People Before Things

Who would have thought I'd find a lesson in my re-reading of Sense and Sensibility that actually dove-tails with themes the Lord has been keeping me focused on lately? Specifically, the importance of being a Mary in a Martha world. (If you scroll down, you'll see a few posts on this theme.)

In chapter six of S&S, just after we have been introduced to Lady Middleton, whose shortcoming is that despite being elegant and well-mannered, she is devoid of intelligent conversation, Austen says,

"Lady Middleton piqued herself upon the elegance of her table and of all her domestic arrangements, and from this kind of vanity was her greatest enjoyment in any of their parties."

Austen's point here is that Lady Middleton is wholly occupied, entertained, and concerned with the appearance and quality of her table--rather than the people surrounding it.
With her usual brilliance, JA recognizes that this is vanity.

We women love to rationalize our occupation with appearances, the beauty of our house, our cooking, as simply trying to do our best. We put pride in what we provide for our family, and in the way we take pains to decorate. This is natural and even necessary--to a degree.
Go beyond that degree, however, and it borders on nothing less than vanity.

There are times when I have been so worried about the appearance of my home that I have made the rest of the family miserable! Talk about getting priorities out of order--I get them completely backwards at times.

There's a magnet I've seen that sort of sums it up. It says: People Before Things.
It's also a good way to check my priorities from time to time. I ask myself, "Am I spending my time and effort more on people or on things? (the house, the shopping, myself, my goals, even my books)? Jesus' focus was always on people, not things. And he certainly has the right to expect us to put Him first--for he is not just "people", not just a person, but very God!

How about you? What makes it most difficult for you to put Him first, or to put "people before things" in your life?

This is a break from the usual. I'm running a contest for writers and want to spread the word, so today's post is not a devotion. Just FYI. If you write, know a writer, or want to start writing, read on:

PROMOTION FOR WRITERS:
ENDS SEPTEMBER 15:
Anyone who sends me (via email) proof of purchase
for one of my books from Amazon or Christianbook.com
(Or B&N.com, etc.) will be entered in a drawing to win an edit/critique of their manuscript, upto 300 pages, by me.

You can send me one chapter or a whole book (up to 300 pages) if you win, and I'll
give you my expertise for writing publishable copy.

The receipt must be dated from today through September 15th to qualify.

If you purchase more than one book, you will be entered more than once.
Each purchase is an entry.

My books are "Inspirational Romance for the Jane Austen Soul,"
and include
Before the Season Ends,
The House in Grosvenor Square,
and the upcoming release, The Country House Courtship,
all published with Harvest House Publishers.

I have attached the links to Amazon, but you may purchase the books
from any online seller and still enter the contest (with receipt).

YOU MAY ALSO ENTER by asking your friends or family
to get a book. If they are not writers, you can enter with their receipt. Just
state that you are doing so, with their permission. Or have THEM send me the
email receipt with your name and email as the entering writer.

Likewise, you can enter FOR a writer you know! If you win, you get the pleasure of giving them the gift of a free edit or critique of their manuscript.

NO ONE LOSES. IF NOTHING ELSE, YOU GET A BOOK THAT HAS GARNERED MANY, MANY WONDERFUL REVIEWS. It's a mini-getaway of a read.

You do not need to write romance to enter this contest. I can critique or edit
any manuscript with the following exceptions:
NO gore, no horror, nothing rated R for sexual content. ( I probably don't need
to say this for Christian writers, but better safe than sorry! )

SEND ALL RECEIPTS/ENTRIES TO:
Linore (@) LinoreRoseBurkard (dot) com

Thanks and GOOD PROVIDENCE!

Linore

FaithWriters Conference!

This past weekend I had the privilege and honor to be the keynote speaker for the wonderful writers, authors and poets of FaithWriters. It was so satisfying to hear people say they had learned much, and would be implementing many of the ideas and tools I gave them. I think the best part, however, was meeting new friends, and hearing how God was at work in the lives of others. I also enjoyed the opportunity to sit in on a few workshops given by other writers, and to hear Deb Porter give an interesting talk on the trends in the publishing industry of late. It's exciting to see God using others, and calling so many talents into his service!

