My Hands Feel Empty by Carol Harrison

 

 

Lately, on many days, my hands feel empty. Even a pen slips from my grasp and my storytelling grinds to a halt. Moses had his staff, his everyday piece of equipment for tending his flocks of sheep. God used that in mighty ways. What do I have in my hands that God can use on days I feel like I am running on empty?

Sunday morning in the sermon, the pastor was preaching from Nehemiah 10. He reminded us that with all the sacrifices that needed to be offered, someone had to cut the wood and bring it as an offering or a tithe to God. Something often overlooked as we think of all that people gave to God from the animals to the temple offerings. Yet the wood was indispensable. Everything is important to God no matter how little it seems or how much in the background.

This got me thinking again of this month’s prompt of what is in my hands? Is there something still I can offer when my hands feel so empty? As I worked on this blog post I kept thinking of encouragement. It might seem like something small but to those it is offered to, it can be the difference in their day. Can I fill my hands, mind, and mouth with encouraging words and actions?

Yarn has a double meaning of storytelling with exciting twists and turns or continuous twisted fibres woven together for strength. In Ecclesiastes 4: 12 it says, “And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Together we are stronger. In Hebrews 10: 24 & 25 we read, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Stir up one another to love and good works. Encourage each other. Encouragement can be in my hands and help form a three-fold cord with others, God, and me. How can I offer this encouragement? It might be picking up my phone and making a call or sending a text or email. It might be picking up a pen and writing a note to send or give. It means offering a smile, giving a hug, reading another’s work and offering comments or leaving a review of a published book. There are so many little things that can be an encouragement to others.

As I thought of how I had been encouraged, Inscribe came to mind. I have learned so much from other writers, been given encouraging words, and helpful suggestions. Together we are stronger than alone. So what is in my hand is like yarn or a three-fold cord that is stronger than one strand by itself.

How have you been encouraged? How can you encourage someone else today?

 

Carol Harrison lives and writes in Saskatoon. She hangs on to encouraging notes to read on those days her hands feel empty. 

What is in Your Hand by Sharon Heagy

 

What is in your hand?

Well, Lord, right now I have a whisk in one hand and a bowl in the other as I ‘m making breakfast for my husband.

What is in your hand?

It’s called a Swiss Army knife. Spoon, knife, fork, saw, scissors, all in one handy gadget. I’m surprised you don’t recognize it.

What is in your hand?

A pile of bills that need to be paid, a to do list and a cell phone I need to answer as this ringing is driving me crazy! Oh, and there are half a dozen text messages and several emails to answer as well.

What is in your hand?

Do you mean stuff we own? We have a nice warm house for which I am truly thankful in this frigid weather. Oh, and thanks for the SUV. It’s really snazzy and comfortable and gets us from point A to point B lickety-split. Comfy chairs to sit in, except for that one. I’ve been meaning to talk to you about getting us a new one. Kitchen table with more chairs. Lots of appliances like a stove, refrigerator, washer and dryer. All those things that make life easier and give us more time. Shelves full of books. A bed to snooze on. I could go on but sorry, gotta run.

What is in your hand?

Maybe you’re talking about the wonderful folks in our life. My terrific husband and our three sons, two daughter-in-loves and 5 grandkids. Immediate and extended family who celebrate our triumphs and share in our sorrows. Fantastic neighbours and warm, encouraging friends. A fabulous faith filled church family we would be lost without. They help us through the dark times and sing praise with us at all times. Furry friends who listen well and share our space and cuddle up when we seem to need it the most. Wow, we truly are blessed, eh?

What is in your hand? Nothing you have mentioned is as important as the truth. Open your palms and look earnestly. Scrutinize each one from the tips of your fingers to the crease of your wrist. Look for the treasure there. Find what matters, seek the truth. What is in your hand?

Nothing. Nothing, Lord? There is nothing in my hands. I don’t understand.

Look deeper my child. Into the lines of every joint of your fingers, each line on your palm and every wrinkle. Follow the blood vessels underneath to the source of circulation. It is there I have written my word. Upon your heart. From your heart my words follow the life-giving flow down to your hands and to the tips of your fingers. Look again into the palms of your hands. Watch words appear and disappear into the crevices and cracks. As you prayerfully write, your words become beacons to a dark world and arrows to penetrate even the hardest heart and soul. You are “engraved on the palms of my hands.” (Isaiah 49:16 NIV) The hands that created you. From my hands flows the power which gives you breath and life. From my hands come the words you write when your heart is surrendered to me. All the answers you have given, the things that you have mentioned, will turn to rust, be eaten by moths or return to dust. (Matthew 6:19; Genesis 3:19 NIV) Though it may all be taken from you, you will always have me. It is I alone who fill your outstretched palms and will “never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV) Gaze upon your hands again. What is in your hands, child?

You, Lord. And You are all I need.

Sharon Heagy writes from Rockglen, Saskatchewan, where she lives with her husband, three cats and one very large dog, all of whom bring sunshine into her life. She writes to inspire and give hope, with a chuckle or two along the way. 

