Building A Culture of Prayer Part 1

In the summer of 2002, several youth pastors in our county gathered to begin what we hoped would be a House of Prayer in our central Florida region.

For six and a half years, we labored in worship and prayer two hours, one night a week. Fire Dweller, as we called our group, grew in numbers. We shrunk in numbers. We changed venues. And eventually, we laid the ministry down.

Not prayer. But the venue of prayer.

It's hard to get people to pray. We have such an individualistic attitude toward prayer. We've taken the "spiritual gifts" test and scored low on intercession and decided "prayer is not my gift."

So we offer shout-outs to God as we drive to work or taking the kids to sports and lessons, as we fall asleep at night. When there's a church wide prayer meeting, we don't go. Too tired. Not my "thing." Leave the prayer to the intercessors.

No wonder the Church is weak and straying from the truth.

Prayer is the cornerstone to every believer, to the life of a church and a church community. Prayer is the force that will save a nation. The prayers of the Elect effect more than the actions of the elected.

Does a quiet bride say, "Talking is not my thing. I'll let the other women talk to my husband?" Ha! Never. Why then are we not talking to our Beloved?

We must engage God in prayer. Jesus said in Matthew 21:13 "My house, will be called a house of prayer." We've become a house of shows and events, a social gospel without power.

Paul writes in Romans 12:12 that we are to be "devoted to prayer." In 1 Thessalonians 5:17 we are admonished to "pray without ceasing."

Prayer is not a specialty on a personality test. It is not option. It's not something others do while you serve in hospitality or pass out bulletins. Prayer is not a "quiet time" with an Oswald Chambers book for fifteen minutes in the morning. Certainly those things are good, but prayer is heart-to-heart, engaging and encountering God for His Kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven.

Prayer is work. And we are all called to labor in prayer -- individually and corporately.

After laying down Fire Dweller, my husband and I began to talk to a local pastor about what we could do to build a culture of prayer in our city. How can we encourage all Believers to pray? Revelations 5 and 8 is clear that the bowls in heaven are filled with the prayers of the Saints. And to those prayers, God adds incense from His own altar and hurls it back to earth.

God's purposes are fueled by our prayer. You want change in your life, your family, community and nation, you must pray. There is no way around it.

Think of how much more powerful evangelism, hospitality, serving, loving the poor is if it's bathed in prayer. Our "spiritual gifts" are emboldened by prayer not to be used in place of prayer. How often do we start church programs out of a desire for growth, or out of a need, but without real, face toward heaven prayer?

We need prayer. As we meet with Pastor Tim Franklin and his wife, Kelly, and our senior Pastor Gary Stebbins and his wife, Bonnie, we developed MyHop, a house of prayer in our county that is built on a "culture of prayer."

What is a culture of prayer? Churches and believers praying for the Body of Christ, for our region and country, asking for God's heart and revival.

Our vision is: We desire Brevard County to be a House of Prayer consisting of networked churches and believers committed to night and day corporate prayer.

We network with any church or home meeting with a regularly scheduled prayer meeting. We are have a corporate gathering with all networked churches and prayer meetings the first Friday of every month.

We want praying believers. We want to see the church empowered from on High.

Next: Two keys to fueling prayer. Bridal love and the End Times

My house overflows with good books!

My house is overflowing with good books. I've had an influx lately. Not only am I finishing my own great book (a-hem) Dining With Joy, but I've been blessed with recent releases from my author friends.

Susan May Warren's new Summerside release, Sons of Thunder, is a fantastic book. The story, the writing is beautiful, and worth any readers time.

Colleen Coble's Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter. Given to my by the lovely and gracious Colleen last weekend, I started the book on my flight home from the ACFW spring board meeting and was completely captured. Colleen simply tells a great story with a heart that draws in the reader.

Siri Mitchell has been a favorite of mine for a long time. She's also a lovely person. Her latest, She Walks in Beauty, is a coming-of-age story that takes place at the turn of the 20th Century. I've just read a few opening pages, but it has already delighted me. I can't wait to read it entirely.

Denise Hildreth's latest release Hurricane in Paradise looks hilarious. Having lived through three hurricanes, I'm sure I'll be able to relate. I haven't started it yet, but I know Denise will deliver.

Crossing Oceans by debut author Gina Holmes, founder of Novel Journey, has written a lovely story about a single mom going home to deal with a life changing tragedy. The writing is solid, crisp and leads to a heart touching ending. (I peeked ahead.)