We've all seen so many "Hollywood" Christians who are not genuine, or hypocritical, that it was a joy to give a workshop on "Creating Characters Strong in Faith." I think I"ll just give a really brief recap of some of the points of that teaching, since I know that many of you who follow this blog are writers:

FROM MY NOTES:

1. Writing a Christian Character Begins with Writing for the Lord.
Get with God and decide what your goals are for writing. Who is your audience? What message do they need to hear? Why are you writing this book? Are you convinced God is calling you to write? Having the answers to these questions will go far in giving you assurance and focus in your writing. Don't try to write a book for the whole world--that's impossible. Narrow your focus to the target audience you must reach, and write for that audience.

2. Writing a Strong Christian Character Requires BEING a Christian Character! You may be able to create all kinds of characters in your fiction without actually walking a mile in their shoes, but you will never be able to articulate properly the nuances of a personal walk with God, unless you are involved in one. How is your relationship with Christ? My characters can have experiences with the Lord that mimic things I've actually experienced in my walk with Him. Faking it will most likely end up giving your protagonists a wooden feel, rather than the ring of authenticity needed to make readers resonate and identify with him or her.

3. Writng a Christian Character Means Writing a Real Person--Flaws and All
Don't even think that a Christian character needs to be perfect--that would be fiction, indeed.
The only perfect person was Jesus Christ. You can give them the desire to be perfect in some way--this is human. But trying to make them superior to others will only come across as pomposity or hypocrisy. Having said that, however, do try to demonstrate that most Christians are sincere in their desire to grow in Christ; to be useful and helpful in life; to share with others the enormity of the love and grace they've found in the Lord; and to make themselves vessels of His love. Hollywood loves to portray Christians as less intelligent beings, or hypocrites. Use your writing as a chance to set the record straight. Are Christians perfect? By no means. But we haven't left our brains at the door, either.

Perfect Timing!: I JUST NOW got this email from a reader. This underscores the importance of drawing your characters as real people. This is what she said: "

I just had to drop you a line to thank you for Before the Season Ends! Such a joy to read! I get increasingly frustrated with the majority of Christian fiction's tendency towards predictable storylines, one-dimensional characters and sappy prose. Imagine my surprise when I found a book that not only spoke to my "Jane Austen soul" but had an engaging plot and a heroine that was neither a blameless saint nor a fiery bombshell that took offense at the least little thing but rather an all-together likable character. Thanks for the inspiration and, please, keep them coming!" C. Webb

4. To Write a Strong Christian Character, Write a Character-Driven Story.
Writers who craft plot-driven fiction seem to have a greater challenge creating believable protagonists. Ask yourself: Is my character taking actions that I need him or her to do simply to forward the plot? Or is their action a result of who they are, of their character? Just as you have goals as a writer, and a person, give your fictional people goals of their own. In addition to driving the plot, they can behave "in character," and not drive your reader nuts by doing things that don't jive with who they are. Personally, I can't finish reading a book if the protagonist acts like a plot-device instead of like a real human being. Don't let your creations fall into that trap!

5. To Write a Strong Christian Character, Write a Strong Character!
The bottom line in character creation is giving your protagonist individuality. This can take the form of quirks, eccentricities, passions that are inordinately strong for one reason or another--anything that makes them stand out of the crowd. Yes, you want them to be "real" which means, in some sense, ordinary. But never write them as ordinary! Our first view of your main character should include the extraordinary thing about them. How are they different? Why should we want to read about them? What is their problem? Get this done quickly so our interest is piqued right away.

My only caution in this regard is that you need to avoid OVER-doing it. Don't make someone ALL good or ALL bad. People are rarely black and white. The villain who is all bad comes off like a cartoon character. Eccentricities are great, extremes are dangerous.

