigal child, separation from my husband, and my dad's struggle with dementia. Our daughter is now happily married and the mother of our first grandson. My husband and I have been reunited and are working on our marriage. My dad's struggle with dementia makes me look forward to heaven.

When God laid on my heart that I should write a devotional on spiritual warfare, based on Ephesians 6:10-18, I resisted. However, God's still, small voice persisted. (I share more detail in my devotional in the November 2018 issue of FellowScript.) Today the manuscript is in the final edits. My goal is to have the ebook and paperback available in November.

Are you writing a book? Tell us about it and share the story behind your work!

Sheila Webster and other executive members
presented me with this cross in 2016, which
reminds me to put on the full armour of God!

Ruth L. Snyder lives in northeastern Alberta with her husband and children. She writes in a variety of genres, sharing the lessons God is teaching her about walking with God, parenting, marriage, self publishing, and healthy living. Connect with Ruth at ruthlsnyder.com.

Finding Humour in Tough Situations - Ruth L. Snyder

Luke, wearing his grad suit and giving us a thumbs up

Our seventeen-year-old son graduated in June. It was a wonderful day of celebration—his first Paediatric report stated that Luke would never be able to walk, talk, or feed himself. The day of grad, Luke pranced proudly down the aisle, waving at everyone, a broad smile on his face. One of his classmates bribed him not to talk during the ceremony—he loves to talk and spouts out information non-stop. At the banquet, Luke gave us a thumbs up as he walked in. Then he made sure his plate was heaped with his favourite Ukrainian food, and he ate it all. Luke and his twin brother have developmental delays, but they bring a lot of joy and laughter to our family.

Luke was very proud of his suit, so I asked him if he wanted to wear it to church the next day.
"Yes!"
I washed his shirt and wiped down the suit. Sunday morning I knocked on his door and handed his suit to him.
"Thanks, Mom"
"You're welcome, Luke. We'll have breakfast in a few minutes, okay?"
"Yup!"
I went downstairs and prepared breakfast, set the table, and then called everyone. A couple minutes later, everyone was at the table except for Luke. (Usually he's the first one around when there's food involved.)
I marched back upstairs, and stopped short. Luke was sitting on his bed, both feet protruding—from the sleeves of his suit jacket. He was stuck! His feet would not go forward or backward, even with me holding onto the sleeves.
At that moment, several thoughts (and emotions) went through my mind simultaneously:

• How in the world did he get his feet through the sleeves? And why did he put both feet in? (I felt bewildered and sorry for Luke)
• Was this the end of his brand new suit that he had only worn once? (I felt frustrated and angry)
• Everyone was downstairs waiting for breakfast, and there was no quick fix! (I felt rushed because I'm the church pianist and we needed to leave for church in 20 minutes.)

I took a deep breath. "Okay, Luke. I'll help you, but I need to go downstairs for a minute. I'll be right back."

He nodded, looking for reassurance. 

At that point, I couldn't find the energy to smile, but I squeezed his hand.

Downstairs I grabbed a pair of scissors. "Go ahead with breakfast. Luke and I will be a while."

My husband nodded, waiting for an explanation.

"I'll tell you later."

Back upstairs, I took a fresh look at the situation. Luke's heels were both through the sleeves and by this time he was sweating. The actual sleeves were loose; it was the lining that was tight around his ankles. Little by little, I sliced the lining until Luke was able to pull one foot out, then the other.

"How about if you just wear your vest this morning?"

Luke nodded.

I inspected the jacket sleeves. "I'll sew the lining, and next time you wear your suit, you'll be able to wear the jacket too." 

"Thanks, Mom!" Luke gave me a big hug and a slobbery kiss.

Now that this event is in the past, I can laugh. It's another story to add to the "Remember when" collection. Parenting kids who have special needs can be a roller-coaster ride—I say that every day is a new adventure. I'm thankful that God gives strength, and humour, to see us through.

Are you able to find humour in tough situations? I look forward to hearing about it in the comments below.

Ruth L. Snyder lives with her husband and five children in northeastern Alberta. Grace, Luke, Levi, Jayson, and Dorothy have all taught them that being "specially-abled" brings unique opportunities to learn and serve. https://ruthlsnyder.com/blog

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.