I also have Liz Curtis Higgs Here Burns My Candle and Lisa Harris's debut, Blood Ransom.

Health Care Reform Bill is not really reform

The Health Care Bill now lumbering across capital hill is not reform. Please know this.

One, the taxes and fees go into effect immediately BUT you and I will not see services for 2 plus years. I can't remember if it's 2 or 3, maybe more, but we will be paying into it! What? Would you sign up and pay for any service that you couldn't access immediately. What if you bought cable but the provider didn't turn it on for two years? Only the U.S. Government could think of such a thing and only those who have agendas would vote for it.

Two, this bill now includes government take over of all student loans? How is that Health Care?

Three, the government programs already in place are already going bankrupt. The first thing the government will do with Health Care gets in trouble, and it will, is look for ways to save money. That won't mean cutting spending in other government arenas, but taking from you and me. More taxes, less services. More intrusive laws to keep us "healthy."

They'll tell us what to eat, when and where. How to exercise. How many children we can't have. Does this sound like the land of the FREE and home of the BRAVE? Be free! WE must take care of our own family. We must be brave and pay our own bills. Sell our cares if we have to, cut cable, get rid of the smart phone. Stop eating out so much. Be BRAVE and manage our own lives and stop expecting others to do it for us.

In Florida, a state legislator introduced a bill whereas teens under eighteen need parental consent to visit a tanning bed. The parent must show up to sign the form. Teens under fourteen wouldn't be allow to go at all. Why? Because these beds cause higher risk of melanoma in teens. YET, if fourteen year old girl wants to have an abortion, parents are not allowed to know. Want an abortion? No questions asked.

Can you imagine? This tanning bed law is just a hint of what is to come. We won't be able to use hair color or certain detergents because some lame brain study will show it could cause cancer. And don't we know how those studies "change" over the years?

When I was growing up the '70s the fear was Global Cooling. Now it's Global Warming. In the '90s, caffeine was the ill of society until Starbucks became the rage. I've heard so many ill-fated diet and health scares -- it's multi-billion dollar industry -- I laugh when I see new studies. Some of them are just ludicrous. I'm amazed at what thinking, intelligent people buy into.

1 Corinthians 1:20 "Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?"

The key to our success, even for minorities and the poor is to let each man see to his own house. Hand outs have not produced less poor. We've experimented with the Great Society for seventy years. It has only increased the welfare rolls.

If I eat too much fast food, never exercise and smoke like a chimney, that is not your responsibility. If you sleep around and get infected with any number of the hundreds of non curable diseases, that is NOT my responsibility. Even in the New Testament church, where they had all things in common, benefactors had to fit a certain criteria to receive aid.

Men had to work to provide for themselves or families. Paul encouraged the younger widows to marry. Only the truly poor and widows were served.

But do not be deceived, this bill is not about Health Care, it's about take over. It's about Marx and Mao, not Madison and Jefferson. The fundamental heart beat and structure of America is under assault.

I love my country. I love our freedoms. We are the greatest nation on earth. I don't want to go into my old age telling my nieces and nephews how it used to be, how it could've been.

It's been said by the core White House leaders and staff they want to fundamentally change America. Whether you voted for this president or not, I'm sure most of you do not want to fundamentally change America.

Once In A Blue Moon by Leanna Ellis

I met Leanna about four years ago, online, somehow, but we've become good friends. She's the kind who made me feel "at home" the first time we chatted in person. I'm so happy to have her on the site to showcase her new book! She's a great writer.

Once in a Blue Moon from B&H Publishing!

About the book:

Faith is the first step to soaring. The day Armstrong stepped on the moon has special memories for most Americans, but not for Bryn Seymour. It’s the day her mother died. Despite death defying feats, guilt has always pulled Bryn down time and again. But a perfect love shows her taking a leap of faith is the first step to soaring. But it only happens … once in a blue moon.


Read an excerpt here.

About the author:

"Leanna Ellis takes a back seat to no one," says Debbie Macomber. But Leanna hopes she allows God in the driver’s seat as she taxies her two children to and from all their activities, lets her menagerie of pets in and out … in and out ..., figures out what to cook for dinner (or where to order takeout), and at the same time keeps those quirky characters in her head from bothering others.

Winner of the National Readers Choice Award, Leanna writes quirky women's fiction with a splash of romance. From a long line of southerners and patriots, she lives with her family in Texas.


