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

Resurrection to New Life by Marianne Evans

Marianne Evans

Death, I’ve discovered, doesn’t always mean death with a capital “D” – that surrendering of this world for our Heavenly home (I know, I know, not real uplifting and encouraging so far, but stick with me, I’ll get there, promise!).

As we conclude the Easter season of Jesus’ death and victorious resurrection, I’ve given thought to the ways I’ve died—and risen—of late, and in that rising found the hope, the refreshment, the renewal and encouragement of resurrection and the sureness of God’s hand in my life and in my writing.

Let me explain.

First, the ‘death’ part. Over the last several months, writing has taken a necessary backseat to the rest of my life. We’ve replanted our lives in fresh soil after nineteen years of raising our family and establishing ‘home.’ We’re settled, and we’re acclimating, and we love our new digs, but talk about exhausting! Plus, our family has grown by one precious, joy-bringing soul as we welcomed our first grandchild. He’s just magical, know what I mean? He's local, so we love spending our spare time being doting grandparents. Everything is ‘new’ – and everything is different. A death to the life we knew before, a surrender, has leading me to the life God wants my husband and I to lead in the here-and-now as we enter what is obviously a new chapter of our story.

Grand-JOY!

Still, to be blunt and honest, the lack of writing time/focus was—and still is—making me crazy. Why? Because it’s my call. Non-productivity burns like fire in my chest. Storytelling is what I believe God wants and needs from me--even in those moments when I sit at the desk in my sparkling new office, prepared to write, and nothing comes to me. Oh, I have the plot ideas, and I have deadlines to chase, but finding the words, the scenes can be difficult.

#BostonStrong!!

Now, the resurrection part. These small ‘deaths’ have led me to trust. Breakthroughs do happen, and unexpectedly—like finding out my book finaled in a writing contest—like flying to Boston to cheer for my son who ran the Boston Marathon and finding myself in a plane, at 30,000 feet, swept at last into the heart of a Christmas story I'm writing that's set in Florence, Italy. 

Struggle calls me to a deeper commitment and faith, a stronger reliance on God, and not myself. So, my encouragement this month is to be fruitful according to God’s will. In other words, don’t fret the daily circumstances and frustrations. Rather, surrender to what is and be exalted in your calling, no matter what.

Because you know what? God’s got this.

Blessings, friends!

~~~~~

Marianne Evans is an award-winning author of Christian romance and fiction. Her hope is to spread the faith-affirming message of God’s love through the stories He prompts her to create. Devotion, earned the Bookseller’s Best Award as well as the Heart of Excellence Award. Hearts Communion earned a win for Best Romance from the Christian Small Publisher's Association. Finding Home won the Selah award for Best Novella. Marianne is a lifelong resident of Michigan and an active member of Romance Writers of America, most notably the Greater Detroit Chapter where she served two terms as President.

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Country music bad boy Chase Bradington is on the comeback trail. Fresh from rehab for alcohol addiction, and transformed by the power of Christ, Chase is battling to rediscover the music he loves and a career he nearly ruined. Then he meets up and comer, Pyper Brock, and instantly sparks ignite.

Pyper knows of Chase’s reputation, so despite a rampant attraction to the handsome and talented icon, she soundly dismisses his romantic overtures. Decades ago, her father, in a drunken rage, tossed her and her mother onto the streets. No way will Pyper make the mistake of falling for a man whose done battle with the bottle.

What happens when Chase’s quest to win Pyper’s love breaks down chains of resentment and eases the long buried wounds of her childhood? And what happens when Pypers father shows up in Nashville, clean, sober and seeking a chance to apologize?

Can Pyper follow a pathway to peace when it comes to her father? Can she fully trust Chase? Above all, can a sin damaged past be released in favor of forgiveness?

Releasing 11/1/2016 ~ Available for pre-order now at Amazon.com in PRINT and E-BOOK formats

When God Gives Us Pearls by Marianne Evans

Marianne Evans

My husband and I are in the process of selling our home. An adventure, they say. Right-sizing, they say. Well, had someone warned me about the work and emotion involved, I might have applied the brakes and said, “No way, baby!” But God’s in control, so on we go, and all kidding aside, I’m eager to explore this new season in our lives!

One of the treasures I uncovered as I sort and pack is a story I saved from over twenty years ago. Its impact remains, so I wanted to share. The story is titled Foil Boxes & Blue Velvet – Author, Unknown.

My prayer is that it encourages you the same way it encouraged me.

