Thankful - Glynis Belec

  

A+ Nice poem, Susan!

An acrostic poem is always the one my students pick if given a choice. An acrostic is easy to write because it doesn't need to rhyme. Often a name is the focus. "Easy-peasy," Susan utters as she scratches out a few words on the paper. No need to worry about the rhythm of the lines either. Each line can be as long or as short as Susan, the creator, wants it to be.

As I was contemplating my post and how thankful I am for each waking moment, I wondered if I might dare present my thoughts today, in a form I will brazenly dub - an extended-acrostic! Here we go:

On Being Thankful...

Time after time I mess up. I really did mean to send that card, make that call, send that donation, God. I know I sometimes must seem all talk and no action. I don't know why that is. I murmur about not having enough hours, enough money, enough strength. Then I feel shame-faced as I see those who have less than me doing what I should be doing. Forgive me, Lord. I will try harder. I truly am appreciative of Divine Grace.

Harmony in a home is what you desire. I know that. Sometimes I instigate and toss my patience out the back door. I forget the world doesn't revolve around me and I want my own voice to resonate. Thank you for reminding me to stop and think before I speak and for letting me know that sometimes I can say it best by saying nothing at all.

Abba, Father. I surely am grateful that you know my heart. I play the game, don't I? I pretend to have it all together on the outside. Especially on Sunday where I gather with others to worship. Someone says, "How are you?" I lie and say, "Fine." I really am dying on the inside but I don't want to reveal my heart and seem weak. So I smile and move on. Why do I see the church as a haven for saints instead of an emergency room for sinners?

Normal. Whatever is that? I keep waiting. Maybe when I make it to that magic five year number being cancer free. But my happy hubby - recently diagnosed with leukaemia - does that mean I need to wait another five years for normal? "Be still, my child," You say. "I have it all under control." Thank you, Jesus. I needed to hear that.

Michael Bull Roberts speaks in Drayton. What a message! 

Kindness, "...is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see." Mark Twain once wrote. Teach me not to attach strings to those times when I can offer a hand to someone. Let me never feel obliged because of religion but, rather, let the blessings pour out of me because of the blessings that you have poured into my life. I learned that from Michael Bull Roberts last week. He spoke about horror and the consequences of poor choices but he didn't stop there. He shared how You, Lord, showed the greatest kindness of all and extended your Grace to him. Thanks for teaching me, through that big, tattooed, former drug lord, turned crusader for Christ, how a heart can be changed because of kindness.

Forgiveness is that final form of love. For God so loved me and everybody else, that He gave Jesus to die on the cross for sin. That is pretty sickening when I really stop and think about it. Not the part that I am forgiven. (That's the truly amazing part) but I mean the part where it was because of my selfishness and because I was so wrapped up in myself that I didn't even think. And I still do things that I shouldn't - that are sinful. Yet the blood of Christ covers it all. Precious Lord, how I am beholden to you.

Unconditional love? Do I exhibit that in my day to day? I like to think so, but what is that rumbling? I want to strike out; point out error; announce that I was right. Then if someone won't listen to me or criticizes my judgement, then I want to retaliate; react; even the score. Then I remember how you forgive and love me anyway. I need that example. I need to daily consume Your Word. It's funny...when I do read your precious words, I feel somehow rejuvenated and more able to love. Thank you for teaching me and loving me consistently and without condition [just like you do.]

Love - and the greatest of these [Fruits of the Spirit] is love. If it wasn't for the love of God, I may as well believe that this world was created in a big bang or something crazy like that? But how can that be? God loves His creation. He perfectly made everything and everyone for a purpose. I want to keep trying my best to please God as I journey on. It saddens me to think I break God's heart. I think that is because I love Him so. If I didn't, would I care? As I gather with my family for a Thanksgiving meal, I will look into the faces of each one of my relatives - young and old, and I will say 'Thank you." Love brings us together. Love brought us into being. God is love. and for that, I am truly thankful...

T-H-A-N-K-F-U-L!

InScribers Review: Prostate Cancer, My Story of Survival Survival

Author:  Bryan Norford
ASIN: B00914PNBW
No. of Pages:  73

Available from Amazon - Kindle edition - $7.99
Directly from bryannorford@shaw.ca
From Pebble Press, www.pebblepress.ca 
$12.00 plus shipping


Summary by:  Bryan Norford

A stitch in time saves nine ~old proverb~

I didn’t have stitches, but many staples did the same job. My stitch in time should have been earlier diagnosis of my disease, avoiding the use of stitches or staples at all. A simple blood test for prostate cancer can provide early detection.

A sudden acute bladder infection alerted me to something wrong in my pelvic area. Without that incident, and a subsequent diagnosis of prostate cancer over three years ago, I would probably not be alive to tell this story.