There are many, many ways to write good characters, just as there are nearly endless workings of human nature. If you can't seem to write a real human being, who readers will see as living and breathing, go back to your goals. Get your goals straight, both for you as a writer, and for the protagonists in your book. Then, aim for that goal. Be sure to fill the path with lots of obstacles and road-blocks--believable ones, of course--and enjoy the journey!

Strong characterization takes a great deal of energy and focus, but the end result is a work that you can be proud of, and which will glorify your Lord.

photo courtesy of Lynda Schab, FaithWriter, fellow ACFW member, and lovely friend.

"Only One Thing is Needed"

I still haven't left the "Mary vs. Martha" musings, and I am going over the same chapter in a devotional I read (Disciplines for Life: Steps to Spiritual Strength, by C.J.Mahaney and John Loftness)-again and again. Why? Because I still haven't "got it." I mean, deep down in my soul--The truth, that sitting at the feet of my Saviour tops all of the Martha activities I fill my hours with.

Rest assured that neither I (nor Jesus) are undermining all of the necessary tasks we must do in life-tasks that take us from listening at His feet. But if we do manage to "get it"--the listening part, that is--then nothing can take us from Him, no matter how much activity and busy-ness we undertake. We may not always be able to sit still like Mary and drink in His truths and love, but if we do it enough, and learn to hear him well, when it is time to go forth and be about our business in life, we will go forth fortified and stronger.

Isn't this the same as having a daily quiet time, you may ask?
Well, yes, and no.

Even our quiet time can be done by rote, filled with our own thoughts, and we can miss hearing His voice. Oh, have I been there, done that.

Other times we are so convinced that what we are doing is part of our calling, that we barely wait to hear further instructions.

Mahaney quotes Charles Hummel, who points out that one way to discern between the tyranny of the urgent vs. "what is needful," is in fact by careful listening.

"He impresses on our minds the assignments he wants us to undertake. THE NEED ITSELF IS NOT THE CALL...The call must come from the God who knows our limitations."

"It is not God who loads us until we crack..."

Did you get that? The need itself is not the call! If you're like me, you often mistake the two.

More next time.....

image from theframeitshop.com/Nathan_greene

What A Relief!

I love this statement:

"If the Lord is your Shepherd, that means that you belong to Him and you’re His responsibility. Whatever desperate, dire strait you may find yourself in, it is His job to care for you, so let Him be your Shepherd."
(Nancy Leigh DeMoss)


I don't know about you, but I often seem to get myself backed up into corners, where time is short, but my responsibilities are huge. I don't know whether it's because I have an ongoing, insatiable need for drama in my life that I manage to get myself into that same sort of "dire strait," (only with different circumstances) again and again. As an author, I try to divert that dramatic turn in my personality into stories in my books. But somehow I still seem to create circumstances where I have a great deal to do, or write, or organize, with little time to do it.
Oh, I had time enough--but somehow I frittered it away, with other 'worthy' endeavours, and now the thing I must do, is pressing on me.

Like a little lamb, I feel like I have wandered and got myself lost. What a relief to recall that I belong to the Good Shepherd, and that "it is his job to take care of me," and I can consciously choose to place myself into His care, and mercy, and grace.

I am consciously doing that today.

How about you?


"YOUR ROD AND YOUR STAFF, THEY COMFORT ME." psalm 23:4

MARY Vs. MARTHA--REVISITED


Isn't it amazing how much can be wrapped up in a single scripture verse? Take the following, for instance:

"If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised." 1 Peter 4:11

Thinking more about Mary and Martha this week, (and how I tend to be such a "Martha personality") I couldn't help but wonder: Had Martha been serving with the strength God provided, would the Lord still have given her that gentle, earnest rebuke? I doubt there would have been any need to. Martha would not have opened herself to it.

When she went to Christ with her complaint, she was not seeking His strength. She was seeking, instead, to get Mary off her lazy tush so that she could bustle about and lighten Martha's load. Her eyes were on MARY and what she perceived as laziness; If she had been at all spiritually minded just then, she might have stopped to consider that mary was engaged in an important activity: She was actively listening to the Lord of Creation!

