This Weekend All Hallow's Eve

October 31 - Martin Luther posted his 95 Thesis on the Wittenberg door 487 years ago today, October 31. He preached salvation by grace and the error of the tradition of indulgences. I wonder where are the Martin Luthers of our day? The men and women with a zeal for the truth of the Word, fearless of tradition, yet honoring of authority. Luther's letter to the Pope asking him to do away with indulgences was humble, and full of honoring words to his spiritual authority.

Look at how one man's spiritual appetite changed the "modern day" church. He not only bucked church tradition, but social norms.

This Past Week - I have no big news. It was a good week. I finished Lambert's Code edits and have emailed it in. The hero and heroine are married and that was a tougher situation than I would have imagined to write. I want the reader to like both of them, but yet they are the ones in conflict.

I started edits on my chic lit and have a good idea of what I need to do. Just want to do it well. The writer's life is an interesting life. Elation mingled with insecurity. But, I'm determined to find my hope and inspiration in Jesus.

Our Country - That condition of our country burdens my heart. There is no integrity, not sense of right or wrong. Cheaters trying to win at all costs. Losers claiming they are winners even when the are not. It's like the King has no clothes. No one will speak up or conceed! Winners apologizing to liers, and excusing away their beliefs. We live by our appetites and decide with emotion. It will bring us down. I said to Tony, "I feel helpless to do anything."

But I have prayer. I have the ear and the attention of the Father. I can shake the earth by bending my knees and crying out, "Mercy! Truth! Oh, Father, give our wise men wisdom!"

In my dream - I had a dream the other night. Actually, I was in a half awake, half asleep state. I saw a black and white progress bar and the Lord spoke to me in the dream and said, "I will pour out my glory, then I will come." The black and white bar represents the assuredness of His word. He will do it. There are no gray areas. He will pour out His glory. Then He will come.

We have been praying for His Glory for many years. Isaiah tells us that darkness will cover the earth, but the glory of the Lord will arise! What a great day - to see the dead raised, the lost saved, the blind see, the hungry fed. We may go to bed with our cupboards bare, and wake up with food in them. Miracles upon miracles. Salvations by the thousands. God's glory! Then our Beloved will come. And we will reign with Him.

When will this happen? I have no idea. But God is true. He will do what He says He will do. If you don't believe me, read Joel 2, Isaiah 40:5, and 60:1, 2.

Monday and so on

Tony and I hauled the dogs to the vet this morning. What an ordeal. It's like, I don't know, nothing you've ever experienced. Though I must admit, after two hurricane trips, they do ride in the truck better than in the past.

Pal only yipped and barked half way there. But he was so bad while the vet examined him, the vet gave up clipping his claws, (which is badly needed) and told Tony next time, Pal gets a sedative first. Both of them wrangled out of their muzzles. Pal twice and the vet said he was the fast muzzle getter-outer he'd ever seen.

That's my boy. Right...

While Tony paid for this pleasant expereince, I walked Jack and Pal over to the church (next door to the vet's office) so they could get some water. On the drive home, Tony stopped at a lumber store to look for something. There was much yipping. Thank goodness he was only gone for a minute. Literally.

Grocery shopped, did some ACFW stuff. Tony is doing his edits on Lambert's Code. He's a good one for edits since he reads every word. Louise Gouge is also doing a great job editing for me.

I start the chic lit edits tomorrow. Today slipped away. How does that happen? Sheeze. I'm off to bed, and read until I fall asleep.

Seeing with the eyes of my heart

I've probably sung "Open The Eyes of My Heart Lord" a hundred times. Friday night during worship at Freedom Christian Center, I saw the Lord with my heart's eyes.

Worshipping on the front row next to Tony and Ted, all of a sudden the Lord "appeared" and He walked right up to me. I started to weep. He stood in front of me for several minutes. It was so real. Though, in the natural I couldn't see Him or touch Him, my heart did. He wore what I would call robes, and had long dark hair, and a beard. I could not make out the features of his face, but His eyes were bright and intense. He spoke to my heart, and I know that He loves me.

