What Does Your Heart Say? by Lorilee Guenter

Across from me in the coffee shop sat a lady. Her sweater read, "I wear my heart on my sleeve." On the sleeve a list of names represents people important to her. Without talking to her, I don't know who they are. I only know that these are people who mean a lot to her. She loves them.

I wonder what others see when they look at me. I don't proclaim my affection on my clothes. Do my actions as I sit across from family or friends show they are important to me? My words are a clanging gong if they are not backed up by action. I do not want to be a clanging gong. I want to be a voice in the symphony God is directing.

As summer gave way to fall, I noticed distraction pulling my attention. Instead of leaning in to engage in conversation, I was looking beyond. I was leaning back and letting my thoughts wander. I missed out on true connection. Communication became strained as I forgot how to listen not just with my ears but with my heart. I became a clanging gong.

Noticing my responsibility in the disconnect, I lean back in. I confess that I do not like what was going on. I don't want my distraction to turn my words into discordant noise so I allow God to tune me, to bring me back to where He desires me. I pause to listen. I vowed, with God's help, to set aside distraction. I can not do this on my own. Thankfully I don't have to. The Master Conductor knows what I need so I can sing.

Jesus wore His heart on the cross. As thorns pierced His brow and blood and water ran from His side, He wrote my name. He wrote our names. They aren't written with pencil to be erased. They aren't written with thread that can be picked out. Jesus wrote our names with His life. In doing so, He offered to guard our hearts. He knows that even if we try, we are incapable of consistent vigilance without His help. He knows we need His hand in all we do.

The seasons change, my resolve to connect well is tested. I know the only way it will hold is by leaning in. Today, I choose to trust, to let Jesus hold me close and make my heart sing as part of His masterpiece. Tomorrow, I pray I make the same choice.

Lorilee Guenter is a writer and artist from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She enjoys exploring God's creation. Her hobbies and interests are varied which leads to an eclectic set of books she is reading.

A is for Author

 

I’m an author, a published author. It’s a label describing part of who I am, but it still feels like it doesn’t fit well. At times, it seems like one of those clothing labels that makes your skin itch or the ribbon kind that pop out at the most inopportune times, those labels you want to cut out and discard.

What should I do with this author label? For years I hid my one-time enjoyment of writing. Then, as I began to put words to paper or more often keystrokes on the computer to form a story of some description, I told people, “I’m a reluctant writer.”

Have you ever been there? Reluctantly writing or quaking in your boots at the thought someone might ask you to speak in public, lead a workshop, or do anything out of your comfort zone? My words of being a reluctant writer or the thought of the label author puts me into a place far from any comfort zone. It’s never something that had been on my bucket list.

A number of years ago my one grandson challenged those words of mine when I repeated them yet again in his hearing. “Grandma, when you say you are a reluctant writer, it’s a very negative attitude.”

Wow. I must admit I had never really thought of my words in that way. I needed to pause and reflect on his comments. A is also for attitude and adjustment. Mine needed that. It has taken years to adapt my thinking and attitude to go from reluctant writer to published author when people ask me what I do.

Stories have been part of my life for as long as I can remember and likely longer. Hearing stories, reading them, and telling them too. They captivate my attention. They weave their way into answers I give to questions, speaking engagements, and now my writing. I knew storyteller fit as a way to describe myself and what I love to do. Then stories began to be published in anthologies or as a book and published author needed to be a descriptor as well.

The biggest attitude adjustment came when I realized that God gave me the ability to tell the stories. He gave me a gift but never meant me to hide it away or ignore it. The gift needed to be used to encourage and teach others. My attitude and actions of using the ability to tell stories and be a published author needs to praise God, my Creator so I can be a good steward.

