Reassurance

Reassurance
Net's Notation Tuesdays
Refreshed by God Series

Have you ever wondered if you were on the right road as a writer? I watched the awards ceremony blog feed for ACFW this last weekend with a touch of sadness. I hated missing conference, but it wasn’t meant to be this year. I remember sitting there at the awards banquet many times over the years. I remember the anticipation in the air and the joy. The electricity. This year as I read the blog feed, I wondered “Where do I fit here now?”

I took a break from conference this year due to finances. So, it’s not as if I’m bowing out of the field. *smile* In fact, I’m moving in a different direction as an editor, so I’m really not leaving the field.

And I’ve been writing lately, too, with ACFW’s Novel Track: Writing challenge (which I hope to participate in again in October). But I don’t have a second book published. I feel like I’ve been working hard and learning and growing and things are changing, but the things I’d like to see happen, aren’t. (sometimes)

Can you relate with that?

So, I need God’s reassurance. I need Him to come along and remind me I’m on His journey, not the one I’d design for myself (which, by the way, wouldn’t include even a drop of the wisdom God’s design does).

The great part, though, is I’m still meeting fantastic writers and learning the craft and growing in the field. God’s given me fantastic friends and learning ops. I’m very grateful for all of it!

Sometimes the best assurance comes from counting one’s blessings. Can I hear an AMEN? *grin*

I know this: God is my source for assurance and reassurance, for affirmation and reaffirmation. He will see me through to wherever He wants me.

And that’s all the reassurance I need. How about you? How has God reassured you lately?

Refocusing

Refocusing

Net's Notation Tuesdays
Refreshed by God Series

“Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.” (Matt. 6:6, MSG)

Just last week, I spent a few hours studying great Scriptures having to do with God’s love. I ended up making two lists. One contained verses of God’s love for people. And the second contained verses of our love toward God. What a difference it made in my day, in my week, to focus on the love of God. So much joy, and peace over my circumstances. Everything about the day became visible through the lens of His love. Sunshine, family time, commitments, work, everything was brighter because of that reassurance.

When we spend time with God as a part our daily devotionals, we get refocused on what matters. We can see more clearly what God has called us to do. We can verify we’re on the right track as writers and as children of God called according to His purpose.

If you’re feeling scattered, I recommend taking time to be with God and hear from Him. Pursue Him until He speaks.

If you’re stressed, go to Him. Hear Him whisper (or shout?) “Peace, be still” over your anxieties and give you the rest you desperately need.

If you’re uncertain, focus on Him.

Sometimes, we don’t need more focus on our writing craft, though, if you’ve been a reader at Seriously Write long you know we take the craft of writing seriously. Sometimes (oftentimes) what is needed is to refocus on the Lord.

If writing has moved into first place, refocus on the Lord. Put Him first and everything else will fall into place.

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Matt. 6:33)

By refocusing, we position ourselves for God to refresh us as His writers. I need more of that. How about you?

Annette

Rejuvenating

Rejuvenating
Net's Notations Tuesdays
Refreshed by God Series

Spiders. In August, the spiders come out with a vengeance, weaving their webs everywhere. I’m guessing it’s because they’ve grown over the summer months and now, with flies jetting about, they’d like to find some dinner. Their silken webs stretch from lawn furniture to bird feeder, discouraging a harmless stroll through the yard. Walking along, I’ve nearly inadvertently stepped right into a web, which would mean wearing that eight-legged creature. Not a good idea.

So, last Saturday when I had the opportunity to water my container plants, I didn’t. The weatherman had promised rain. I was hoping we’d get that shower and I could avoid the arachnid threats.

Then, yesterday—due to lack of water—they were looking rather wilted. So, I watered them like crazy.

And today, it’s pouring! *grin*

That’s how I get if I don’t get enough time with God—wilted. Thing is, unlike my potted flowers, which are dependent upon someone coming along with water, I have access to God’s Word and prayer at any time. Even if a Bible isn’t nearby, I can recall Scripture, and I can certainly pray. I don’t have to get to that point.

Why do I let myself get to the point of wilting? Busy-ness. Pursuit of other things. Excuses.

I just need to go encounter Him, to raise my wilted branches toward the sky and ask Him to rain down on me, refresh me, rejuvenate me.

Are you feeling dry and needy? Here’s God’s invitation:

"Hey there! All who are thirsty, come to the water! Are you penniless? Come anyway—buy and eat! Come, buy your drinks, buy wine and milk. Buy without money—everything's free! Why do you spend your money on junk food, your hard-earned cash on cotton candy? Listen to me, listen well: Eat only the best, fill yourself with only the finest. Pay attention, come close now, listen carefully to my life-giving, life-nourishing words. I'm making a lasting covenant commitment with you, the same that I made with David: sure, solid, enduring love.” (from Isaiah 55)

Revived

Revived
Net's Notations Tuesdays
Refreshed by God Series: Three

Do you ever feel weighed down? Weak, weary? Worn out? Sometimes we just need to take a break and breathe, and let God revive us.