ONCE IN A BLUE MOON NOW!!!
FACELIFT September 2010

Six Writing Myths YOU Should Know

Over on noveldoctor, Stephen Parolini blogged about Seven Writing Myth He Made Up So He Could Debunk Them.

This got me thinking about the writing myths I'm aware of so why not toss them out there. Thanks noveldoctor for the idea.

The Myth - Writer's make a lot of money.
The Truth - Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha. Oh, man, shew, good one.

The Myth - If I make the story weird, they'll buy it.
The Truth - Hahahahahahahahaha. . . okay, I guess I can't do that too many times. If you make your story or proposal weird in an effort to get attention, editors and agent will only think you're weird and you'll wind up on some, "you'll never believe what someone sent to me," list. I've shared good laughs with editors and agents over this one. In fact, it's writer conference chatter, "So, what's the weirdest proposal you've ever received?"

The Myth - Leading with "God told me to write this," will get me a contract.
The Truth - No. Neither will, "This is the best thing you'll ever read." Playing the God card or the Aren't-I-Bold card does not ingratiate any author with an editor or agent. God speaks to all of us and if God really told you to write a book and take it to Mr. Certain Agent, He's going to tell the agent you're coming. Most Christian authors seek God about their work, about their agent and publisher. So don't think you're the first and only.

Being overly bold sometimes works in the corporate world, but back fires in the publishing arena. Authors, especially new ones, MUST be humble and teachable. No one writes a perfect book no matter how engaging the story. There are a few exceptions for first time novelists hitting the market with a bang -- J.K. Rowling and Stephanie Myers -- but don't count on being in that class. Yippee if it happens to you, but don't expect it. If it does, sleep with your lights on. The rest of us will haunt you.

The Myth - My publisher will promote the heck out of my book.
The Truth - Not possible. Most publishers have a small team to promote their books and there is simply more work than people. Most publishers do a minimum for each book, but seasoned and long time authors get the bulk of attention and money. Rightfully so. Or a new "lead" author gets attention. And of course, anyone who writes Amish. ;)

Be prepared to toot your own horn. Get on Facebook and Twitter. Build a nice web site with a blog. Join writers groups for help and support. Tout other authors who might in turn tout you. But be sincere! Hire someone like LitFuse to put together a blog tour for you.

The Myth - Once you're published, you're in, on the road, fame is the only sun on your horizon.
The Truth - Being published is certainly a help in gaining more contracts, but once you are published many other factors come into play. Some you can help, some you cannot. At the end of the day, even if you have written great stories, you also have to sell decently. Getting your book in the hands of readers is not as easy as you'd think. A book buyer for Barnes and Noble might determine all the purchases for an entire region. If a previous book didn't sell well, they are less likely to take a chance on the author's second or third book. A new author has a better chance of getting picked up.

The Myth - There's a reason writers struggle with their weight.
The Truth - Yes! It's called my desk is thirty feet from my refrigerator and my in-house office is one mile from Publix, McDonalds, Burger King, Subway, Soprano's Pizza, Beef O'Brady's and 7-11.

The gym is fives miles away. Do the math. ;)

Building your author brand online

Over on Michael Hyatt's blog, he talks about building your author brand online. Mike offers great advice -- from a CEO's chair.

With his genius in mind, I thought I'd write about building an author's brand online and managing social media from an author's point of view.

Just before my first Thomas Nelson book released, Lost In Nashvegas, I joined MySpace to keep up with kids in the youth church. Then I had a brain blip, "What if I use it to announce my books?"

And social media, which wasn't called social media in '05, came alive to me.

I hopped on Facebook the first moment it was opened to non college students. I have a Xanga and MyCCM account. I'm on Shoutlife, Goodreads, and BeenUp2. I have a Tumbr site.

I love Twitter. I blog here and on Faithchick.com.

I created all these accounts, signed up for blog rolls, to keep up with the public, generate buzz or interest in my books -- if possible -- but my real goal in life is to write great stories.

It is impossible to keep up with everything. I decided I had to pick the most traveled and popular cyber venues to concentrate my efforts. I casually keep up with the rest.

Concentration of efforts: Facebook and Twitter are my most active cyber spots. When I'm on deadline, it's easy to to tweet four or five times a day, link it to Facebook, than to keep up with blogging. Blogging becomes hard on deadline because I can't spare my creative brain power to write a comprehensive or slightly intelligent blog.

