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!
Matthew 2:2 (ESV)—“Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
When I travel, I usually have a destination in mind. Hotel booked. Tickets purchased. Stops along the route planned. Only once have my husband and I traveled in a random direction with no plan.
I imagine the Wise Men didn’t have their trip planned. They set their eyes on the star and “traveled afar,” as the song says. And they journeyed with their only plan being to worship baby Jesus, the king of the Jews.
In my life, I often have to metaphorically travel toward Jesus. I fall out of practice in reading my Bible and have to start again. I forget to pray about big decisions and a day later ask for God’s forgiveness for not coming to him first and I seek his guidance. I feel anxiety and have to read Bible verses to remind myself of God’s greatness.
No matter my physical, mental, or emotional state, the star of Jesus shines bright as a guiding point. The star leads me to a place of worship, the destination where I can sit at the cross in God’s mercy and glory.
I encourage you to travel toward Jesus today. If you feel lost, if you feel ecstatic, if you feel torn up or some other emotion, repeat this verse and say, “I have come to worship him.”
Jeremiah 17:7–8 (NIV)— “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
Several years ago, my husband and I road-tripped to Arizona for Thanksgiving with family. Along the way, we stopped at sites such as the White Sands National Monument (now a national park), Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, and Saguaro National Park. I had no idea the height of saguaro cacti until I stood next to one, gazing up in awe and slight disbelief. And once I did some research, I found this cactus to be a great example of the power of God’s Word.
The saguaro cactus is like a well of living water in the dry, arid desert. This cactus absorbs and stores rainwater for use over time. Woodpeckers, elf owls, and other birds build nests inside the cactus. Wildlife visit the cactus to partake of its pollen, nectar, and fruit. Others such as jackrabbits and mule deer eat its flesh when food and water are scarce.
The Bible is our saguaro cactus in the desert, a source of life, a well of living water. When we drink of the water, we can know the power of our living God. God’s Word prepares us for all situations in our lives from losing a job to starting a new one, from building a new friendship to losing an old one, from grieving someone’s death to celebrating a baby’s birth.
The Scriptures feed us courage in the face of fear: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9, NIV).
The Scriptures strengthen our faith when we make a home for his Word in our minds: “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (Romans 10:17, NIV).
The Scriptures feed our fellowship with other believers: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16, NIV).
The Scriptures are our living water in the desert. The Holy Spirit feeds our minds with information we need to live according to God’s Word, and when we drink, we become stronger in mind, faith, and fellowship.
Psalm 100:4 (ESV)—"Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name."
Months ago, I booked accommodation four hours from home for my hubby and I to enjoy a weekend of hiking and fall colors. While the fall colors part came true, the hiking did not. Rain poured down. All. Day. Long. I sat on the porch swing and read a book while my hubby napped, though I eventually went inside because of the chill in the air. We also ate dinner out, though the drive through the country in the dark and rain made for slow going and white-knuckling the steering wheel (or so I assume; I sat in the passenger seat and hoped for a safe arrival and return to and from the restaurant).
I admit, my attitude wasn’t pristine during this trip; I couldn’t seem to enter “His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.” God had given me a weekend with my hubby to explore a new area, and rather than cheer, I held disappointment in my heart. Yes, we shared moments of joy, such as when I saw a sign proclaiming the hometown of a famous actor/writer/singer. We also ate at a burger joint in the middle of nowhere, one I’d had on my travel list for a while.
After a night, we decided to cut our weekend short and spend the final day at home. On the drive home, we located the grave of famous actor/writer/singer, my interest piqued because he voice-acted in one of my favorite Christmas movies. The following day, we read books in our cozy chairs and visited the local coffee shop for pastries—a scandalous Monday, for sure. We delighted in being with one another, as we’d planned in the first place. On this day, I thanked God and gave him praise.
Comparing the two days, I see the discrepancy in my attitude and know I have room for improvement. The rainbows-and-sunshine moments allow for ease of giving thanks and praise. The dense fog of negativity makes for fight-or-flight moments when I can choose to dwell in the dank dimness or I can choose God, a light that never dims but waits for me in all circumstances.