Paul Keith Davis (www.whitedoveministries.org) was the speaker Friday and Saturday night. He's so down to earth, but alive with the realities of heaven. Not for the sake of men, but for the sake of Jesus. He inspired us to believe for God encounters.

Tony and I prayed for people last night during ministry time. Tony told this one young woman last night that she was called to sit at Jesus' feet. Tonight (Saturday) she told us that those were the exact words given to her three years ago. How awesome is God?

I went to tonight's meeting in a "sour" mood. Not sure why, but I pushed through. One of the things I got out of Paul Keith's message was we have a Destiny in the Lord. We can ask for revelation and wisdom from heaven for life issues. He met two men who were caught up in heaven and given new architectural knowledge. How real is what they learned? They are both applying for patents.

I've been asking for wisdom from heaven on how to write. I know I have to study, pray, write and work hard, but I know there is some facet of writing that is hidden in heaven and God wants to release it to the earth.

In Daniel 1:17 it says, "As for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom; Daniel even understood all kinds of visions and dreams."

In the midst of life in Babylon, Daniel and his friends were excellent in literature and wisdom! We live in an age when God is doing what He did in the days of Daniel, and more! That's my prayer; to have knowledge and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom. Able to understand visions and dreams.

I don't always ask God for things from the revelatory or heavenly realm because I want to have a pure heart in asking. But, we have not because we ask not. He is able to guard my heart from greed and pride as long as I stay in the place of intimacy - sitting at His feet. Knowing me, I can't go long without sitting at His feet. I love Him and have to experience His love for me! Being devoted to the Lord is also an attribute of Daniel and his friends.

It's late. Time to sleep. I lead worship in the morning.

Sunday afternoon - We did pizza and games with the kids this afternoon after church. It's a beautiful, cool day so we played outside for awhile, then came in and "hung out."

One girl went around anointing people with chocolate whipped cream. Yes, yuck! One of the guys she creamed came into the kitchen after washing his hair out. There were about 4 or 5 of us in there, yakking. Robert looked at us and said, "Smell my hair. Does it smell like chocolate."

Ok, who wants to smell his hair? No one. Since we didn't jump at the chance, his sister shrugged, leaned over and breathed deep. Immediately, she jerked back, "Ooooh, oooo, gross!" She gagged and declared she might puke.

Her face was so incredibly funny, I'm laughing as I write. But the funniest part was when Robert rubbed his fingers through his hair and sniffed. He wrinkled his nose. "Ooo, bad guy smell mixed with chocolate."

I fell off the counter laughing. Stinky guy with chocolate hair smell. That's what Holly inhaled. Too, too funny. But never fear James Exley, it does not compare to you.

It was a beautiful day. Came home and collapsed. Tomorrow we have errands in the morning, and I have an online gathering, but will start my chic lit revisions in the afternoon. I'm very excited about it. I hope and pray to do a really good job. I'm asking the Lord for knowledge and wisdom. Tony will start reading Lambert's Code. It's due a week from tomorrow! Wow!

Beauty & Favor

Driving to church with Cassie this morning, we talked about beauty and favor. What does it mean to know the beauty of the Lord? Mike Bickle defines God's beauty as His emotions. He has emotions, you know, and they are toward us. But in His Holiness, He cannot be controlled by them like we are. I can't wait to live in the realm.

Psa 27:4 One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to meditate in His temple.

I must continue to pursue and understand the beauty of the Lord. I'm not sure how, but I know it begins with prayer and contemplation; sitting at His feet. When Martha complained about Mary sitting at Jesus' feet instead of helping her in the kitchen, Jesus said, "...but only a few things are necessary, really only one, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." Mary had the ability to shut out the world and focus on her True Love. A skill I desperately lack. I want what cannot be taken from me - time with Jesus. I know one of my life verses is John 12:3. I think that's one of the reasons I often smell the fragrance of the Lord.

