13 Essential Activities to Successfully Attack a Big Problem by Zoe M. McCarthy

Zoe M. McCarthy

In 1 Samuel 13 and 14, Saul’s son Jonathan shows us how to attack a big problem.

Here are 13 essential activities (verses in italics from the NIV):

1. Identify my problem. I’m specific in details.

Jonathan’s big problem:

• Israel had become a stench to the Philistines.
• The Philistines were ready to fight the Israelites.
• Saul had only 600 men to the Philistine’s 6000.
• Israelites were poorly armed; only Saul and Jonathan owned swords.

2. Face my problem. Boldly. I don’t put off dealing with it.

Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.”

3. Realize challenges will arise. They’re a sure thing. I’m alert and ready to deal with obstacles.

On each side of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost was a cliff where Philistines were posted.

4. Recognize God is my essential resource. He’s the one who will give me success.

Image by AlejandroFaletti

Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf.”

5. Believe in God’s power. He can do anything.

Jonathan then said to his armor-bearer, “Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or few.”

6. Know my role. Am I a loyal follower, or a loyal leader?

Leader: Jonathan led his armor-bearer. “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men.”

Follower: “Do all that you have in mind, “his armor-bearer said, “Go ahead; I’m with you heart and soul.”

7. Make sure my actions are God’s will. I seek God before I act.

Jonathan set up a method to know God’s will. He said:

“Come on, then; we will cross over toward the men and let them see us. If they say to us, ‘Wait there until we come to you,’ we will stay where we are and not go up to them. But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the Lord has given them into our hands.”

8. Present myself for service. I courageously step out of my comfort zone.

So both men showed themselves to the Philistine outpost above them.

9. Proceed in complete trust. If God has called me, He’ll equip me.

The men of the outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come up to us and we’ll teach you a lesson.”

So Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Climb up after me; the Lord has given them into the hand of Israel.”

10. Perform the hard prep work. I attack the obstacles in my way, moving forward and refusing to give up.

Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and feet, his armor-bearer right behind him.

11. Carry through with vital activities that solve the problem. I do what is right and necessary according to God’s will.

The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and killed behind him.

12. Recognize success. God’s definition, not mine. GOD + me = Success

In that first attack, Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed some twenty men in an area of about half an acre.

13. Praise and thank God. I give God credit for giving me success.

Two men killed 2o enemies with one sword. Without God, we’d see this success only in the movies.

What vital activity have you failed to do while you’ve attacked a big problem?

13 activities to perform to succeed in solving a big problem. Click to tweet.

About the Author

Zoe M. McCarthy believes the little known fact that opposites distract. Thus, she spins Christian contemporary romances entangling extreme opposites. Her tagline is: Distraction to Attraction, Magnetic Romances Between Opposites. Christian Fiction Online Magazine published two of her short stories. Zoe self-published two books of contemporary Christian short stories. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She enjoys leading workshops on the craft of writing; speaking about her faith; planning fun events for her 5 grandchildren; and exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains, where she lives with her husband, John.
Learn more about Zoe M. McCarthy at her website: http://zoemmccarthy.com.

Calculated Risk
by Zoe M. McCarthy

Calculated Risk

What happens when an analytical numbers man meets a mercurial marketing Rep? Romance is a calculated risk…

Jilted by the latest of her father’s choices of “real men,” Cisney Baldwin rashly accepts an invitation to spend Thanksgiving weekend with a sympathetic colleague and his family. Nick LeCrone is a man too much her opposite to interest her and too mild-mannered to make her overbearing father’s “list.” Now, Cisney fears Nick wants to take advantage of her vulnerable state over the holiday. Boy, is she wrong.

Nick wants little to do with Cisney. She drives him crazy with all her sticky notes and quirks. He extended an invitation because he felt sorry for her. Now he’s stuck, and to make matters worse, his family thinks she’s his perfect match. He’ll do what he can to keep his distance, but there’s just one problem—he’s starting to believe Cisney’s magnetism is stronger than he can resist.

Purchase links for Calculated Risk: http://zoemmccarthy.com/books

Don’t Worry, God Will Orchestrate Faithful Lives for His Purposes by Zoe M. McCarthy

Zoe M. McCarthy

In Richmond, Virginia, I attended Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) for seven years. Recently, I heard BSF added a new study: Revelation. I wanted to go. My husband wanted to attend the study also, his first time in BSF. I prayed God’s will.