You could argue that maybe Martha didn't fully realize who Christ was; But she called him "Lord."

She tells him after her brother died that if He had only been there, he could have prevented the death. So she knows He is God.

Martha's problem, on that fateful day when her personal complaint was recorded for all of history, was that she wasn't thinking spritually--about God's provision--but only of herself.

Oh! As a mom in a household of seven people, I am often a Martha.
I look at my family and think, "Why aren't they doing more?"
If they were sitting at the feet of Jesus (or even reading their Bibles or praying) I could
handle it with peace, I think. But when they are watching TV or playing computer games, or reading, I believe I am correct in making them get moving to do their share.

Nevertheless, it sometimes feels like a tightrope walk: trying to remain conscious of the resources God gives me to be a mom and 'domestic engineer.' Or to discern whether I am falling into total self-reliance, forgetting to serve in God's strength. And what about the days when I look around and think, "Well, I don't have the strength to do all that needs to be done, so I guess it just won't get done," instead of seeking HIS strength.

Finding the balance of where I begin and end, and where God's help comes in, is not always immediately possible. For me, that is.

How do you do it? Will you share a story or incident, or your own take on this? I'd love to hear it!
Blessings,

Linore
PS: The text size refuses to behave and stay small. Does anyone else have this problem with Blogger?


photo from Fotosearch

The Tyranny of the "Urgent"

Have you ever noticed that when you start to pray you are sometimes instantly flooded with all of the urgent needs in your day? The things that must be done--right now! I mean, they can't wait another second! (At least it feels that way.)

Usually, I am prepared for this onslaught and can keep praying. In fact, the irony is that these things which seem so urgent are occurring to me just as I am praying, (and can get help!) which is twice the reason to stay solidly on my knees, or at my desk with my head bowed--and yet there are days when I succumb to that "urgency" and leave my Lord to "accomplish" something.

I firmly believe there ARE times to leave the prayer closet before you pray deeply, such as when you must take care of tasks which have been left undone--despite divine nudges. But these are few and far between. Some are:

• When unforgiveness has lingered, and you need to make something right. You may need to speak to that person, write a note, extend an invitation for a get-together, whatever the case may be. This IS urgent, for unforgiveness will come between you and your Lord and must be attended to. It is an ugly weed in your life and you need to get that thing at the root! (Asking for divine help to do so is wise, however.)
  

• When God has already been dealing with you to do a thing, and you have been dragging your feet. There are lots of reasons why we dread doing certain tasks in life, but if the Lord has already been dealing with you about something, then by all means, DO IT! Whatever the issue or task, it is not worth becoming a sin in your heart, which also comes between you and the lover of your soul.
  

• When other people will suffer from your absence. If your kids need you first thing in the morning, you must either get up earlier to pray unhindered, or take care of them first. Same for anyone else who is dependent upon you for their care or sustenance.
  

This morning when I went to pray, the usual onslaught of URGENT tasks hit me with a vengeance, including the "need" to write about that very thing here on my blog. I stopped to do so. For everything else that came, and continues to taunt me, I will give them all to Jesus. Right now. Because being Mary in a Martha world is the "better thing" that won't be taken away from me, ever. I hope you'll be a Mary today, too.

Affectionately,

Linore

I'm Back from Recent Public Speaking

I loved meeting and speaking to the Women's Book Club of the First Baptist Church of Roanoke, VA. They put on a luncheon fit for a queen, and were the friendliest, sweetest bunch of ladies you could ever want to meet. What fun it is to be an author!

I spoke about the Faith of Jane Austen and Every Woman's Search for Romance, and we had a really fun time. They asked lots of wonderful questions about my writing and both Before the Season Ends, and The House in Grosvenor Square.

