Where travel meets God
In the writing and editing community, we have the power to pray that our fellow writers and editors be given the words to “fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.”
Ephesians 6:19 (NIV)—Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.
Deuteronomy 30:6 (ESV)—And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.
On the day I visited the Grand Canyon, clouds softened the rays of the sun, except for one brilliant spotlight of sunshine far in the distance. This spotlight offered the hope of warmth on this breezy thirty-some degree day, where the shadows on the rocks made the canyon look like a painting, the layers of red and beige sandstone in stark contrast to one another and the sheer cliff face dotted with patches of snow and shrubs.
In Deuteronomy 30, Moses reminded the Hebrews of this spotlight of hope. He said that if they’d turn their lives over to God, fully and completely, they’d experience a stark contrast from curses to blessings and they’d no longer be scattered like shrubs throughout the lands. God would turn the spotlight on them, gathering them together and circumcising their hearts.
God’s promise reaches us today. If we turn our lives to him, working toward our eternal reward, he’ll shine his spotlight on us, gathering us in Christian community and circumcising our hearts to restore our spirits.
From the famed red rocks to ruins to lava fields, Arizona bursts at the seams with amazing sights. Enjoy these photos from my latest adventure!
Writers and editors, rejoice in the power of words! God has given us the ability to create words that produce gladness in another’s heart. Devotionals, curricula, novels, short stories, plays, all of these (and more!) can touch a life.
We can also support one another with praise and constructive criticism. Our words can encourage others to push forward in this tough-nut-to-crack writing world. How awesome is that?!
Proverbs 12:25 (ESV)—Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.
With God’s call to write and edit comes the powerful tool of words. Words that touch lives. Words that spark interest in God. Words that build up. For sure, we are blessed that the Spirit fills our words with the “hidden wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 2:7). Our call, then, becomes interpreting spiritual truths for others.
I pray you embrace this calling with all your heart!
1 Corinthians 2:13 (ESV)—And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
Colossians 3:2 (ESV)—Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Snow covered the ground and icy slush threatened my footing. Not ideal conditions for standing on the rim of the Grand Canyon. But I had confidence in my steps because, one year after purchase, I finally slipped my feet into my ice cleats. And, wow, do they work—I ventured closer to the rim optimistic yet cautious, my mind set on a closer view and not on various slip-and-fall scenarios.
Putting on the new self is like slipping into ice cleats. The Holy Spirit gives us a newfound confidence in our identity in Christ, a traction that allows us to take optimistic yet cautious steps in the direction God intends—cautious yet optimistic because, as 1 Peter 5:8 tells us, we need to “be sober-minded” and “watchful” because “[our] adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” The devil lurks with icy obstacles that threaten our footing and make us stumble toward the rim.
We can combat the devil by setting our minds on “things that are above.” This gives us the confidence to navigate the ice and snow and establishes within us a relationship with the Holy Spirit and the knowledge we need to step with confidence toward our eternal reward.
I love writing devotionals, but the words don’t always flow like snowmelt down a mountain slope. Whenever I feel stuck, I close the document and push that writing aside for another time.
This year I’d like to pull the writing closer. I’d like to pray over the writing more and read the Bible passage a bit more closely, including those superscript letters that denote connecting verses. I want to do so because I trust the the Rock eternal with my writing and know he’ll strengthen the words for his purpose.
In this new year, and for years to come, remind yourself the Rock eternal holds your words in his hands.
Isaiah 26:4 (NIV)—Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal. Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)—So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Hebrews 1:3 (ESV)—He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.
Happy New Year, Everyone! Life is a journey, for sure, and this year I embarked not only on adventures on the West Coast and in Cincinnati, St. Louis, Birmingham, and Gulf Shores but also on a path of newness toward God. Looking back at 2023, I see God’s path unwinding like a switchback up a mountain.
Not so long ago, I prided myself on my independence. I lived life with an attitude of “I can go it alone.” My tune changed with an anxiety attack, one I believe God used to gain my attention to his lessons. I learned not only self-care such as meditation and yoga but also community care from my loved ones. God’s outcomes have filled my life with happiness, and these are only a few:
I shared my experiences through devotionals published on various websites.
I reached out to my family more often and shared some of my experiences.
I made an effort to expand my community through volunteering and organizing social activities.
I learned more about myself and the fruit of the Spirit I need to apply to myself.
I began memorizing Bible verses.
With each of these events, I see the connection between the trials and the joy and Jesus upholding my life. God used my reaching out in my troubles as an invitation for another to reach out to me in their troubles. I learned God’s Word to write devotionals and blog posts and subsequently used his Word to calm myself. I treated myself with the fruit of the Spirit and feel happier despite my trials.
Although my journey sometimes feels as if I’m trudging up a steep trail and I can’t see past the trees to the next turn, I know if I stay on his path, I’m traveling toward his glory. I invite you to review your 2023 and list ways God has touched your life. May you start 2024 with your mind on his glory!
Today, I read a devotional on Mary, the mother of Jesus. Her words to the angel resounded in me: “I am the servant of the Lord” (Luke 1:38 ESV). God chose Mary for the purpose of carrying and birthing baby Jesus, and she responded with certainty that God chose her.
I also recently read the story of Gideon. His response was not as instant as Mary’s. Instead he asked the angel speaking to him, “Why then has all this happened to us?” (Judges 6:13 ESV). The response: “Do I not send you?” (Judges 6:14 ESV). Clearly, God has a purpose and a chosen one for this purpose.
For writers and editors, we are blessed to be God’s vessels. God chose us to shape words and reach if not the masses then one person. As you write this coming week, remember words touch lives and God chose you to write.
In years past, my hubby and I walked a Christmas tree home from the grocery store. This tradition changed last year when the local grocery store, only a couple of blocks from our home, stopped selling pine trees. That tradition ended (sigh) with a tree purchased from another nearby store and hauled home in the trunk of the car.
Come this year, neither store stocked Christmas trees (double sigh). And wanting the blissful pine smell—and not only from a wax melt—my hubby and I hopped in the car and ventured to a nearby Christmas tree farm. The trees stood in the barn like a line of stately nutcracker soldiers, no Charlie Brown trees in sight. We picked out a lovely fir and loaded it in the trunk for the journey home.
After carrying the tree inside, we fastened it into the iron tree stand my mom passed down to me. She received it from her parents. Tree snug and sturdy, I got my Christmas on, hanging baubles on branches, reminiscing of travels past, while listening to Christmas music, a yearly event I thoroughly enjoy. And since decorating, I’ve buried my nose in the branches a time or two for a whiff of piney goodness.
I love my Christmas traditions and the joy they bring. But Christmas is more than earthly traditions. It’s a celebration of the birth baby Jesus, the Light of the World. And to celebrate, I think it’s time to light up my life with new traditions: reminiscing about my spiritual journey this past year, celebrating my successes with a prayer of thankfulness, or spending more time with my nose in the Good Book rather than in the tree.
Merry Christmas! I pray your traditions bring you joy and light!