Now that we live in rural southwest Virginia, the two closest night classes were two hours away. If we joined a thirty-week class, we’d have to spend 30 Monday nights in a motel. Attending looked bleak. I continued to pray about the class.

As registration time approached, my sister and brother-in-law, who have attended BSF classes in Sunset Beach, NC, needed to move near Winston-Salem. Their new home would put them within twenty minutes of the BSF class in Greensboro, NC. John and I could spend the night with them, and the four of us could attend the classes!

But my sister and brother-in-law couldn’t move into their new place until well after the Revelation class started. And 800 women had signed up for the women’s night class, and 400 men for the men’s class. Accommodating 800 in the women’s host church was an issue. I continued to pray. I trusted if it was God’s will, He’d orchestrate our attendance.

God connected my sister and brother-in-law with a couple in their Sunset Beach church, who happened to own a second house 5 hours away in Winston-Salem. They used the house only occasionally, and it was thirty minutes away from the BSF classes in Greensboro. My sister and brother-in-law moved into the couple’s Winston-Salem house temporarily.

image by anielbaez0

BSF arranged for many of the 800 women to attend satellite classes in Winston-Salem. So, the four of have been attending BSF classes in Greensboro, and John and I spend every Monday night with my sister and brother-in-law.

But what about God’s purposes? I thought God wanted me to understand Revelation. Though good, God had greater purposes in mind.

Weeks into the BSF classes, I heard disturbing things going on in churches. As my heart grew heavy for our churches, I received a request from the leader of our local community Bible study. She would be unable to lead the class until the New Year. She asked if I would step in. I accepted.

I share with the class what Jesus says to our churches through Revelation chapters 1 through 3. I’m amazed how thirsty the women are to learn. Preparing the lesson is a great review and a joy. John is a lay speaker and the lectionary scripture for his next speaking event comes from Revelation.

God is revealing to us the purposes He had in orchestrating our lives, as He did for faithful Daniel on a much larger scale in chapters 1, 2, 6, and 7 in the Book of Daniel.

Are you worried about events in your life or writing career? Seek God, be faithful, and watch what only God can and will do.

Will you share a time when God orchestrated your life for His purpose?

Do you need encouragement with where you are in your life and writing career? Click to tweet.

About the Author

Zoe M. McCarthy believes the little known fact that opposites distract. Thus, she spins Christian contemporary romances entangling extreme opposites. Her tagline is: Distraction to Attraction, Magnetic Romances Between Opposites. Now retired actuaries, Zoe and her husband evaluated the financial risks for insurance companies. Nick, in Zoe’s debut novel, Calculated Risk, is an actuary. Christian Fiction Online Magazine published two of her short stories. Zoe self-published two books of contemporary Christian short stories. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She enjoys leading workshops on the craft of writing; speaking about her faith; planning fun events for her 5 grandchildren; and exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains, where she lives with her husband, John.

Learn more about Zoe M. McCarthy at her website: http://zoemmccarthy.com

Calculated Risk

Calculated Risk
by Zoe M. McCarthy

What happens when an analytical numbers man meets a mercurial marketing Rep? Romance is a calculated risk…

Jilted by the latest of her father’s choices of “real men,” Cisney Baldwin rashly accepts an invitation to spend Thanksgiving weekend with a sympathetic colleague and his family. Nick LeCrone is a man too much her opposite to interest her and too mild-mannered to make her overbearing father’s “list.” Now, Cisney fears Nick wants to take advantage of her vulnerable state over the holiday. Boy, is she wrong.

Nick wants little to do with Cisney. She drives him crazy with all her sticky notes and quirks. He extended an invitation because he felt sorry for her. Now he’s stuck, and to make matters worse, his family thinks she’s his perfect match. He’ll do what he can to keep his distance, but there’s just one problem—he’s starting to believe Cisney’s magnetism is stronger than he can resist.

Purchase links for Calculated Risk: http://zoemmccarthy.com/books

3 Tips to Seek Excellence in the Christian Publishing Industry by Zoe M. McCarthy

image by markus53

Excellence in the Christian publishing industry has troubled my mind and heart. This concern has a history.

The Christian who prophesied my mother’s salvation in March 2012, and whose statements came true, (see September post) handed me a paper in September 2013 that said God was taking me to a new level in my writing. She referenced Isaiah 43:18-19.

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

For months, I prayed about how I’d be involved in making streams in the desert, but I didn’t perceive any “new levels” emerging.