I think that’s why we hold church services at least once a week. You might get drained during the week, but go to church over the weekend, participate in worship, hear the Word preached, and get revived.

Sometimes doubts can cloud our dreams. How difficult is the whole submitting and waiting to hear back process for you? What about receiving rejection letters? Look at this:

I'm homesick—longing for your salvation; I'm waiting for your word of hope. My eyes grow heavy watching for some sign of your promise; how long must I wait for your comfort? There's smoke in my eyes—they burn and water, but I keep a steady gaze on the instructions you post. How long do I have to put up with all this? How long till you haul my tormentors into court? The arrogant godless try to throw me off track, ignorant as they are of God and his ways. Everything you command is a sure thing, but they harass me with lies. Help! They've pushed and pushed—they never let up— but I haven't relaxed my grip on your counsel. In your great love revive me so I can alertly obey your every word. (Psalm 119:81)

God wants to revive us so we that we can serve Him well. Sometimes our problems and disappointments distract us from the path God wants us on. We need to fix our eyes again on Him and let Him revive us.

Sometimes we just grow weary. Has the warfare been fierce where you are lately? Here’s a promise from the Lord for all of us as writers as we build His kingdom:

God-of-the-Angel-Armies will step in and take care of his flock, the people of Judah. He'll revive their spirits, make them proud to be on God's side. God will use them in his work of rebuilding, use them as foundations and pillars, Use them as tools and instruments, use them to oversee his work. They'll be a workforce to be proud of, working as one, their heads held high, striding through swamps and mud, Courageous and vigorous because God is with them, undeterred by the world's thugs. (Zech. 10:3)

If you can relate with this, give the Lord an opportunity to revive you this week. He wants to. Then, you’ll have the strength and will to carry on.

You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing. (Psalm 23:5)

Refilling

Refilling
Refreshed by God Series

Net's Notations Tuesdays

Last week we talked about following our Good Shepherd to the places of refreshing. Today we’ll talk about what can happen when we follow that nudge, let ourselves be drawn to a place of refreshing: refilling!

Like parents or pastors, we writers give and give, which means we’ll need refilling.

We need fresh insights and words from Him so we can pour out.

That’s why I like this waterfall image. The water from above refills the pool below. Moving water. Refreshing. Cool. Life-giving water.

You don’t have to “get away from it all” to be refilled. Just spend some time with God. Find a quiet place, grab your Bible. Pray. Listen.

But again it’s a question of willingness and choosing to be refilled.

By design, Christians are like those fountains where the sculpture character holds a spilling pitcher. Water is pumped up to pour from a pitcher into the pool below. We weren’t meant to hold onto the water, but to let it flow from us to the pool waiting below.

Collected water goes stale—lets mosquitoes breed. So, we want to pour out on others. Moving water is living water. And God is the source inside us.

Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, "but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 14:13-14)

But we’re finite, so we need continued refilling. The great part is, God is willing and able to refill us as often as we need. Make the secret place a priority, get refilled daily.

Refreshed by God Series: One

Refreshing
Refreshed by God Series One

Net's Notations Tuesdays

It’s vacation season, or you could call it summer. *grin* Where is your favorite place to go? Kids are out of school, weather turns nice. You get away.

Well, now that summer is winding down, are you planning any last minute trips to get away?

One summer, we took our usual trip to a favorite spot. Whole family piled into the van and off we went with gear galore. (the only way to travel)

As often happens, I anticipated great inspiration and some downtime to write while away. So, my laptop was tucked into the van as we headed out.

We arrived at our location, unpacked and settled in. Kids trucked down to the beach. Husband grabbed a good book or some other project and it was time to write! Unpack the laptop, search for the cord. No cord. Uh-oh. Really? No electric cord? No way to recharge my elderly battery which cannot hold a charge no matter what I do? Drains in about 2.5 minutes. Ugh! I forgot my cord.

Then I hear God tell me He wants me to truly relax. To set the computer aside. (I don’t write without it—i.e. paper and pen—too frustratingly slow.) To rest. To relax. To let Him refresh me.

What a concept—take a break!

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters. (Psalm 23:1-2)

Thing about that beautiful passage as it relates with our being refreshed—we have to follow the Good Shepherd as He leads us to destinations meant to help us relax. Can I hear an Amen?

Suppose I had grabbed a pen and notebook and hid in the back bedroom and defied the gentle command to rest? Welcome, resentment. Welcome, bitterness. Welcome, frustrating vacation. But I didn’t. I recognized the loving care of my Shepherd and actually took a much-needed break from writing and its stressors. Sat in the sunshine. Communed with family and the Lord. Journaled. Rejuvenated.

A true vacation.

Is God gentling drawing you away for some R&R? Follow. You’ll be glad you did.