I signed books and spoke to the fun-loving ladies of the Lifeway Christian Store Book Club in Atlanta, GA. This group is run by Nora St. Laurent, who let me "listen in" while she and her girls spoke candidly about my books. I discovered that some of the ladies had really strong feelings about some of my characters, particularly Mr. O'Brien, who one woman called, "a weasel!" They also admired Mr. Mornay to my heart's content, and told how they adored Ariana. I felt like they were talking about my own children. It was SO enjoyable! Having dinner with Nora was also wonderful, as it was to meet my friends Sandi Andrews and Vickie in Virginia the week earlier. One of the most gratifying experiences for me (aside from letters from readers) is having made some wonderful friends like Sandi, Vickie and Nora.

Another new friend I've made is Mimi Pearson. She runs the WildCard Blog Tours for excellent Christian fiction, and after touring two of my books, we were ready to meet for real. We got to swim together, visit the Linville Caverns and take a small hike to the Linville waterfalls. What a treat.

In August, I'll be teaching two workshops at the FaithWriters Annual Conference in Michigan. Check it out!

I'm hoping to post more pictures of me with my other new friends this week, so stay tuned.

Hugs,

Linore

A Thought for The Disciplined Life

"Through Scripture, creation, the church, and by his Spirit, God fills
the world with his voice. The only issue is, 'Are we listening?' "
C.J.Mahaney, Disciplines for Life.

How's Your listening, today? Have you taken some time to speak
to God and hear His voice? If not, take five and do it, now!

Sometimes, as the old song says, "It only takes a spark to get
a fire going!" If you're feeling lifeless, bring yourself to God and let
Him kindle that spark in you.

[Where have I been? Meeting my latest book deadline, and traveling, and entertaining company.
I hope you enjoyed today's little thought; I need so much time to be a wife to my husband, mom to my five kids, and manager of my home, that writing my daily devotions
was getting too time consuming--hence my "vacation" from this blog. My solution for now is that I'll be posting some "God-thoughts" a couple times a week or more--just a snippet from my devotional time with the Lord. I pray you will find them edifying, as I have.
It's good to be back!]
Blessings,

Linore

Download A List of "Indispensable Ingredients for Life"

from Nancy Leigh DeMoss and
Revive Our Hearts Ministry. Just click HERE.

It's short and sweet like any good morning recipe should be; and free.
Blessings,

Linore

Schedule and Priorities

“They want me to help decorate the church Saturday night, but I can’t even get my own house straightened up! What should I do?”

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: There are a lot of books and seminars on time management, but the best counsel comes from God Himself. I’m learning to submit my calendar and daily schedule to the Lord to seek His will for my priorities.

When interruptions come, I ask Him for wisdom to know whether they’re from Him or whether I should avoid them as unnecessary distractions. I try to remember Proverbs 16:3: “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”

There will probably never be enough time in a day for you to finish your whole to-do list. There definitely won’t be time for you to do everything everybody else wants you to do. But there will always be enough time for you to do everything on God’s to-do list for your day. When is the last time you asked for His direction?

With Seeking Him, I’m Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

[This post from Revive Our Hearts, with Nancy Leigh DeMoss.] I just love Nancy's brief daily devotions, and am happy to share them now and again on this blog--especially while I finish my latest book; which, by the way, I have just newly committed to Him. : ) What project or situation do you need to entrust to God? Do it now!

How’s Your Self-Respect, Lately?

“A kindhearted woman gains respect.” Pro.11:16a

Ever feel like you’re not getting the respect you deserve? Some moms feel this way routinely, but lots of people suffer the “lack of respect” syndrome, from comedian Rodney Dangerfield to the biggest celebrities, to YOU. Are you frantically trying to “be more,” “do more” “be better” to gain respect?

What do you do when it feels like you’re giving your life in service to others and not getting the respect you deserve?

Here’s a few suggestions: (from one who’s been there, done that. I’ve got five kids, a hubby, and a writing career, so I know the temptation to feel unrecognized.)

1. Remember that Jesus Christ, our role model, did not get the respect he deserved while on earth. If God himself in Christ endured disrespect, then we should not be surprised that we will face it too. In addition, if HE could take it willingly, so can we. This doesn't mean you should be a doormat, or let people walk all over you. The apostle Paul always stood up for his legal and civil rights. It just means that if your work and calling are not properly recognized, that is no reason to lose hope or abandon the tasks.

