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 deleted. I've started again. Seeking the right words. Seeking Him. I would choose to leave the pages blank over filling them with words that are not of Him. But when I struggle to find my voice, I will press on in the searching, because in writing, as in life, God often meets us when we seem to be struggling the most. As I seek Him I'm clinging to my favorite advice:

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

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 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..."

 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!