On favor. This is a puzzler for me lately. What does it mean to have favor? How do you obtain it? How do you know you have it. In the natural, I look about (which is wrong, I know, don't scold me) and say, "That person has favor. Do I have favor?" After the Fire Dweller leadership meeting on Thursday, Tony and I were talking to Ted and Javier. Ted said, "Rachel, the Lord says you're cool." If you know Ted, you understand that phrase.

"Thanks, Ted, for sharing that with me," I said, then asked rhetorically, philisophically, "Do I have favor?" Javi choked on his Cuban sandwich. "Girl, you have favors. Tons. Don't you see it?"

If I did, would I be asking? LOL. Tony's mentioned that I confuse favor with hiddeness. I think he's right. Anyway, I've been studying favor, trying to understand God's heart and the realm of favor.

Ralph and Connie prayed for me this morning during worship. It was good. Ralph verbalized the issues of my heart in his prayers and shared encouragement from the Lord. I am so grateful for the Body of Christ and the Holy Spirit moving in us and among us so we encourage one another.

This afternoon... I read. Sunday's will be my reading day, I've decided. What am I reading, you ask? The Whitney Chronicles by Judy Baer from Steeple Hill Cafe. So far, I'm loving it. My chic lit will be a Cafe release, too. Reading Judy's book stirs my excitment, and brings knowledge into reality! I'm so honored and humbled to be with this publisher and have my book in the Cafe line. I can't put it into words, really.

Insurance and FEMA - we've received our estimates for damage from both organizations now. Looks like we will have coverage for all of our damages, including a new roof, with no out of pocket money. That's great. We didn't budget for hurricane damage this year - twice over.

Cassie is napping. Jack and Pal are napping. Tony is rocking and reading a book on his PDA. Julia, Larkin and Spring return from Orlando in a few minutes with my car. Yeah! I'm so glad they got to have a convertible for their Florida vacation. It's been a gorgeous week, ah....

Tis all. Blessings.

Oh What a Night, Late September back in '63

So the night was October '04, but oh, what a night! After the birthday dinner for Elizabeth, a couple of us came back to the house to watch a Doris Day, Rock Hudson movie - "Send Me No Flowers." We had a good time, but it was late when everyone left.

Then, we had an episode. Jack and Pal. Our loving dogs. At 1:15 a.m., we head for bed. Tony takes Pal off the bed, then Jack. Not liking this, Jack growled at Tony. (They were upset 'cause we made them stay out all night while we watched the movie.) Pal decided to see what' was going on and joined the growling. Tony stepped on the tip of Jack's furry tail. He growled more. Pal growled more.

"Pick up, Pal, Tony," I said. He did and headed for Pal's cage. Jack ran over and got in front of the cage door. Can you say Ziklag? It was so Ziklag. On the verge of a fight, Tony held them each at arms length and I stepped in to remove Jack. Still keyed up and upset, he snaps his head back and BITES MY CHIN.

I dropped him. "He bit me!"

At first, I thought he just grazed the skin. Nope, I had two gashes. Not big, not too deep, but we decided to go to the ER. Julia, Larkin and Spring were up, so they prayed with us before we left. One thirty in the morning and off we went to the ER.

Ziklag! Jack knew he'd done something. We arrived home about an hour later, seven stiches in my chin, and he looked guilty. Poor thing. He followed me around, his ears at half mast. We decided we have to get rid of one of them, but man, it breaks my heart. They are both good dogs. They just don't do well together. Pal would be great with a family, or single person who loves dogs.

Julia and Larkin told us how they had to get rid of one of their dogs. It broke their heart, but like our two, their dogs were fighting. But the Lord provided a good family for the one they gave away. I believe the Lord can and will do that for us, too.

In the mean time, I'm changing the nightly routine here and Pal goes in his cage first thing. I'll keep Jack out of the room, get Pal settled, then let Jack in.

Seven stitches. Geez.

Sunday - We spent the afternoon talking with Julia, Larkin and Spring. They are really great people with such a testimony of God's goodness. Julia is writing and I encouraged her to join American Christian Fiction Writers. She can literally write the anti-Harry Potter books since she is a former psychic. She has such a great undestanding of the Father's heart, and the love of the Lord.