2. Give yourself the respect you deserve and stop looking to get it from others. Here’s a trick: Ask yourself how it would FEEL to be properly respected. Really try to imagine this FEELING. Then, go ahead and allow yourself to continue feeling it. When you give to yourself what you need, you will not waste precious time and energy seeking it elsewhere. God provides us with good reasons to be proud of our lives. Mothering, being a wife, a godly friend, a godly employee; using your God-given talents and gifts–all are reasons for self-respect. But how often do you stop and really soak it in when you do a job well? Take a minute every day, if possible, to RESPECT your jobs well done. Ironically, if you do this, and truly respect yourself first, the world will be more likely to follow your lead and respect you, too!

3. Be Kindhearted. Just as Proverbs 11:16 says, a “kindhearted woman gains respect.” So be kind to yourself as well as others. What does it mean to be kindhearted? It means your ACTIONS are kind. That you are a forgiving person. (It isn’t kind to hold a grudge.) It isn’t kind to put yourself down. If your heart is kind, then your mouth will SPEAK kind things. It’s not enough to mean well, either. Don’t say, “Well, I didn’t MEAN to hurt that person by what I said.” Determine to be kind-hearted, in word and deeds.

If you recognize a need to grow in kind-heartedness, ask God to help you. He is the “author and finisher of our faith.” He will help you grow in this area! Respect, from yourself, and from others, will follow. The knowledge that you are doing what God has called you to do, will be enough.

Dear Lord, Help me to find my self-respect in You, first and foremost. Teach me to receive the grace and kindheartedness that will open my heart to my own self-worth in your sight, as well as enable me to be kindhearted in my dealings with others. Grant me self-respect; and grant that I might grow in lovingkindness and good deeds, as you have foreordained for me. You are the Author and finisher of my faith. In Christ’s Name, I pray. Amen.

by Linore Rose Burkard. copyright 2008 Linore Rose Burkard. http://www.LinoreRoseBurkard.com

And the Winner Is.....

The blog contest I recently announced on some loops has ended, and the new subscriber who wins a book is Lynn--"My World of Art and Books."
Lynn, as soon as you see this, email me with your mailing address, and let me know if you prefer to get my first book (Before the Season Ends) or the sequel, (The House in Grosvenor Square).

Many thanks to all my new subscribers, and stay tuned for more contests in the future!

Thought for today:
In lieu of a full devotion, I'll just share a quick thought from scripture:

For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son...
Romans 8:29

Wondering what your destiny is, woman (or man) of faith? There it is, clear as a bell.
To be conformed to the likeness of Christ! No matter what circumstance we face in life,
we can ALWAYS know that this is the end result that God wants to bring about. Ask yourself today, "Am I trying to get with the program? Or am I fighting and kicking against what the Lord wants to do in me through this situation or person? "

Many blessings,

Linore

You may have surmised by now that I read a couple different devotionals. I don't always read each one every day, but I do play "catch up" if I need to, so I don't miss anything wonderful. (smile) I have reached the conclusion, however, that if I miss a needed message from one source, God will nevertheless speak to me through another one. He is so faithful.

Today, this brief message was encouraging to me. I'm facing a mega-crowded schedule, and I need the engery to do it all! I pray that it encourages you also.

From Nancy Leigh DeMoss:

God Grants Stamina

Lessons from the Life of Joshua (Part 11): Waging and Winning Spiritual Battles

Do you ever find it easier to start a project than to finish it? As he began his military command, Joshua fought some exciting, dramatic battles. But as the years progressed, stamina was required to finish the job he'd been called to tackle.

• The Christian life is lived, fought, and won one step at a time. There are no shortcuts, no such thing as instantaneous sanctification.
• There's no avoiding the enemy until we are through with this life--don't expect it to be easy. Don't expect instantaneous growth, instantaneous victory.
• The goal of the Christian life is to bring all things into subjection to Jesus Christ in every area of my life. Every particle of my life belongs to Him, but in order to get to that point, I'm going to have to fight battles on different fronts.

