What is in Your Hand? by Lorrie Orr

 

Here we are, beginning a brand-new year. 365 days that unfold one by one. In Exodus 3, Moses, called by the Lord to an enormous task, expresses doubt about his abilities. The Lord replies to him, “What is that in your hand?” God then uses Moses’ staff to demonstrate His power to use what Moses already had.

As we begin the year, this month's challenge is to consider where and how we might move forward in faith and in writing. Share what is in your hand. What do you know about yourself? How has God revealed Himself to you as a writer? What tools do you possess to help you? How can you use what God has given you to enhance your writing?

When I think of the many ways that God has led me think of myself as a writer, I had a difficult time narrowing this post to a reasonable length. Here are a few of the gifts God has given me.

1. A love of words. Words are beautiful things. From an early age I devoured words. Words jump out at me everywhere. I find the shape of letters and words appealing. Spelling errors, particularly in public, like on big advertising boards, newspapers, or church screens stand out like a petunia in an onion field. (Not that I haven't made my own share of spelling errors.) I love putting words together to create images or to tell stories.

2. A story. God has given me a story of love and faithfulness. Of redemption. Of a grace that is so beautiful I see it everywhere. Of intense challenges and ordinary days. Of a life I could never have imagined for myself. In my life there are everyday stories where God shows up in small but significant ways, and life-altering stories where God's hand works amazing miracles. Taking note of these moments is part of living a life that honours God.

3. Source material. For 21 years I wrote thousands and thousands of words by hand in letters to family and friends. Letters were my only connection between Ecuador and Canada. Shortly before my mother-in-law passed away in 2017 she gave me two boxes full of those letters. She had saved every one of them, going so far as printing out emails in the later years. It was my eldest daughter who said, "Mom, you should put them into a book for all of us." Her idea spurred me to begin a memoir that is very nearly complete.

4. Encouragement. I tend to belittle myself, particularly in my writing. Creating with words is like having children; it's incredibly hard work. Exposing my writing to the world is difficult. I don't expect praise and adulation, but when someone comments that they've enjoyed a piece of writing, or found solace or encouragement through my words, I thank God for his encouragement.

These things in my hand are God's gifts to me. I think of the Apostle James' words "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." I desire to honour God by accepting and developing the gifts he gives me.

Lorrie Orr writes from Vancouver Island.

She hopes to publish her memoir in 2025 with God's help.

T is for Time, by Susan Barclay

 

There's a certain amount of irony in choosing time as my theme for this month's post. Time got away from me and I am writing this on the day of deadline. There are two reasons, I think, that time's passage escaped me: 1) I had rescheduled my July post to the 25th because I missed that deadline; 2) my husband and I were at a cottage last week and found that time passed much more slowly there. Can it really already be August the 6th today?!

As I think about time, a number of quotes come to mind. Are you familiar with any of these?

"I wasted time and now doth time waste me." ~William Shakespeare

"Where your attention goes, your time goes." Idowu Koyenikan

"Take care of the minutes and the hours will take care of themselves." ~Lord Chesterfield

"Time is the single most important resource we have. Every single minute we lose is never coming back." ~Taran Sharma

 Now, how about this one?

"...teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12)

As I watch my mom struggle in her final years (months? days?), I'm reminded of the importance of using well the time God has graciously given each one of us. While most of us will leave this planet with unfinished work, projects, and plans; unrealized hopes and dreams, while we are here, we ought to make the most of the time we have. Though there is a place for downtime, rest, and relaxation, and I'm not suggesting we burn ourselves out with activity (even meaningful, worthwhile activity), how many of us are skilled at managing ourselves well? How many of us fritter away our time on pointless things?

"There is no such thing as time-management; there is only self-management." ~Rory Vaden

"...each of us will give a personal account to God" (Romans 14:12). I don't know about you, but I want to hear those words referenced in Matthew 25:21, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

God has given us gifts, including the gift of writing, and not to use them is a waste of the gift of time - don't you agree? 

Therefore, let's put legs to this quote from author Stephen King:

Amateurs wait for inspiration while the rest of us just get up and go to work.

And "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving" (Colossians 3:23-24).

Write on, my friends!

________________________

For more about Susan Barclay and her writing, please visit www.susan-barclay.blogspot.com. 

 

Winter is a Gift from God - by Tandy Balson

The winter beauty astounds me.  Yes, it is extremely cold outside but I am looking at it from a nice warm house. I stop and thank God for providing protection from the cold.

When the temperature dips to -20°C and below the snow is so fine it’s hard to see.  As I walk past the window, a beam of light highlights sparkling snow that looks like glitter being sprinkled from above. I am compelled to call each person in the house to the exact spot I’d been standing in, so they, too, can experience this incredible sight.

Another morning I awoke to an ice fog. When it lifted, the cold, sunny morning revealed frost covering the bare branches of nearby trees. Set against the azure sky, the effect was breathtaking. Until I moved to Alberta, I had never seen this kind of frost.  The ice crystals have formed on only one side of the branches.  It’s not only on trees.  The antenna on our truck looks like it has a fringe that froze in place as it stretched out in the breeze. I reach for my camera to capture this incredible sight.

Thank you, Lord, for showing me the splendour of your creation. The world around me sparkles like precious diamonds.

I am reminded that God delights in providing blessings in unexpected places. Even in the cold winter of my soul, when the hope of new life seems so far away, he is working for my good. His mercies are new every morning. I will rest in the Lord, knowing that winter is one of his precious gifts.

“He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes.” Psalm 147:16