She's fun to talk to because she prophesies in mid-sentence and you don't know it unless you're listening. She asked me about my writing, and I gave her the latest. She said, "Keep writing, keep writing." But the words carried more weight than a standard encouragment.

We played Euchre at the Stebbins with the Olinski's and Bartholomews. Bonnie and I were partners again by the luck of the draw. We won one and lost one. We beat Evelyn and Shannon, and it's hard to beat Ev.

I had a thought about the Lord, but can't remember it exactly. I'll have to ponder and write it later. I will say this - He likes me and I look good to Him! He is with me!

Saturday at the House

Ah, a good day. My kind of day. It's lovely outside, and I'm watching college football. Though no Ohio State game. I got Ga Tech verse Maryland instead.

Got up and washed the car so Julia, Larkin and Spring could use it next week in Orlando. We met Julia in the summer at the In The Fire Conferene. She was one of the speakers from Kansas City. We hit it off with her and the Lord worked it so we could give them a week in our time share. Their daughter Spring has always wanted a Florida vacation - and since God is a good Father... She got her heart's desire.

I edited some on Lambert's Code, watched Oklahoma beat Texas, and took a nap. Talked to Susie Warren on the phone. That was fun. She's a good friend and encourager.

Tonight we are celebrating Elizabeth White's birthday. She's 24 on Tuesday, and in all the years I've known her, I don't think there's ever been a party. Yet, she sends cards to all her friends, even for Valentine's Day, and throws parties for others. Cassie is picking her up what she thinks is a dinner with just the two of them. We are meeting at Carabbas to surprise her. I'm excited for this. Hehehehe. She's going to be so surprised! Oh! I have to get a present. Bye.

Friday Fables

Friday fables? Do you think there are really Friday fables? There are not. Ha!

Our internet returned yesterday. I went into the office to look for something and noticed the lights on the modem box! The cable ligth was flickering. Oh, we were so excited. So life after Jeanne has returned, more or less, to normal.

This has been a hard week. Just hard. I'm reading about David hard. But like David, I strengthen myself in the Lord.

Good time at the Firedweller prayer meeting.

Internet, oh internet, where have you gone??

How often we don't realize we rely on something until we don't have it? Getting our power back Tuesday felt like Christmas. We jumped for joy.

But, alas, we have no internet. The network in our area sustained enough damage that we can't get online. We have cable, but no internet.

I miss it! It's my lifeline to the outside world! My friends, my dictionary, ACRW.... I drive around town looking for internet connections. I'm an internet Hobo!

Tony and I are doing well. Firedwellers on Friday night was so sweet. Cassie did a great job leading worship. There was a strong fragrance of the Lord. I walked behind three of the girls and through a perfume cloud. But not like a human fragrance. It was thick, like oil, like pure oil. Song of Solomon 1:2!

I did what I needed to do on Sunday - slept and read, slept and read. I came away from the conference with a resolve to read more. But when time is limited, I write. Yet, reading is important. So, I'm reading!

God is good - all the time. Remember, as I am remembering, He is in control. He will accomplish what concerns me. What concerns you.

It's a beautiful day. Blue skies, but warm with an October nip in the air. I'm am driving with the car's top down! We are entering my favorite time of year.

Better get to work. Procrastination will get you no where. Just feels like it does. :)

Yes, Virginia, there was another Hurricane

Wow! Another hurricane visit. I'm am all hurricane partied out! Jeanned passed through five miles north of the Frances path, and one hour earlier on a Saturday night. Tony and I hunkered down at Jeremiah and Laura Gonda's house, along with their baby Ezra, Cassie and another couple and their baby.

We lost power around 9:00 p.m., but we had our neighbors generator, so we were able to have fans. The noise of the generator, along with the fans, actually drowned out the sound of the hurricane.

Gotta go..... more later. Tony is waiting for me and we are at Pastor Gary's getting the email, etc.

OH! My agent called today. Steeple Hill bought my chic lit! I'm very excited about working with them.