It's easy to respond to Facebook comments, Twitter replies and blog comments. And part of building an online presence is keeping up with dialog.

The giveaway concept: I'm just going to be honest here. This idea wears me out. One, I barely make enough money to help my household and keep up with business expenses, let alone give away books or gift baskets to keep readers interested and build an online presence. Giveaways has created a community of people who expect freebies. I've had folks sign up for my newsletter to get a chance to win. When they didn't, they removed their name.

I love giving away my author copies -- that's what they are for -- but so many authors are giving away big gifts like GPSs, iPods, gift baskets, and more. I'm not saying I won't ever do this again, but I've not found it to be productive. It's more discouraging than encouraging.

What do you think?

Building a street team or a tribe: This takes time. Little by little readers and fans begin to gather around and tell people about your work. This is the absolute best marketing. But writing books that make readers want to tell others about also takes time and energy. For me, this is my biggest focus and concern. I want to write great books. I believe the majority of my time and effort should be focused on my stories.

That is my continual gift to you. A great book.

For the release of The Sweet By and By, a street team member, April, created a Twitter account for the book. She gives away copies, tweets lines from the book, lets followers know what's up with Sara Evans or me. What a blessing she's been. She's part of our tribe.

You can't make a reader or fan create a Twitter for you, but sooner or later your fans will speak out!

Dialog with street team members is key, BTW.

But I'm not published yet: I recently spent a weekend with a bunch of writers. Between working on their craft, we talked about other things they can be doing to build their name and brand. Susie Warren and I encouraged them all to Twitter and blog.

Blogging is great for several reasons, but the key being to force you to write three, four, five times a week. Editing your blog posts trains you to write well. Blogging forces you to look at life and see beneath the surface. A good part of writing is about observing life and molding it into a story. If you can't observe enough to write a blog, you might not have enough texture and depth to write a compelling novel. Look for life's symbols and metaphors, blog about them. Figure out how to fold them into your characters.

Above all, be kind: If you're trying to build an online presence, and hope to one day see your work in print with your name on the cover, be kind to other authors! Don't blast their books. Don't snark at them in public, or private. Follow industry leaders like Michael Hyatt, Chip MacGregor, Rachelle Gardner, Steve Laube and others. Chime into conversations. If you disagree, do so intelligently. If you can't say anything nice... walk away from your computer. :)

Write reviews that edify. Write blogs that bring insight. I often blog about politics, but I try to do so in a constructive way because many of my fellow authors and readers might disagree with me.

Same with spiritual topics. My main goal is to edify Jesus. Not preach theology.

My sister blogs about her family and it's so funny. But she never puts any of them down in her posts.

What are your thoughts on building an online presence? Any additional advice? Any suggestions or thoughts?

A weekend at the Beach With Writers

I'm curling

We don't have TV at my house, but I've seen some of the Olympics here and there. Watching a bit of curling the other night in my Birmingham hotel.

I love watching how the players slide over the ice as they brushing the ice for the curling disk/ball. Do you think they wear special shoes?

Anyway, it looks so cool to slide over the ice.

That's me since Christmas. I've been writing and traveling, on the go pretty much since New Years.

But it's all good. Here's my curling summation.

Rewriting Dining With Joy, trip to Nashville for The Sweet By and By launch, more editing and rewriting of Joy, goal setting and fellowshipping day with Debbie Macomber, Roxanne St. Claire and Martha Powers, more editing and rewriting of Joy, finally turn in Joy and lead worship that night for our first MyHop.

Breathe, work on small changes for Songbird Novel 2, Softly and Tenderly. Fly to Birmingham to plan Songbird Novel 3 with Sara Evans and Ami McConnell, have dinner night before I leave with my lovely sorority big sis, (who is actually younger than me) Tish Stevning Patton. Home in time to clean house for arrival of Susan May Warren and Lisa Jordan.

Today, first day of My Book Therapy "Deep Thinkers" retreat.

And as I look into the future, the curling ice lane is very long! More activity to come. but God is good! How blessed I am.

I was so blessed to see Tish. It'd been 20 years since we last got together. I saw two of my best sorority buddies in the last two months. That's amazing.

We are discussing emotional layering tonight at the retreat. Follow my updates on Twitter. Otherwise, have a great weekend.

Hold your breath!

I promise... new blog coming soon! Maybe tonight. But I was on another short deadline last week while recouping from Dining With Joy's deadline.

Dead. Line. Need I say more?