In February 2015, I heard the concept of writing with God instead of for God. I believed this was the “new level” to which God was calling me.

To my morning devotions, I added sessions to seek God and His will. I jotted in a notebook what I perceived from God.

Then one morning, I read Isaiah 58:11.

The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

Here was water in a wasteland again. So, as God promises to continually guide me, I’m working on continually seeking Him, especially in my writing, so I may become a spring whose waters never fail.

I’ve begun to understand my passion to share on my blog what I learn and research about the writing craft, marketing, and blogging. While I’m learning and seeking excellence, I hope others will too.

But I think God’s calling me and others to do more for the Christian publishing industry.

I think, performing the following 3 tips together, we’ll move what we do toward excellence.

1. Pray for the Body of the Christian Publishing Industry.

After viewing the movie, War Room, I fight longer in prayer for the Christian publishing industry.

I think we’re all part of one Christian “sub-body.” We need excellence from every individual part. So here’s those I pray excellence for:

Writers, agents, editors, publishers, marketers, reviewers, cover designers, typesetters, galley reviewers, bookstore employees, beta readers, critique partners, endorsers, publicists, and all who touch our books.

I pray God binds Satan from:

     discouraging any of us,

          tempting us to waste our time,

               blocking us in learning the writing craft and industry tasks, and

                    distracting us from seeking God.

For example, I prayed daily for months for an issue that would impact several authors. I prayed God’s will be done. The issue was resolved in an amazing way. (James 5:16)

2. Do something to improve others in the industry.

Daily, I see many helping others. How amazing it would be if we all used the time we complain and worry about our work to improve someone else in the industry.

     Encourage

          Fund

               Teach

                    Share

                         Critique

                              Mentor

                                   Judge

                                        Etc.

3. Move from Poor to Excellent in our work.

Poor → Good → Very Good → Excellent

EQUALS

Winging It → Working For God (Col. 3:23) → Seeking God (2 Chon. 31:21)→ Working With God (Prov. 3:6)

When we work with God, we’re safer from Satan’s ploys.

Seeking God is seeking excellence. Working with God manifests it.

If you aren’t already, will you pray for the Christian publishing industry and seek God while working on writing, publishing, or marketing tasks?

3 Tips to seek excellence in Christian writing, publishing & marketing. Click to tweet.

<<>>

About the Author

Zoe M. McCarthy

Zoe M. McCarthy believes the little known fact that opposites distract. Thus, she spins Christian contemporary romances entangling extreme opposites. Her tagline is: Distraction to Attraction, Magnetic Romances Between Opposites. Now retired actuaries, Zoe and her husband evaluated the financial risks for insurance companies. Nick, in Zoe’s debut novel, Calculated Risk, is an actuary. Christian Fiction Online Magazine published two of her short stories. Zoe self-published two books of contemporary Christian short stories. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She enjoys leading workshops on the craft of writing; speaking about her faith; planning fun events for her 5 grandchildren; and exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains, where she lives with her husband, John.
Learn more about Zoe M. McCarthy at her website: http://zoemmccarthy.com

Calculated Risk
by Zoe M. McCarthy

Calculated Risk

What happens when an analytical numbers man meets a mercurial marketing Rep? Romance is a calculated risk…

Jilted by the latest of her father’s choices of “real men,” Cisney Baldwin rashly accepts an invitation to spend Thanksgiving weekend with a sympathetic colleague and his family. Nick LeCrone is a man too much her opposite to interest her and too mild-mannered to make her overbearing father’s “list.” Now, Cisney fears Nick wants to take advantage of her vulnerable state over the holiday. Boy, is she wrong.

Nick wants little to do with Cisney. She drives him crazy with all her sticky notes and quirks. He extended an invitation because he felt sorry for her. Now he’s stuck, and to make matters worse, his family thinks she’s his perfect match. He’ll do what he can to keep his distance, but there’s just one problem—he’s starting to believe Cisney’s magnetism is stronger than he can resist.

Purchase links for Calculated Risk: http://zoemmccarthy.com/books

Have You Sought the Lord Daily Like Manna? by Zoe M. McCarthy

The Gathering of the Manna

Bernardino Luini [Public domain],
via Wikimedia Commons

God sent manna from heaven, giving wandering Israelites life. He similarly sent Jesus from heaven, giving believers everlasting life. Just as God directed Israelites to seek manna daily, He’s directed us to seek Him daily. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

I sought God continually the amazing week of my mother’s salvation.