An attitude adjustment happened. But some days, I feel myself slipping into the past way of thinking and desire to hide by not telling people about what I do or use the words published author. Then I take time to look back at the journey, the adventure God has taken me on to this point. I read down the list of what I’ve written and published from articles and poems in magazines and anthologies to devotional books, memoir, and even fiction. Affirmation from readers or fellow writers encourage me and remind me that God’s plan far exceeds my limited vision of the way ahead. Everything to this point is God’s doing. I often turn to the benediction in Ephesians 3: 20, 21 (NIV) which encourages, inspires, and fills me with awe at the power of God in Christ Jesus.
“ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

Yes, a is for author. I simply need to be willing to do what God asks and enjoy the adventure we are on together. 

 

As a speaker and published author, Carol Harrison is passionate about mentoring people of all ages and abilities to help them find their voice and reach their fullest potential. She shares from her heart, with stories from real life experiences and God’s Word to encourage people and help them find a glimmer of hope no matter what the circumstances.

 

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.

The Plan by Glynis M Belec

I just about fell off my new office chair when I saw the prompt for this month. You know the one about staying on track and handling unfinished projects. And then the major guilt trip about how God might be prompting me to finish the unfinished projects (the guilt trip part was my doing). Ugh. 

I have SO many unfinished projects and manuscripts that if I died tomorrow my family would really discover the wayward, procrastinating 'brain' they called wife and mother. Come to think of it, maybe it wouldn't be a huge shock. They are used to my spurts of energy and brilliant ideas interspersed with a million things in any given week. Let's just say they could put it all together and create a small library! 

I guess, maybe what I am trying to say is I have a lot on the go, so pacing myself is a biggie. Staying on track is a struggle but I find if I keep my agenda current it helps. I prepare an agenda every night for the next day. It's the only way I can function properly. Lists make me focus. I always have a hundred incredible ideas that explode on a page but usually I can't find enough time to complete them and I am afraid I will forget them. So I have learned my green 'idea' ledger is the best place for me to begin the initial explosion. 

When I get that 'Full Brain Feeling' that's when I stop and pause and remember that my plans don't always measure up with God's. Then I pray. Then I stop flitting for a minute. Then I trust all over again.  

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you 

and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

I listened to my hubby give the message this past weekend in a local church. His topic was on service. At one point he spoke about how service, in whatever form it takes consists of seven essential elements. I liked that approach and started thinking of these elements from a writerly perspective and decided it might be a jolly good way for me to regroup. 

1. Willingness

     Is my motivation pure and right and am I willing to allow the Holy Spirit to led me to complete the project I am supposed to complete? 

     For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.
2 Corinthians 8:12

2. Attitude

     Do I have a good attitude about my gift and am I striving for excellence that glorifies God and not self? 

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. Colossians 3:23

3. Compassion

     Am I making my writing life all about me or am I making sure I take the time to help other writers who might benefit from my experience? 

     Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts... Colossians 3:12a

4. Organization

     Do I plan? Are the goals I set - even the daily ones - realistic and attainable? Is my workspace clear and uncluttered (is my brain uncluttered?) Do I keep current in my craft? God is a God of order. am I striving for that?

    But all things should be done decently and in order. 1 Corinthians 14:40

5. Tasks

     Do I just talk about the great things I could do or write or do I actually do them? Talking is merely procrastination. The proof is in the pudding. How's my work ethic. Do I keep deadlines? 

     Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. Proverbs 16:3

6. Flexibility

     I am called to write. But first I am called to love. I haven't to feel guilty if I put a project on hold, temporarily to help someone with a greater need. Random acts of kindness can't wait. 

     For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Phillipians 2:13

7. Obedience

     Am I really writing what God wants me to? If I believe my words are a gift from God and He has given me the ability and the opportunity to pour the on a page, it's my responsibility to follow through. Am I trusting and obeying? 

    But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. Acts 5:29

 ~

          So I guess now that I have laid out 'the plan,' it's in my lap now. Note to self: Check back in a year to see if I practiced what I preached. 

I'm trying. Really. 

         How about you? 

                                     ~