Overwhelmed? This Will Help

Overwhelmed? This entry from my Prayer Journal may help:

Dear Father: I love you more than life. I worship you, as only you are worthy. I don’t want the essence of my life to be about writing, I don’t want to be swallowed up in this gift- I want my focus to be on You—the giver and Lord of the gift. Must I drown in this calling? Must I be in the belly of a whale called “The Writing Life?” Somehow I don’t think that is Your will. Even Jesus was not all about one thing. He taught, he healed, He did miracles. But He also rested and celebrated.

“Jesus was not driven. He was led. If you’re driven, there is a furious fire that is never quenched, growing larger and hotter and more dangerous. If you’re led, you are always listening for My voice, and your heart is open to changes I may make in your agenda. There is no panic or force. If you are aggressive, it is not because you fear—it’s because I’m leading you to be bold. If you are quiet and restful it’s not from laziness, but My hand of peace upon you.

"You can be like Jesus if you are willing to follow and not insist on “leading your own life.” Leading is my job. I know how."

Teach me how to follow, dear Lord. Give me a heart to obey, in Jesus' Name.

If you feel overwhelmed, try asking God to help you learn to follow. And then rest in His willingness to help you, His dear child. 

Are you Trying too Hard?

From my prayer journal many years ago…


“Lord, I need encouragement today. I really don’t want to go by my feelings, or I wouldn’t have a good day at all. I know I have to choose joy and choose to have peace rather than turmoil, but I need Your help even in the choosing. I need you to show me what to do and how to think in order to choose joy rather than sorrow. And I need You to send me encouragement, because right now I just don’t care about anything. To care would mean work, and I’d rather rest and sleep and escape.”



“Jeanette, I don’t want you to CARE. I will care for you. When you TAKE CARE, it means you aren’t giving me a chance to help you and care for you. You are trying to do it yourself and that’s pride. When you let go and relax, My spirit takes over and gets the job done in an almost effortless way. You know it’s Me when you don’t have to struggle to get it and struggle to keep it. For Me to carry you, you need to simply relax and not wiggle down and run off. Trusting Me means allowing Me to carry you.


JUST QUIT TRYING SO HARD.”

I am forever amazed at the timelessness of God’s words. I hope His shepherding of my heart spoke to yours today. May you rest in Him, allowing Him to care for you.

Blessings,

Jen

God's Measure of Success May Surprise You

From a journal entry dated 7-8-1994, long before I aspired to make writing my career:

"I measure success by growth, not by how many people know you. I give out rewards by what you did with what you had. The world emphasises the wrong things, and so does the church It's not how many books you've written, but do your kids come running to you when you get home from work? It's not what kind of car is in your driveway, but do you remain faithful to your spouse?

What you value shows your true worth, and I value character and love and obedience. Some people are gonna be very surprised at who gets the best seats in Heaven. And I'll just smile and say, "They were faithful with what I gave them."

So, don't be jealous of big names or even wish to be like them,. Recogntion from men is so empty and transient People are fikle, and easily turned this way and that, even Christian people who don't know Me that well and don't know their inheritance in Me.

You strive for the applause that lasts--My smile, My hug and My "Well done, good and faithful servant" is all you really need. I will make everything worthwhile and even in the end."

Doesn't it amaze you how timeless God's words are?

Daring Trust

While journaling recently, the Lord said, "Dare to tust Me."

What does this mean in your life today?

Why do we find it hard to trust Him; why must He dare us?

Out of Order Mouth

Are you working at eliminating unnecessary activities and time wasters? Here is a shocking idea the Lord gave me on 10-4-09 as I journaled:

"Help me simplify my life, Lord."

"You can't be creative if your life is crowded and cluttered."

"Show me what to eliminate, Lord."

"Negative, doubtful words, for one. Dark thoughts. The entrance of My word gives light."

I was hoping He'd suggest something more along the lines of, "No more cooking or housework," but He went for the source of most of my troubles--my mouth and mind! My profound answer?

"Help me, please."

Am I the only one wrestling with a tongue that gets ahead of my heart, and a brain that leads me into depression and anger if I let it take the reins? No wonder Solomon said, "Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who indulge it will eat the fruit of it, for life or death" (Prov. 18:21). I need all the help I can get for this out of order mouth and strong-willed mind. What about you?

Jen

Publishing: Fruit or Seed?

From my prayer journal one month ago:

It’s all so crazy, Lord, this building a platform. My head is spinning, causing things to fall out my ears. I want to write, and publish, even make some money at it, but all the preparation seems eternal. Help! I need Your perspective.

You are beset by impatience. You want everything today, or in ten minutes. This is the way of the world, but it’s not My way. My way is: till the soil, plant the seeds—many, many, many seeds—wait for rain, pull the weeds, wait for more rain, fertilize, more weed pulling, more waiting, then the harvest. Do you see the progression? Are you willing to do all these to reap your harvest? Or will you pull up the baby plants, never to bear?

And another thing: if you were training for a new job, it would take months, in some cases, years to fully learn the job and function in it at peak performance. Why should an artistic endeavor be less effort and commitment than learning mechanics or bookkeeping?

Publishing and making money are not fruits of your labor—they are the planting part. The fruit is changed lives in My kingdom. Obey Me, follow My lead, and calm down and wait, continually planting, and you will see fruit. You will see fruit.

P.S. I will be visiting my grandkids in Tulsa, OK Sunday Sept. 6th through Wednesday, Sept. 9th. My posts are scheduled, but I may not be blogging much during that time. Love you, Jen

Brick by Brick: Building your Writing Career

From my prayer journal this week:

“Why are you sad today?”

“Not sad but tired, Lord, and wishing I could stay home and write, rather than going out to work. It’s just so hard working full time and trying to build a writing career.”

“Don’t’ try to do it overnight. Slow and steady or fast and fragile. You could also say slow and strong. Your career will grow strong if you place one brick upon another, binding them in place with the mortar of my Word an fellowship with Me. If you try to throw together a career by slapping the bricks and beams up in a day or a week, it will fall when storms comes And, they will come.

“Build it one brick at a time and it will stand, not fall, because it will be founded on My Word and Sprit not men’s approval and favor.”