To Denver and Beyond

I'm home from Denver and the third annual Write From The Heart conference. What a great week. Tiring, but good. I flew out on Monday to avoid any Hurricane Ivan delays, bunked with Allison Monday night and moved into my room with Tracey Bateman on Tuesday.

Friend Susan Downs came in on Tuesday. We hung out and watched a really bad movie. Troy. I recommend watching it when it comes on Mystery Science Theater 3000 and three little heads in the front row keep a running comedy commentary.

Tracey came in on Wednesday and we had dinner with Susan, Susie and Chris Lynxwiler. Lots of ACRWers were coming in for the conference and we had a good time greeting everyone.

One of the funniest nights was when Susie needed a new title for her chic lit. For two hours, she detailed the theme and plot of her story trying to come up with a title. I fell asleep. When I woke up, they were still talking and I hear Susie say, "It's all about Josie." Bam! It hit me. That's the title. So, from what they thought was a dead sleep, I spoke. "That's your title. It's all about Josie." Dead calm, then rip-roaring cheering. "That's the title."

Laughing, Susie jumped on my side of the bed. So, we accomplished much at the conference.

Francine Rivers was our keynote. Most excellent, classy lady. I really enjoyed meeting her and hearing her speak.

I'm home again. It feels good. September has been a really weird month. Bugging out of Frances's way, returning home with no electricity for eight days, flying out to Denver for a week. Just a weird, off balance kind of month. I need to connect with the Lord in a deep way. He's so good to me. He gave me four words for people while in Denver, so that was cool.

Asa came home from the hospital without having to have a pacemaker. God is sooo good! I can't wait to see the little guy. What a trooper he is.

Through the eye of the storm

I see things differently after a week of viewing life through the eye of Hurricane Frances. Less is more. Looming mountains are more often crumbling molehills.

I can live five or six days without air conditioning, electricity, phones, and all the other appliances of modern convenience. I can sleep on top of the sheets on a hot muggy night with the windows open. I can survive a six hour drive to Tallahassee with Jack, Pal and Red. (They key is doggy tranquilizers.) Email does not define me. Writing can be set aside for a few days to put life on it's right side.

Our stay in Tallahassee was nice. Mom traveled to Nashville with Pete and Julie, so Tony and I, Danny and Grandma celebrated Dad's birthday on Saturday. Later that night, I crossed the street with Grandma and in her quiet little house, we watched 50's television while I edited Lambert's Code. Then, we watched "The Way We Were" on some movie channel. It was very pleasant, and for me, a lasting memory.

Sunday Tony saw that Frances moved toward Tampa and decided we could drive over the northern edge of the storm by going I-10 East to Jacksonville. So, after some discussion, we packed up and headed for home. Turns out, the northeastern rainbands, the worst of the storms rainbands, were going over Jacksonville the same time we were driving through. I told Tony I thought that they were going to see some weather, but in his mind, the storm had passed. We watched the same weather channel, but saw something different. He felt pretty bad when we were driving in rain and wind, but we decided to keep going. Around Daytona, trees littered the left lane of south bound I-95. Very dangerous, especially at night. But we made it home safe and though all of the radio voices we heard said, "Stay home. Stay off the roads if at all possible" we were not the only crazies on the road.

Home around mid-night, we took the boards off in some wind and rain. But we needed the air in the house. Pal rode home in the extended cab and acutally slept. He didn't sleep much on the way up. We gave him his doggy drug, but let him run around in the yard and get all keyed up. Sheez. When we got to Mom and Dad's, we let Pal get up on Mom's beautiful new quilt so he would settle down and go to sleep. That's when the doggy drug kicked in. I woke up asking, "Why is the bed wet?" He peed! I felt terrible!! But we got it cleaned up and all is well.

Anyway, I stressed out over my book the entire weekend. I kept thinking "this books stinks," and "I'm not going to have time to fix it." But taking some great advice from a good friend, Tracey Bateman, I knew I needed to take a break and set the story aside for a few days. Looking at Lambert's Code through the eye of Frances benefited me nothing.