The idea that men die with cancer, rather than from it, can be deadly if the disease is not caught in its early stages. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer to affect men, afflicting 25,500 Canadian men each year, and one in seven of those will die from it.

My latest book, Prostate Cancer: My Story of Survival, just released, tells the story of my pilgrimage through this disease from diagnosis and treatment to recovery and outcomes. The book is derived from blogging through the journey, even from my hospital bed following extensive surgery.

What changes did prostate cancer make to our lives? How did our children and adult grandchildren respond? How did I deal with the disease and what was the reaction of my wife Ann? What were our mainstays through this journey? For us, our Christian faith played a major role, and you will find references to it throughout the book.

My devoted wife, Ann, was a strategic asset in my journey. A woman is often more perceptive than a man of the implications at various stages of discovery to recovery, and the inevitable watching over a husband’s lifestyle becomes more critical.

Thanks to a local skilled surgeon, I am currently on yearly check-ups. There is life after prostate cancer with early detection, proper treatment, and care. Even if treatment results in some functional changes, life is still a joy and to be lived fully. Men! Be sure to have that check-up soon. It could save your life.

Who Are You Working For? - Janis Cox

Last month we wrote about all the ways we can market, promote, and get better at writing. There were some wonderful ideas to help us with the craft of writing. But without God they are worthless.

Do you ever force yourself into doing something that is not in God’s plan? I notice when I say yes to something before talking to God - I find out I would have been better not to have said YES. Sometimes saying YES before prayer leads me to where I don’t experience the joy or fruit of my endeavour. God's answer may have been NO.

I am coming to the conclusion (and yes, dear writers, I am using the passive tense because it is an on-going conclusion) that maybe just maybe … I should LISTEN more to God rather than doing things in the name of God.

Then I read from Philippians:

“for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Phil 2:13 NIV).

I need to have God in me in order to fulfill His good purpose – not my purpose. Oh there it is ME once again. ME.

Do I take those jobs or work on something because “I can do it” or because God wants me to do it? Do I work at something before I ask God about it? Am I in step with Him?

I want to remember that it is God working through me not me working for God.

I want to take time to LISTEN to what God wants and not to hear just what “I” want.

What do you think? I wrote about this for Under the Cover of Prayer last Friday. Obviously this has been on my mind. Do I Listen to God?

Janis Cox

Janis, a former school teacher and small business owner, found a new passion in writing in her retirement.She has published a couple of devotionals and a number of articles. Her Bible study is available in PDF.

As owner of Under the Cover of Prayer she writes often.

Her children's book, Tadeo Turtle, is scheduled for release in October.

Email her at Janis or visit her at www. janiscox.com.

Flipping the Perspective Coin - M. Laycock

This is the season of golden light in Alberta. This fall has been glorious with temperatures remaining in the mid twenties, Celsius, for some time. It's the kind of weather that makes me want to go horseback riding, a hobby I have loved since a young child. Unfortunately my riding days are over due to a leg injury that happened when I fell while rock climbing on the cliffs of Lake Superior's north shore. The injury has finally caught up with me and keeps me from doing some things I have enjoyed in the past. It's a loss I feel deeply at times, but then, the doctors once warned me I might be in a wheelchair by now, so I'm counting my blessings.

It seems there are always two sides to the perspective coin. You can either look at all the frustrations and barriers that will continue to arise in your life and in your career, or you can focus on the obstacles that have already been surmounted and the answers to prayer that helped you leap over them.

There are times when I get frustrated with the barriers in my life and writing career, but then I remember …

My second novel, A Tumbled Stone, was published because of the generosity of a friend and the answer to the prayers of many more.

I’d prayed about the money needed to submit to A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider and three speaking engagements popped up, giving me enough to submit and purchase a few copies. God supplied what I needed just in time.

A spontaneous decision to submit a YA manuscript to Steve Laube at Write Canada led me to ask for prayer and that led to an encouraging interview and his request for the full manuscript. Once again, prayer opened doors.

Recently I prayed that God would begin to open up speaking engagements for me. After being out of the loop for over a year due to a battle with cancer, I was a bit worried that it would take a while to build up that part of my ministry again. Then I was asked to speak at a Spring Tea; another woman called to ask if I would speak at a few Christian Women's clubs in Central Alberta and another invited me to speak at a retreat in Saskatchewan. I'm now in the place of having to pick and choose which engagements to accept. God answers. God provides.

Sometimes the perspective coin lands on the wrong side and when it does I am blocked by the burdens of frustration and disappointment. It's at those times that I have to make the choice to flip the coin over. Counting the blessings releases the joy of contentment and renewed enthusiasm.

So go ahead, flip that coin.

****

Marcia's devotional ebook for writers of faith, Abundant Rain, is now available on Amazon. Visit her website for more information on her speaking and writing ministries