But I'm coming out of the mire.

Shouting all around.

Super Bowl Sunday

I love Super Bowl Sunday! We party at church with food and football. Hubby and I talked for the first time on Super Bowl Sunday. Twenty-two years ago! Love you babe!

Go Colts!

The Lyrics of our Heart

I'm digging the music and sound coming from The Jesus Culture these days. We did this song in worship this morning. It rocked our hearts.

I love it because the song is true. The lyrics reflect the truth of our hearts while drawing us into the truth of who He is!

His love never fails.

We have the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead in us! Romans 8:11, Colossians 1:27. We don't have to be in the dark, be without joy, without comfort. In the midst of our darkest trial, He is with us.

Song lyrics reflect the heart of the songwriter. If I were to write a song it would say how in my darkest moments when I felt God was distant, He was there. How He came to me, spoke to me when I needed Him. How He delivered me from all my fears. His love never fails.

Tell me a few of the lyrics of your heart today.

Becca By The Book, by Laura Jensen Walker

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Becca By The Book

Zondervan (January 1, 2010)

by

Laura Jensen Walker





ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Laura Jensen Walker is an award-winning writer, popular speaker, and breast-cancer survivor who loves to touch readers and audiences with the healing power of laughter.



Born in Racine, Wisconsin (home of Western Printing and Johnson’s Wax—maker of your favorite floor care products) Laura moved to Phoenix, Arizona when she was in high school. But not being a fan of blazing heat and knowing that Uncle Sam was looking for a few good women, she enlisted in the United States Air Force shortly after graduation and spent the next five years flying a typewriter through Europe.



Her lifelong dream of writing fiction came true in Spring 2005 with the release of her first chick lit novel, Dreaming in Black & White which won the Contemporary Fiction Book of the Year from American Christian Fiction Writers. Her sophomore novel, Dreaming in Technicolor was published in Fall 2005.



Laura’s third novel, Reconstructing Natalie, chosen as the Women of Faith Novel of the Year for 2006, is the funny and poignant story of a young, single woman who gets breast cancer and how her life is reconstructed as a result. This book was born out of Laura’s cancer speaking engagements where she started meeting younger and younger women stricken with this disease—some whose husbands had left them, and others who wondered what breast cancer would do to their dating life. She wanted to write a novel that would give voice to those women. Something real. And honest. And funny.



Because although cancer isn’t funny, humor is healing.



To learn more about Laura’s latest novels, please check out her Books page.



A popular speaker and teacher at writing conferences, Laura has also been a guest on hundreds of radio and TV shows around the country including the ABC Weekend News, The 700 Club, and The Jay Thomas Morning Show.



She lives in Northern California with her Renaissance-man husband Michael, and Gracie, their piano playing dog.





ABOUT THE BOOK

Sales clerk, barista, telemarketer, sign waver...



At twenty-five, free-spirited Becca Daniels is still trying to figure out what she wants to be when she grows up. What Becca doesn’t want to be is bored. She craves the rush of a new experience, whether it’s an extreme sport, a shocking hair color, or a new guy. That’s why she quit her bookstore job, used her last bit of credit to go skydiving, and broke her leg.



And that’s why, grounded and grumpy, Becca bristles when teased by friends for being commitment-phobic. In response, Becca issues an outrageous wager—that she can sustain a three-month or twenty-five date relationship with the next guy who asks her out. When the guy turns out to be “churchy” Ben—definitely not Becca’s type—she gamely embarks on a hilarious series of dates that plunge her purple-haired, free-speaking, commitment-phobic self into the alien world of church potlucks and prayer meetings.



This irrepressible Getaway Girl will have you cheering her on as she “suffers” through her dates, gains perspective on her life’s purpose, and ultimately begins her greatest adventure of all.



If you'd like to read the first chapter of Becca By The Book, go HERE

The Supreme Court's Free Speech Decision

Over on Faithchick, I took a stab at explaining the Supreme Courts decision on free speech. Hop on over and take a read.

What do you think?

Of all gods, which one still speaks?

The Haiti earthquake. The Sir Lanka tsunami. The Florida hurricanes of '04. The Twin Towers bombing.

Disasters make us look up. Suddenly the God we ignore daily is accused, blamed and cursed. Cold, hard hearts become even more embittered at the idea of a loving God watching over us.

It's a gross misunderstanding of who He is, His plan and purpose for the universe. But there is no reason to be "in the dark."