~~~~~

Jenny was a cheerful little girl with bouncy golden curls. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, five-year-old Jenny saw them—a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box.

“Oh, please, Mommy. Can I have them?”

The mother checked the back of the box then looked into the pleading eyes of her daughter. “They’re almost two dollars. If you want them, I’ll think of some chores for you, and in no time you’ll save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday is only a week away and you might get a dollar bill from Grandma.”

As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her bank and counted out seventeen pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores. She went to the neighbor and asked if she could pick dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday, Grandma gave her a crisp new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace.

Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel grown up. She wore them everywhere—Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only place she didn’t wear them was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.

Jenny had a loving daddy. Every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and read her a story. One night, when he finished the story, he asked Jenny, “Do you love me?”

“Oh, yes, Daddy. You know I love you!”

“Then give me your pearls.”

“Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. You can have Princess—the white horse from my collection. She’s my favorite…but please, not my pearls.”

“That’s okay, honey. Daddy loves you. Good night.” He brushed her cheeks with kisses.

A week later, after story time, Jenny’s daddy asked again, “Do you love me?”

“Daddy, you know I love you!”

“Will you give me your pearls?”

“Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. You can have my doll—the brand new one I got for my birthday. She’s beautiful, and you can even have her little yellow blanket. Please, Daddy, not my pearls.”

“That’s okay, honey. Sleep well and God bless you. Daddy loves you.” As always, he brushed her cheeks with gentle kisses.

A few nights later, at story time, Jenny sat on her bed. When Daddy came close, he noticed her chin trembled, and tears rolled down her cheeks.

“What’s the matter, Jenny?”

Jenny didn’t say anything but lifted her hand. There rested her little pearl necklace. “Here, Daddy. It’s for you.”

Tears gathered in his eyes as Jenny’s Daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime-store necklace and with the other hand reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls. He gave the case to Jenny. He had had them all the time. He was simply waiting for her to give up imitation jewelry for genuine treasure.

So much like our heavenly Father.

Be blessed, friends, and may you always rejoice in the genuine treasure of Christ!

~~~~~

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Can you give up dime-store jewels for genuine treasure?

Do you choose foil boxes or God’s jeweled velvet?

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Aiden Balfour has always craved stability, independence and security. He’s led a rocky life but always treasured his summers in Northern Michigan with his best summertime friend, Olivia Masters.

Olivia is dedicated to preserving the life she’s known and always treasured at her grandparent’s home high on a bluff overlooking the pristine waters of Avalon. With their blessing, she’s turned the expansive piece of property into a quaint, restful bed and breakfast.

But developers are circling—and they’re led by none other than Aiden Balfour.

Now an ambitious businessman, he’s determined to turn the lake into a tourist mecca. A successful business owner, Olivia is equally determined to stop him...no matter what his hold on her heart.

Can the innocent joy and love of their youth be reclaimed? Can Then…and now…ever be reconciled to a future overflowing with love, and hope?

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Then & Now is part of Pure Amore, a Christian New Adult imprint and book of the month subscription service. Find out more at Pelican Book Group!

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Marianne Evans is a multi-award-winning author of Christian romance and fiction with over twenty titles to her credit. Her hope is to spread the faith-affirming message of God’s love through the stories He prompts her to create.

Happily married and the mother of two, Marianne is a lifelong resident of Michigan who is active in a number of Romance Writers of America chapters, most notably the Greater Detroit Chapter where she served two terms as President.

Connect with Marianne:

Website ~ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Amazon ~ Pinterest