At age 91, partially paralyzed, quiet, yet strong-willed Mom became angry about living in her debilitated, dignity-challenged state. She wanted to die. I believed God was giving her time to accept His offer of painless eternity with Him.

After she’d battled an infection, I arranged to visit her in the nursing home. The day before my flight, I attended a new Bible study and asked for prayer for Mom.

The leader prayed a powerful prayer claiming Matthew 18:19*. She issued this prophecy while the women vocally agreed:

• Mom’s salvation was done and would be manifested.
• God would bind Satan from interfering.
• Every Christian who entered Mom’s room would proclaim Jesus Christ.
• God would send an angel with me.
• All would be well.

I left the study doubting I fully believed the prophecy would happen. I believed I needed to overcome my unbelief.

The NIV Life Application Bible commented about *Matthew 18:19: “Two or more believers, filled with the Holy Spirit, will pray according to God’s will, not their own; thus the request will be granted.” After reading that, I sought God continually.

Fulfillment of the Prophecy:

• The first two days before Mom’s salvation, my morning devotionals delivered specific scriptures about women and others agreeing and God doing what they asked, e.g. Philippians 4:2 and Amos 3:3. After her salvation, the verses focused on being fully convinced that God is able, faithful, and does what he pleases.
• That evening when I entered Mom’s room, a Gideon New Testament surprisingly lay on her roll table. She was too sleepy to talk.
• The next morning, I knew, like Jehoshaphat, I was to sit still and watch God fight Mom’s salvation battle.
• Mom asked me to find Romans in the Gideon Bible. I did. Then she asked me to find underlined passages. I did.
• The day before, a therapist on her last day working at the nursing home had underlined Romans 10:9 for Mom. If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you will be saved. I asked Mom, “Do you believe that?” She nodded.
• Mom said a Gideon had visited and given her the New Testament.
• During Mom’s salvation moments, no one entered the room like they repeatedly did on past visits.
• When I wondered whether Mom’s nods were enough, my brother-in-law, unaware of my concern, answered my email about Mom’s salvation: “Don’t be discouraged… She ‘is’ saved!”
• Later, I learned that on Mom’s salvation morning, my sister attended a prayer meeting and 21 people prayed for Mom. Then my sister went to a Bible study and 15 people prayed for Mom. Also, a woman from my new Bible study lifted up Mom at church.
• During my last night with Mom, her favorite CNA joined us. She said she often told Mom about Jesus. She sat on the bed and gently sang hymns into Mom’s failing ears. (Mom died 5 months later.)

While I daily sought and gathered God’s manna that week, the prophecy was completely fulfilled. Now, I want to seek God continually.

<<>>

Seek God daily as if you’re an Israelite seeking manna. Click to tweet.

When have you sought God and He sent you daily manna?

Zoe M. McCarthy

Zoe M. McCarthy believes the little known fact that opposites distract. Thus, she spins Christian contemporary romances entangling extreme opposites. Her tagline is: Distraction to Attraction, Magnetic Romances Between Opposites. Now retired actuaries, Zoe and her husband evaluated the financial risks for insurance companies. Nick, in Zoe’s debut novel, Calculated Risk, is an actuary. Christian Fiction Online Magazine published two of her short stories. Zoe self-published two books of contemporary Christian short stories. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She enjoys leading workshops on the craft of writing; speaking about her faith; planning fun events for her 5 grandchildren; and exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains, where she lives with her husband, John.

Learn more about Zoe M. McCarthy at her website: http://zoemmccarthy.com

Calculated Risk

What happens when an analytical numbers man meets a mercurial marketing Rep? Romance is a calculated risk…

Calculated Risk
by Zoe M. McCarthy

Jilted by the latest of her father’s choices of “real men,” Cisney Baldwin rashly accepts an invitation to spend Thanksgiving weekend with a sympathetic colleague and his family. Nick LeCrone is a man too much her opposite to interest her and too mild-mannered to make her overbearing father’s “list.” Now, Cisney fears Nick wants to take advantage of her vulnerable state over the holiday. Boy, is she wrong.

Nick wants little to do with Cisney. She drives him crazy with all her sticky notes and quirks. He extended an invitation because he felt sorry for her. Now he’s stuck, and to make matters worse, his family thinks she’s his perfect match. He’ll do what he can to keep his distance, but there’s just one problem—he’s starting to believe Cisney’s magnetism is stronger than he can resist.

Purchase links for Calculated Risk: http://zoemmccarthy.com/books