There are 150 chapters in the Bible about the return of Jesus and the End of the Age. That's more than the entire New Testament. In Matthew 24, Jesus tells us the beginning of "birth pangs" is earthquakes, wars, rumors of wars, famine. . .

In John chapters 15, 16, 17 Jesus exhorts us about the love of the Father and to be aware and alert. He tells us what's going to happen THEN gives us the Spirit, "the Comforter" who will do what. . .

"Disclose to us ALL things."

Christian theologians paint God as silent far too often. Folks I'd consider mature believers tell me, "God doesn't speak to me."

But John 10 is clear, "My sheep hear My voice."

Let's put it into the practical. If there was a disaster in your home, and your child ran into you with wide, scared eyes, "Daddy, what happened?" You'd tell them! Maybe not every detail, but you'd say, "Baby, we had a storm and the electricity went out. But the electric company will fix it. Let's light candles."

Now she's comforted. She understands. She can boldly face the trial because she had a glimpse of what is to come.

Why would God not speak in the same manner to His Bride? He died for us! We disqualify the Cross if we say He won't speak to us, comfort us. We are Kings and Priest before Him. I don't get the thinking that "we can't know what God is up to."

I'm a Word person. I love the Word. All hearing begins in and with the Word. Don't go around speaking for God then claim you struggle in prayer and the Word. I've honed my own ear to Him by reading, praying and singing scripture.

Even more, the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in me. Romans 8:11. We can and must hear God. Yes, He is Holy, high above me, His ways are not mine, YET, He chooses me as His partner, to live in me. This is the mystery of the ages. Col 1:27. It's a divine paradox.

Our God lives and speaks. Muhammad is dead and doesn't speak. Buddah is dead and doesn't speak. Jesus is alive and speaks. His Word is living and active, sharper than a two edge sword. Heb 4:12

God speaks. If you're not hearing, ask Him to teach you. What is God saying to you?

All the leaves are brown

I'm not sure I've ever seen this in central Florida. If I have, it's been a long time. All the leaves are brown and wilting. The grass is dead. My neighbors palm trees are slumping over.

The January cold snap with night after night dipping into freezing has turned our world brown. Plants are dying. In the spring, trees and bushes will have to be severely pruned for them to bloom again. If at all.

I can't help but think of how easily it is to allow our hearts to turn cold. Toward each other. Toward God.

Bitterness, busyness, selfish ambition, any number of things, laziness, can prevent us from keeping our hearts warm, open and yielded to the Spirit of God.

A frozen heart is a dead heart.

We must strive to keep before the flame of Jesus's love. Matthew 25 He reminds us to keep our lamps (souls) trimmed with oil (His Spirit.) Otherwise, in our hour of need, we will not be prepared.

We are all watching the outcome of the Haiti earthquake with pain and wonder. Boots on the ground in Haiti in the midst of an earthquake aftermath is not the time to cry out, "Oh, God, where are you?"

We must be crying out now, seeking His face, yielding to His will. We must be full of Him in the good times so that when and if crisis comes, we have oil remaining to burn.

Don't let your love grow cold. Don't find yourself only crying out to God in the midst of crisis. There will come a day when it will be too late.

The Sweet By and By Launch party

Had a great time in Nashville at Davis-Kidd for The Sweet By and By launch party. Sara sang, answered questions, then we signed lots of books.
I had a blast.

It was great to meet some of you I know on Facebook and Twitter, and Linda, the winner of the Fly Away contest and her friend Stephanie.

Me, April Schaffer, Sara Evans.

Pondering

Pondering a few things today. Trying to make sense out of a situation. Believing Romans 8:28.

"You work all things together for my good!"

A Soldier's Devotion by Cheryl Wyatt

Please welcome my friend and author, Cheryl Wyatt!

A Soldiers Devotion

U.S. Air Force pararescue jumper Vince Reardon was headed to a lifesaving mission.

Until a too-pretty lawyer crashed her fancy car into his motorcycle—sidelining him for two weeks.

Vince can barely accept Valentina Russo's heartfelt apologies. Ever since his brother was wrongly convicted -- and killed in prison -- Vince has lost respect for lawyers.

But wait -- is that Val volunteering at his refuge for underprivileged kids? If Vince isn't careful, this lady of the law might just earn his respect and his heart.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Born Valentine’s Day on a naval base, Cheryl Wyatt writes military and rescue romance. Her Steeple Hill debuts earned RT Top Picks plus #1 and #4 on eHarlequin's Top 10 Most-Blogged- About-Books, lists including NYT Bestsellers. She is a Reviewers Choice Award Nominee. www.CherylWyatt. com

Amazon PURCHASE LINK

Oh, the irony?