I'm happy to report I took a break from the work and this moring at 2 a.m. when it was too hot to sleep, I figured out how to "fix" the story. God is my great editor!

Monday we cut up fallen tree parts, cut down a leaning tree and cleared debri out of the yard. Lance and Shannon don't have water, but we do so they've been walking down for showers. We had dinner with them last night. They grilled the meat that is finally thawing. Steak and chicken nuggests. Yum.

It's fun to sit in the light of candles and hurricane lamps, talking, without the noise of television, phones and computers. We've lost the art of neighborly affection. Because of this hurricane, we finally met our next door neighbors after a year and a half. Carlos, who lives behind us, hopped the fence with his ladder and chainsaw to help Tony cut down a leaning pine. And of course, our fellowship with Lance, Shannon and the kids.

Life can't stay like this. Like the hurricane's eye, this lull in life only passes over for a short time. Then the winds and rain start again. We are in that calm, eye-of-the-storm right now, but life will resume it's pace again. Noise, "wind" and "rain." Commonly known as busyness, stress and the job-at-hand. But from the calm of the storms center, we can learn to be at peace no matter what's going on around us. Jesus is always the eye over us. Our peace.

Cassie's here. She must use my computer now. Blessings!

Asa, Hurricane Frances and Another Title

Asa Montgomery Hayes came into the world Monday night. His oxygen levels were low, so they did some test to find his heart is wired wrong. They transported him to Nashville. Today they did angeoplasty today to enlarge the hole in his heart so the blood would circulate better. His oxygen level is up now and he's stable. They will do surgery to fix his heart in the next few days. Pete, Julie and Mom are going to Nashville today and will stay in the Ronald McDonald House. I'm so glad I dump my change in those buckets. Please pray for the little man. Julie and Pete are doing well, but this is not easy or ideal. Pete sent pictures and Asa looks like Julie.

Hurricane Frances is tracking for us. This is deja vu of '99's Hurrican Floyd. A category five, he came on the exact same path, and the experts predicted land fall in Melbourne. But, after the Bahamas, he turned north and weakened. Nevertheless, we are boarding up and leaving tonight for Tallahassee. We wanted to visit the folks this weekend anyway. Dad's birthday is Saturday. Mom is with Pete and Julie.

Tracie Peterson emailed me today and wondered if I could get Lambert's Peace done by April 1.

This summer has been very distracting, but I'm learning to write under all circumstances. :)

Tony is home. My guess is we will board up soon and head for Tallahassee this evening. We got doggy drugs so Pal and Jack don't yip and bark the whole time.

Blessings.

Coming to you from my new computer

I'm on my new computer! I really love it. It's small, light and I'm watching a Frasier DVD as I type! Well, I'm typing and watching. This little Averatec is nice. However, it still heats up as much as a large laptop.

I'm fighting off a cold or something. I haven't been feeling well, but I'm better today. I'm leading worship for the Space Coast Prayer Gathering on Friday night at Zion.

I want to write more, but I'm watching a DVD! On my new computer!

Hey, just a reminder, put www.rachelhauck.com in your favorites.

Saturday in the House

No, it's not Saturday in the park and it's not the 4th of July. It's Saturday in the house, 21st of August. ;)

We slept in, grocery shopped and now, late in the afternoon, I blog. Oh, not to forget reading through 60 ACRW emails.

Sunday morning
I'm preaching tomorrow so I need to get prepared. I have to write out my messages, so I should get busy. They take several editing passes. I'm launching off of what Pastor Gary taught on last week, starting with his foundations message and going into Song of Solomon.

New computer
I bought a new computer this week. An Averatec 12 inch, thin and light. Since I travel around a lot with my computer, I needed a light weight one and one designed to be packed up and moved. I wasn't sure I'd like down grading the screen size, but being compact and light won me over. Plus, long battery life. I'm excited about it. I should arrive sometime next week.

