On Inspiration

You can't force inspiration. I'm learning this. I'm a lover of good writing and a lover, even more, of inspired writing.

Inspire= God breathed

I want God to breathe His Spirit into me, and for His breath to overflow into my writing, Into my life. Isn't that what most of us long for? But it can't be forced. I've tried.

I've written. I've erased. I've typed. I've posted. I've deleted. I've started again. Seeking the right words. Seeking Him. There is nothing wrong with that. Time is not wasted in poor writing. In fact, I believe some of my best writing has flowed out in the midst of some of my worst. In writing, as in life, God often meets us when we seem to be struggling the most. I'm counting on that. And as I seek Him, I'm learning when to hit post, when to hit save, and when to hit delete. As I learn, practice, and improve I'm clinging to my favorite advice:

"If you want to improve your writing, read good books." 

That's right, if you want to write good words, you must read good words. So if you want to write inspired words?  You got it... God's Inspired Word. I'm feeling the need to stop this post-delete cycle and slip away for some inspiration.

Gratefully Awake

Music begins playing faintly from the bedside table and I know it is my cue to awaken and start the day, but my body does not want to cooperate. I'm contentedly snuggled into my warm wooly blanket and tempted to keep on dreaming, but I drag myself from my comfortable bed and aim my feet in the direction of coffee. My early bird is waiting with excited anticipation for my door to open. He has been playing quietly by himself, anxious for someone to join him. I am greeted with hugs and smiles and "Can I wake up my brothers?" It's a school morning. "Yes, let's do." But even with the sunlight allowed to flood the room and a "Good morning!" greeting, my night owl is far from awake. I shake his feet and pat his back. "Time to get up." But he rolls over and pulls the covers over his head. He is like his momma. Coffee will be his friend some day. Beds made, teeth brushed. Another day set before us. A posse of 8 stomping feet come bounding down the stairs, racing for the breakfast table. God's blessings in the form of noise makers and egg devourers. The joy of my calling. My gifts, who persuade me to embrace another day and cause me to be gratefully awake.

Finding Courage

"A sword wields no strength unless the hand that holds it has courage..."(From Zelda)

 Courage: To be bold, to be determined, to persist in, to support, to withstand, to prevail. 

Longing to continually be bold in my faith, to persist in seeking the Lord and understanding, to support His cause, to withstand temptation...  How I long for courage.

Wield: To exercise power, to use (a weapon, instrument, etc.) effectively, to handle or employ actively.

Courage to exercise the power of God's Word effectively and actively. 

My prayer and my hope, the desire of my heart, my theme for 2012... May we have the courage to wield the strength of the Word of God; the Sword of the Spirit.

 Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD. Psalm 31:24

Happy New Year sweet friends!

The Christmas Lamb and Bread of Life

In the midst of the crowded yet desolate city he walked with his hands pushed deeply into the pockets of his tattered jacket, head tilted down to keep the wind from his face. The world bustled all around him... but he was alone.

His heart was heavy, and his stomach was hungry, and he searched for a place of warmth and comfort. He ducked into an alleyway; a temporary shield from the wind. But his frozen toes still curled tightly inside his worn-out shoes. He would find food here to appease the ache in his stomach. He watched as the bags were carried out and tossed away, then he silently slipped into a small familiar space between the cold cement wall and his dinner. His nose had grown accustomed to the smell, but his heart could not get used to the emptiness.

Just down the street she stood in the warmth of the kitchen slicing the Christmas lamb and arranging it neatly on the platter, while her friend broke the bread beside her and placed the pieces into the overflowing baskets to be placed on the tables. They had volunteered that day to go into the heart of that desperate city and prepare a feast at the shelter. They served contentedly along-side many others, hoping to offer the warmth of a fire and a filling meal to the cold and the hungry. They smiled a warm welcome, they wrapped compassionate arms around lonely shoulders, and they offered a simple gift of love to fill the empty hearts.

But he didn't know about the feast that was being prepared that day. He didn't know about the warm fire or the open arms to welcome him. He didn't know about the gift of love that was offered. So he remained in the alleyway alone, wrapping his thread-bare jacket a little tighter around his aching soul.


How will they know if we do not tell them? (Romans 10:14) ...that Jesus volunteered to come into this dark and desperate world (John 12:46), to wrap arms of compassion around lonely shoulders(Mark 1:41), to prepare a feast for the hungry (Psalm 23:5, Matthew 22:2), and to offer himself, The Christmas Lamb (1Peter 1:18,19) and The Bread of Life (John 6:51), as a gift of love(John 3:16).

Go therefore.... (Matthew 28:19,20)