Is this your heart toward the Lord? Some days, I know it's mine. It makes me sad.

"Come fan the flame, Lord!"

Setting up for success over failure

I am a fan of goals. They are vital sign posts on our life road map. No goals, no plan leaves us in debt both physically and emotionally.

Far to often we let the tyranny of the urgent or the power of our weaknesses rule our lives. We want to live for the moment instead of living toward the overall plan. We let circumstances, the emotions and will of others dictate to us.

After high school I dated an FSU man (I know, what was I thinking?) who asked me to marry him. At nineteen, I wasn't ready for marriage even though I loved him. See, I had a plan. College. Career. Living on my own, becoming my own woman.

Marriage was for the "some day" the future would bring 'round. I always had this sense I would be older when I got married. Hubby proposed a few months before my (our) 31st birthday.

I made a lot of mistakes and wrong decisions in my life, but I honestly believe more bad decisions were thwarted by having plans, goals, and dreams.

As a Christian, I always consider the God factor. What is His will? What does He need and want me to do? His Kingdom come, His will be done. Yet, I'm convinced following and surrendering to God does not require me to be a limp rag, kind of muddling through life waiting for "God to speak."

God speaks way more often than we are willing to listen. But far too often, not as much as we'd want. Or in the manner we want. I don't stub my toe and ask, "God, what are you saying?" Beloved, we really need to learn to discern, be lead by the Spirit. Connect with the Spirit of God that lives inside you! Col 1:27.

For me, following God requires complete surrender, but surrender of specifics. My heart and mind, my desire for college, for marriage, for a writing career. I put it all at His feet.

I even surrendered my right to have children. He asked for it. I gave it. And in this life, He didn't return my surrender to Him like he did marriage or writing. But I'm going to live forever (Ecc 3:11) and I can't even imagine what He has in store for me in the realm of motherhood! Can't wait.

This life is a vapor. We can't get to wrapped around the axle of wealth and beauty, fame and acceptance or what others think because the age to come is beyond our comprehension. We need to live for the eternal not the temporal.

So back to goals. How can we make the most of this life so we are prepared for the next? Are you facing 2010 with a realistic view of yourself, of God? Are you like me, tend to want to do everything? After watching the One Thing Conference from Kansas City via the web, I was ready to be a full time intercessor-singer!

But God has called me to write as well as pray.

Most of our soulish eyes are bigger than our soulish stomachs. We bite off too much in January and by March are sliding down the mud hill of failure. I suggest we avoid that this year!

Here are my thoughts on setting goals for 2010.

1. Get before the Lord in prayer. Pray with your Bible open, reading and talking to God. Getting Divine inspiration from the Word.

2. Evaluate what's already on your heart. What do you love? What passions are humming beneath your skin? Answer this question: "Whenever I hear (x) my heart skips or I get glow of excitement." What's (x)? If you don't have the (x) factor, ask the Lord to awaken your heart.

3. Believe God has a destiny in Him for YOU. Believe He has called you, He loves you, He has good for you. If you don't believe it, say it, pray it until you do.

4. When you feel confident about a few things, write down your goals. One or two. I'd say no more than five major goals. Spread them out so you aren't starting all five at once. NOTE: I highly recommend you do not start dieting and exercising at the same time. If you are already doing one, sure, add the other. But if you are a couch potato intent on shedding a few pounds this year, choose one to start out: exercise or diet. Not both. You'll fail at one, then the other and quit. Unless you go on the Biggest Looser. Then you have no choice.

5. Share your goals with one or two other people for the purpose of accountability and encouragement. Cause sooner or later we all stumble along the trail.

So, what are some of your goals for 2010. Be specific. Last year, one of my goals was to complain less. I think I did pretty well. Not perfect. But I did repent a lot of complaining!

This year, I plan to be more intent about prayer and the Word. I am really focusing on being diligent with my time. I don't have TV, and we don't watch a bunch of movies so I have plenty of time to write, read and serve the Body of Christ but I seem to waste time on email and Facebook. Perhaps for me, I need a realistic plan about the part of my writing life that involves communication with readers and maintaining a cyber presence. Food for thought.

Well, there's one from me. What are you all doing?