PS: Six more people subscribed yesterday--not enough for me to hold the drawing. I'm extending it for one more day, for that reason.

RULES: When TEN new people subscribe to this blog, I will choose from among them and award one person a copy of my latest historical romance, "The House in Grosvenor Square."

Subscribe by entering your email in the box at left. It's that simple! Winner will be chosen the evening after reaching the number of 25 subscribers.

Send your friends over! Thanks!

Do You Love to Sing?

I certainly do. And one of the sweetest sounds to my ears is when I hear one of my daughters walking around the house singing. My six-year-old does this with infectious energy. She is loud, freely ad libs as she goes, (I can always tell what's on her mind from her spontaneous singing creations) and she has absolutely no worries about whether she is on tune or not. In fact, it is her tuneless, heartfelt songs that bring me the deepest joy.

When she wanders eventually into the room where I am, she will come in still singing, and then sometimes stop and say, "Mom, did you like my song?" It is no stretch for me to open my arms to her and say, with utter honesty, "I loved it! Thank you for singing that."
Songs have a unique special way of bringing beauty into our lives.

Did you know that the Lord also loves music? Well, you're probably not surprised, since He created it. But I'm sure He delights in our singing to him the same way I delight in my daughter's--if not more so.

In Nick Harrison's devotional, 365 WWJD?, today's verse is this:

He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God. Psalm 40:3

He quotes J.R.Miller, who says, "God wants our life to be a song. He has written the music for us in His Word and in the duties that come to us in our places and relations in life. The things we ought to do are the notes set upon the staff. To make our life beautiful music we must be obedient and submissive. Any disobedience is the singing of a false note, and yields discord."

Nick's reflection says, "If your life could be a song, what would it be? "Amazing Grace"? "I Love to Tell the Story?" "Awesome God"? Whatever the song, Jesus would have it be a song of joy, praise, and thanksgiving, not a gloomy dirge... Leave the house today with a song "in your mouth, a hymn of praise to our God."

For me, the song of my life is "Something Beautiful." I don't know off-hand who wrote it, but
the lines, "Something beautiful, something good/ All my confusion He understood/ All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife/ But He made something beautiful of my life," convey my life story in a nutshell!

What about you? What's your song? Share it with us, or, sing it to Him today!

Image from: Project Gutenberg: Victorian Songs: Lyrics of the Affections and Nature
Devotional adapted from, 365 WWJD? by Nick Harrison, Harper

“But God raised Him from the dead” (Acts 13:30).

[Today's guest devotional is from Author and Speaker Kathi Macias. You can learn more about Kathi through the links at the end of this post. In case you're new here, I'll be using guest devotionals until I meet the deadline for my current book, which is the first week of June. ] Linore

We all know that nothing is impossible with God, but do we really believe it? How many of us are up against situations that overwhelm and dismay us, as we realize how impotent we are to overcome them? But do we also realize that’s exactly where God wants us to be—at the end of ourselves and totally dependent on the God of the impossible to get us through?

Acts 13:30 sums it up so well: But God raised Him from the dead. After Jesus was arrested and falsely accused, tortured and tormented, nailed to a Cross where He hung between heaven and earth—for us—and then sealed in a tomb, GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD. Think about it: It doesn’t get much more hopeless than being murdered and sealed in a tomb. But even then, God can bring life from death.

At the same time, it’s important to remember that the Father didn’t spare the Son when it came to the agony of the Cross. He didn’t take Him over or under or around it—He took Him through it. And that’s what He offers to do for us. As difficult as our trials may seem at the time, we don’t have to walk through them alone. Not only will He walk beside us if we take His outstretched hand, but He will carry us if necessary.

I recently re-watched one of my favorite movies, “The Hiding Place,” where I was reminded of this great quote: “There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.” Whatever you’re facing today and however deep your pit may seem, God’s love is deeper still, and there is nothing impossible for Him. Rest in that powerful truth, beloved—and watch Him bring forth life from the dead.