Writing
I'm making good headway on Lambert's Code and recently sent a new chic lit idea to my agent. Hopefully, we can develop it more. She hasn't heard from the other publisher about my chic lit submission yet, but she says they are favaorabl.

Writing is hard work. It's fun to come up with ideas. It's fun to see the finished product and hold the book in my hand, but wow, everything in between is mentally and emotionally hard. The entire way through the rough draft, I constantly wonder if I know what I'm doing, positive the story thinks, and am half way convinced my crummy writing of this book will end my barely begun career. It's a rollercoaster I tell you. To make matters worse, publishing news, other writers ups and downs, their acceptance and rejections are fuel to the fire.

I constantly remind myself that the Lord is in charge of my life, especially my writing. Worry, doubt, and strife will get me no where. He started this work in me and through me. He will complete it. :)

Psalm 90:17 And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us, And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands.

Hurrican Charlie

Rain, wind gusts and a few light flickers. Hurrican Charlie passed north of us and we experience no more trauma than a good rain. We waited until about 6 p.m. to decide if we wanted to board up. We watched the news, judged the rain and wind and decided to batten down the hatches just in case. Turns out we didn't need to, but with these storms you never know. We have the boards all ready, so we boarded up in about 40 minutes. About three hours later we realized we didn't need to, but better safe than sorry.

People in Punta Gorda didn't evacuate and the eye of Charlie passed right over them. There are a lot of trailer parks and many people were killed.

Today, it's still raining, but Charlie is moving north into the Carolinas. I have plans to write. I've done house cleaning, well, OK, vacuumed, and helped Tony deboard the house. ;) Did 30 minutes on the threadmill, fixed breakfast and am now blogging.

Next I shower, pray, and write. I'll miss the opening games at the Olympics, but I need to get writing.

Wow, it's really raining. The gutters are overflowing.

Isn't this a great verse? Psalm 4:8 "In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for you oh Lord make me dwell in safety?"

Blessings. Oh, hey, the sun just came out. Yeah!

Getting it together

First week
Well, not quite a whole week, but four days of freedom from day job. So far, so good. I'm a chapter behind in my writing schedule, but I'm going to remedy that as soon as I post this blog.

Lambert's Code is developing into it's own story - the writing a little different than Lambert's Pride. Since the hero and heroine are married, I have to show the rumblings of their conflict, hint at their weaknesses without making either of them look like a jerk. I'm enjoying the story, though it's still in rough draft.

I've started walking with Chelle in the mornings after prayer. I like getting up, praying then exercising. That leaves the rest of the morning and afternoon for writing. Evenings are still pretty busy, but that's not going to change anytime soon.

Lambert's Pride in Wal-Mart
Becky Germany, Senior Editor at Barbour, emailed that reprints were requested for Lambert's Pride, along with seven other Heartsong Presents titles, to sell in Wal-Mart as a trial run. If they do well, I guess we'll see Heartsongs in Wal-Mart eventually. Pretty cool, eh? Lynn's Key West anthology has done well and it's my guess her name on the cover got Lambert's Pride selected.

Had lunch with Carrie before she heads back to FSU tomorrow. She's doing well and surprised us all last night when she sat in on drums for Wednesday night worship. Nothing fancy, but a good, clean, steady beat.

Digging Wells
One of the Christianese buzz words today is "digging wells" or "redigging wells." I'm sure there is mega truth in restoring spiritual riches of the past, but the Holy Spirit impressed an angle on my heart last night I hadn't considered. We had a healing service at church - simply praying for the sick. At the end, I called forward those who sense a special calling or anointing to pray for the sick and/or miracles. The Lord has spoken that He's opening wells of healing at New Covenant. Suddenly it occured to me. These people are the wells. Not the building or some mystical hole in the atmosphere - as my mind imagined. It's the people, the saints, the Body of Christ who are the wells.

Jesus said He gives us living water. That water lives and dwells inside of us. Romans 8:11 says that we have the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead living in us and He will give life to our mortal bodies.

There maybe wells to dig up in the spiritual realm, but my guess is that the wells that need digging up are you and me. We must allow the Lord to spring up from our innerman.

