HARD CHOICES

I've been in the process of stepping out in obedience to God on some things, and boy it's been painful. I feel Him tugging me away from some writing and critique groups, streamlining, and redirecting me to stop volunteering and write more. I'm also facing hip surgery so I'm praying about homeschooling my children for the next year. Please pray for wisdom for me to make the right decisions. I love that God has made clear in His word that He doesn't mind us asking for wisdom, and how He freely loves to give it. So that's reassuring. Problem is, I'm a really loyal person. When I commit to something, I hate to break that committment.

The church I attend has a great focus on small group ministry. In a church the size of ours, it's crucial in building and maintaining relationships in the church. So it's good, but there's a painful side of that too. When you've grown close to people, then the group grows too large to be healthy and intimate, then it multiplies. It can seem like relationships are broken, but it's for the greater good. It's for the kingdom. I know God will never ask us to step away from anything, unless it's for our own good, and/or for the good of His purpose and His kingdom.

I hope this message speaks to someone today. If you're struggling with change or transition, this may be for you. It could be a relationship you know is not right, could be your choice of career, or friends. Obedience hurts sometimes, but if we could see what God sees as far as rationale and outcome, I think we'd run toward it instead of shrinking back or dreading it.

Different people step in and out of our lives in different seasons, and for different reasons. When a relationship with Jesus bonds a group of friends, nothing, not time, or space, or geographics, or revamping time committments can alter that. Remembering that has helped me in making some of the decisions to pull out of groups. I know I'm called to write. But I'm spending so much time critting, I don't have time to write. I know I'm called to write. I wasn't always sure, but I am now. I'm speaking that in faith. I'd rather run hard after God and do my best at something I believe He wants me to do, even if there's a chance I'm wrong, than shy away from doing something if there's the slightest chance He's asking me to do it. I can't worry about hurting feelings or offending. Well, I shouldn't, just put it that way. Truth is I care about what God thinks more, but I also care about what people think about God because of me. So that's what makes some of these decisions hard. But God has his reasons and I have to trust. If anyone taught me that, it was Debra Clopton. I know He's called me to write. Yes, I know I've said that three times, but there is a reason (between God and I) for that. I also know I'm called to be a lover of God and His son and His precious Holy Spirit first, then my husband and children. Then my family and church. Then my writing and my friends. The first three priorities will never change, nor the order. But at times, I think God moves the next three around, according to His focus and what He's doing in and through and to me at the time. So my heart list will always be:

1.God
2.Husband
3.Children

Sometimes I want to put my children first, and in some cases, like abuse, yes. Definitely. But that's not my case. So please pray for the people in my life to understand as I enter this next season. Please pray that I'll spend time on what and who He wants. Not a minute more and not a minute less.

Bless you and thanks for hanging in.

WRITING NEWS:

Haven't heard from Melissa at Steeple Hill yet. So I'm slowly working on my proposal for Warner Faith, even though I don't really want to. LOL! I have most of it done, just polishing up. I've been tinkering with the next story in my PJ series. TGTN. Since titles aren't copywrited, I don't want to put it on a public loop, and I LOVE it. I hope they keep it when (speaking in faith!) this book is contracted.

I'm also working on the Colorado trilogy, and am going to try to get it finished pretty soon. Even though the editor said she won't be able to get to it (meaning for consideration)until Fall, you never know when a slot will open due to someone not being able to meet a deadline due to unforseen circumstances or something. So I'd feel better having it finished.

GOD NEWS
I've been craving His word like water. Thank you, Father for putting that thirst back. The desire for you and for your words are a blessing that I will never take for granted again. I'm shaking off the sand from my shoulders and my knees and dumping it from my shoes. Been in this desert wasteland far too long and it feels good to be back home. In your presence, like a refreshing waterfall. Washing. Feeding. But I pray my thirst is never quite quenched, so I run hard after you and drop the things you ask without looking back. I love you. Help me hear and obey. Help Lisa. Help the doctors to find what's wrong and heal her. Thank you for what happened two days ago. You know what that meant, now answer his prayers. You heard his heart, his fears, his vulnerability. Help him trust you. Keep the enemy away from my family. Thwart evil plans and have your way, God. Have your way in me, in my marriage, in my children, in my relationships, in my writing, in my time, in my giving, in the hearts of the people in my life.

I love you so much. Thank you for all you've given me. I'm truly humbled and awed, and thank you isn't strong enough. But I'm going to keep saying it anyway. Thank you. Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you. Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you. Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you. Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you. Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you. Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you. Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you. Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you. Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you. Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you. Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you. Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you. Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you. Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you. Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you. Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you. Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you. Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you. Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you. Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you.Thank you, times a gazillion every second from now through eternity.

Squirrel