***Please take a moment to visit my website at www.kathimacias.com to sign my guestbook or leave a comment on my blog for a chance to win one of my new books.

***Also, please visit www.setfreetoday.com, where I serve as Spiritual Director. Come as you are…leave with a new beginning! Drop us a note or prayer request while you’re there.

Communicating the vision… (Hab.2:2)
alandkathi@ca.rr.com
www.kathimacias.com

Guest Devotional from Nancy Leigh DeMoss
The ChoiceI'm still using guest devotionals, and most likely will be until my current book manuscript is finished. I hope they bless you in your daily walk with Christ.
Hugs,
Linore

The Choice

Nancy Leigh DeMoss: A woman came to me one time and said, “How do you forgive a whole church?” She told me the story of how a year earlier the church had thrown out her dad as the pastor. They had sinned against him greatly. A lot of broken relationships had come about as a result of this situation.

This woman’s pain was still deep and fresh, but she was called to forgive. And in her case, she had to choose to forgive.

That’s because forgiveness isn’t a feeling. It’s a choice. It’s an act of my will. And it’s possible—thanks to God’s help. According to Philippians 2, God’s grace within us gives us the desire and the power to do whatever He has called us to do. Is there some area of hurt in your life? Ask God to give you His supernatural desire and power, and then—choose to forgive.

With Seeking Him, I’m Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

Guest Devotional: My Peace

I've been getting this wonderful devotional via email. It's an experiment on the part of Thomas Nelson Publishing in which they're giving a 30 day preview of the book, Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence, by Sarah Young, for free to readers who sign up for it. To sign up for your own daily devotion (for 30 days, not the entire book), click HERE.

Now, prepare to hear from the Lord! [This is not on the level of Scripture, of course, but it's lovely and sweet and in line with it. It feels personal, and as part of a daily prayer time and study of the Word, it's been edifying to me. Hope you feel that way, too.--Linore]

MY PEACE is the treasure of treasures: the pearl of
great price. It is an exquisitely costly gift, both for the Giver
and the receiver. I purchased this Peace for you with My
blood. You receive this gift by trusting Me in the midst of
life’s storms. If you have the world’s peace—everything
going your way—you don’t seek My unfathomable Peace.
Thank Me when things do not go your way, because spiritual
blessings come wrapped in trials. Adverse circumstances are
normal in a fallen world. Expect them each day. Rejoice in
the face of hardship, for I have overcome the world.

MATTHEW 13 : 46 (NKJV) ; JAMES 1 : 2 ; JOHN 16 : 33

[Excerpt from Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young]

Girl Talk: What did you think? Did this format of a devotion work for you? Why or why not?

Today is the National Day of Prayer

"One day, with one purpose.
To Pray.

Have you prayed today?"

Click HERE to post your prayer on the wall, and join tens of thousands of
other Christians as we pray for our beleaguered nation!

If You Live in Texas...

And are the parent, grandmother, aunt or guardian of a female "tween" (ages 7-12) you should check out the PURE IN HEART Conference, given by Revive Our Hearts (Nancy Leigh DeMoss).

Click the link to learn about dates, times, and place and to see a cool video.

If we lived closer to Texas, I'd love to take my 12 year old daughter to this!

The motto is "Planting Seeds of Purity in the Next Generation." Our youth today desperately need to know how precious they are to God: mind, soul, AND body! Kudos to Ms. DeMoss for
addressing this urgently needed topic. The media loves to hiss at abstinence programs, despite their undeniable success. This conference is NOT an abstinence program but a well-rounded, wholesome and godly approach for young girls to understand their value. Girls who know they are loved and cherished by God won't be the ones giving themselves away for the wrong guys.

The potential for avoiding grief, pain, sexual STD's and a host of other problems that befall young women who are looking for love in all the wrong places, is enormous. I urge you to consider attending this conference with your "tween!" It could be a blessing with an impact that will last for generations.