Christ is me, the Hope of Glory.

End of Sermon.

Off to write more. That or take a nap, then write more.

Last Day, New Day

My first day at Harris was October 1986. Almost eighteen years ago. Today was my last day. It isn't amazing to think that part of who I am today was fashioned by my time at Harris, by the people and customers I met. By the trials and struggles.We are all shapes and shadows of our world. There's no way we live independent of each other. No matter how hard we try.

It wasn't so hard to walk out, almost a relief, but difficult to say goodbye to people, again. I left once before but returned a few years later, but this time it seems like it's for good.

Now, it's a new day! The Lord has firmly put my feet on a new path.

In the natural, we should be worried. We have dramatically reduced our income, but you know, I'm perfectly at peace. It's true that the peace of the Lord is beyond all understanding. I'm confident he will take care of us. Beyond all that we could ask or think. Stay tuned for exciting testimonies.

I attended my first FireDweller team meeting this Thursday. That was cool. I'm offically one of "the boys."

Tonight is our regular Friday prayer meeting. Tomorrow sleep. I need some sleep.

Lambert's Code is underway, but I will need to focus hard on that novel this month.

Isaiah 6 -7 "For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. "

In The Fire Conference

Our fourth summer conference concluded last night. I say last night cause it's 2:15 am on Sunday, August 1.

In The Fire, the conference formerly known as One Thing was awesome. As always. God is so faithful, so good.

I'm tired, very tired. This conference required a lot of labor for me. I sang on the worship team and spoke at the Saturday night session after Tony's teaching. It went well. Tony said it was very good. His teaching was also very good!

Went back into worship and Javier had me walk among the crowd with the hand held mic and sing over people.

Singing in a worship setting like that is very taxing. It's a lot of emotional, even physical work. We had professional sound men doing a recording. There will be a CD from this.

It was really great worship. Javier LaBoy is a fantastic, anointed worship leader, but something was not the same this year as before. We missed Eric Exley being with us, though, Alex is an awesome drummer. I can't put my finger on what feels different now that I'm at home and quiet. Something in my heart, I guess.

We did have a few speakers from KC. Stuart Greaves is so faithful to this conference and bring out people out. He's part of the vision, he's facilitated it in so many ways. He's a brother and a friend.

Next week, my last week at work and time to focus on Lambert's Code. I'm so calling on God's grace to help me. I need Him and His creativity or it won't get done well. I really want this story done well.

Friday is my last day at Harris. So much is changing it seems.

I would like to get up to see Mom and Dad, but not until I'm in the editing phase of Lambert's Code.

I should get some sleep.

Software Tech by Day, Writer by Night

I resigned my job of many, many years. Tony and I finally decided it was time. We prayed and talked, talked and prayed. We felt it was the Lord's time.

Let me tell you about the Lord's timing. I've been in the same large office for almost five years. When the company's structure changed, when I went to three-quarter, then part-time, I offered to give up my office to another manager. Several were still in cubicals. No one took me up on it, and since I still dealt with customers the office was useful to me.

For about six months, Tony and I've been dialoging about when I should quit. Slowly, the grace leaked out and I just couldn't juggle ministry, work and writing anymore. Not willing to scale back on ministry, or writing, work was elected to go. Of course, that's the only thing that pays money, but.... :) Sometimes you have to leap and land in the hand of God.

Anyway, back to the office and the timing of my resignation. Unknown to me, another manager had finally voiced his desire for my office. His team is about to install several new sites and he'll need the space and the door.

Fifteen minutes after I printed out my resignation letter, my boss comes in and tells me about the office change request. Perfect. I hand him my resignation.  He could have told me two weeks ago, I almost resigned the day before, but the Lord timed it perfectly.

I've cried a few tears over leaving, but I have a huge peace about it. I'll miss my co-workers. They are my friends, but so much of our relationship is about work. I can't see me calling up in a few weeks asking, "So, what about so-n-so customer?"

Naw, too geeky.

So, I'm off on a new adventure.

God and me.

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