Focus for a New Year by Steph Beth Nickel

 

Photo Credit: Didgeman on Pixabay[dot]com

My word of the year is FOCUS. And while I have long-term dreams and aspirations, the things at hand require my focus.

As an editor, it is, of course, vital that I focus on doing my best for each of my clients.

As a writer, I have numerous ideas for books I would like to write. But for now, my focus must be on completing the memoir I'm coauthoring with Paralympian Deb Willows, a follow-up to Living Beyond My Circumstances. I will also focus on the blog posts I've committed to write and my monthly newsletter, as well as social media posts.

And since my hubby will be retiring in March, nine days after his 70th birthday, I will be focusing on helping him prepare our home of over 20 years for sale. Lord willing, either this year or next, we will be moving west to be near our son and his wife.

And most importantly, as a believer, I will be reading less of the Word each day in order to dig deeper and focus on what He's teaching me. 

While, in many ways, I won't be "niching down," as it were, I will be quieting my mind and focusing on the task at hand. Not easy for an eclectically interested, eclectically involved "extrovert on steroids," but doable.

So, my fellow InScriber, what is your focus for the new year?

To help you determine where your focus should be, you may want to ask yourself the following questions:

• What do I want to accomplish in the first quarter of 2025?
• Which of these tasks are important as opposed to urgent, as Stephen Covey says? ("Urgent" being those tasks that distract us from what we truly should be focused on.)
• Which tasks can I delete from my list or delegate to someone else?
• What tasks that are truly achievable can I add to my current list?
• What am I going to set aside in order to achieve my goals? Watching TV in the evening? That extra half hour of sleep in the morning? Doom scrolling?
• Which optional tasks get my mojo flowing? What are those tasks I'm driven to accomplish even if it would be easier not to?

And THE question we must ask as believers . . .

How is the Lord leading me this year?

As you look to what you have at hand and how it can glorify the Lord and bless others, may He give you the wherewithal to discern what He has for you this year and all you require to accomplish the good works He has prepared for you.

I Have My Doubts by Bob Jones

“I have self-doubt. I have insecurity. I have fear of failure. I have nights

when I show up at the arena and I'm like, 'My back hurts, my feet hurt,

my knees hurt. I don't have it. I just want to chill.' We all have self-doubt.

You don't deny it, but you also don't capitulate to it. You embrace it.”

Kobe Bryant

“Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good

we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.”

William Shakespeare

“Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.”

Suzy Kassem

Professional athletes have them.

So do classical writers like Shakespeare.

And people like Suzy and me.
 

Is there another quality that writers share in spades more than doubt? Even seasoned writers? Doubt, and specifically self-doubt, feels like a bad cold that won’t go away. After years of writing and thousands of published words, we may still doubt our ability to produce something that will resonate with readers. This post is a case in point.

The Inscribe writing prompt for January took us to Exodus 3, where Moses expresses doubt about his abilities. The Lord replies to him, “What is that in your hand?” Moses held a shepherd’s staff, an inanimate thing. And then God tells him to throw it down and it became a snake. A dead thing became a living thing, and a dangerous thing at that. So dangerous in fact that Moses runs from it! God says to pick it up by the tail and it returns to an inanimate thing. 

 

No doubt this is a timeless story that resonates with readers.

God uses Moses’ staff to demonstrate His power.

So, what do you have?

You have:

Smarts. You are intelligent, bright, witty, and clever.

Tenacity. You finish what you start.

Accomplishments. You make the effort to be successful.

Focus. You bear down on a task.

Fervency. You are enthusiastic about publishing.

How do I know these qualities are in you? 

 

Because you are a part of this community. You are reading, writing, posting, and publishing. You need a S.T.A.F.F. to accomplish all that.

Facing self-doubt is about throwing down your STAFF and seeing how God will transform it into life.

Vincent van Gogh said, “If you hear a voice within you say you cannot paint, then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.”

I am a writer and use what I have to write and write and edit and write and edit and write until something readable is created. Writing is about one thing: going into a room and doing it.

Doubt is overcome by doing. I throw down my STAFF and get going.

I do because of who God created me to be. And, as Olympian, Eric Liddell said, “I believe God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.” When we write, feeling God's pleasure is a way to dispel our self-doubt.

The first time I was asked to be a ghostwriter, I doubted my ability to do justice to the person's story. The first book went very well. Ghostwriting was an opportunity to glorify God through another person's story. The initial success was followed by a second and a third, both with the same nagging doubt. My hope for 2025 will be that I get a 4th and a 5th opportunity and once again embrace and work through the doubt.

And let's not forget that some of our doubts are planted by the Adversary. The Daily Bible reading group I am in is reading from the book of Romans (Romans 8:34) about Jesus interceding for us. When doubts invade your thinking, remember that Jesus is praying for you. Throw down your staff and get going.

Your writing will do good for readers and for God in 2025. No doubt about it.

Thank you for reading.
Bob writes at REVwords.