I never cease to be blown away by the goodness of God.
I started my content writing business in November 2012. I was so excited. I had learned so many great things about SEO from writing for Blogmutt and for Interact Media. I was thrilled to get started on writing some copy for businesses in our area. So, I went through all the steps of setting up your own business, and I started emailing businesses and sending out letters. I waited. I waited a long time, actually. Nothing was happening, and I was frustrated.
I went to God, and I questioned him. I asked him why this was happening. What was taking so long? Why was no one contacting me, if this was supposed to be what I did with my life and my writing? I was so passionate about what I wanted and about what I could do for our area businesses.
God answered me.
He told me that he had led me to this place in my life, but I was taking control over it. Much like I had taken control over other parts my life in the past and those things ended up being disasters. He told me that I needed to do the things that I learned brought in good clients, which are writing blog posts on my website and sharing those posts on social media. He then told me to keep up my writing at Blogmutt and Interact Media, and he promised me that he would take care of the clients for my business.
So, I did.
Man, was it hard! I kept wanting to do things, to reach out to people. When I was asked about my business, of course I answered questions. I went on consultation appointments when they were requested. But, I stopped doing the "cold calling" that I was doing. The consultation appointments I had weren't amounting to much, and the temptation to say, "God, this isn't working" was there, but I never gave in to it. God said he was taking care of it. I knew that I was (am) a tither and that God's Word is true. I was just waiting on that outpouring of blessings in my life.
I believe the outpouring is beginning.
Yesterday, I had a consultation with a restaurant in Corning. I don't know if it's because I love restaurants, or if it has something to do with what Craig does for a living, but I've wanted to work with restaurants since I got this vision for local SEO. I had a really great meeting with this particular restaurant owner. I went into the meeting knowing that he had a certain set of views about the importance of social media over his website, and I was able to change his mind. I know God gave me those words. I know he opened up the opportunity for me.
Not only was I able to make him see that his website was just as important as social media and that the two go hand in hand when it comes to Internet marketing, but I was also able to convince him that a redesign of his website was in order. He didn't balk at my prices, and he even said they were very reasonable, and that he would rather spend his marketing money with me than with the yellow pages and other advertising methods that weren't working.
He was interested in everything I said he should do. For the first time, I was able to experience the feeling of a truly successful consultation session with a potential client. When he showed me around the restaurant after our meeting, he introduced me to some of his staff as "Nicole, the person who is going to be helping us with our Internet marketing from now on." He told me to go home and look at his website and work up a quote for him. I did that yesterday, and I emailed it to him. Right before I left, he looked me in the eye and he said, "Just so you know...I know a lot of people. A LOT of people. If you do a good job for me, I can get you more clients easily."
Talk about blown away!
Obedience to God pays off. It pays off big time. I would have never dreamed I'd be here, in this place, at this time last year. In fact, last February, I was still working for Dr. Addams. I was desperately trying to juggle handling all of her office responsibilities, and failing miserably at it. I was being verbally and emotionally abused every day. I've never felt so free in my life as I do right now.
Thank you, Lord. Thank you for knowing when the right time to bless us is. We don't always think you're right on time. But you are. I believe it. And I trust you with every piece of my life, knowing that you always have a better plan for me than I could ever have for myself.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Friday, February 15, 2013
God Is My Healer
2 Corinthians 4:8-9: We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.
Last month I got a flu shot. I was pressured incredibly by my mom, who couldn't believe I hadn't gotten it yet. Everyone in my house had gotten it, but I rarely go anywhere, so I thought it would probably be okay if I didn't. I finally gave in though, after being told I should "really get it because the flu is bad this year." A week later, I got sick with something that resembled the flu.
I don't think I've ever been so sick. It was awful. There aren't many times when I have to call my best friend and say, "Hey, can you come and take care of Caleb? And make dinner for my family? I feel like I'm going to die." But that's exactly how I felt. And she did. God bless her.
I felt awful for about a week. Then I started to come out of it. I was still coughing, but with a little NyQuil I was sleeping okay. Then I started feeling worse again. The coughing picked up in frequency and severity, and the NyQuil stopped working. In fact, it stopped even making me tired. It did nothing for the cough. I spent one night sleeping on and off. The next night I ended up evicting myself from our bedroom so I didn't bother Craig. I took up residence on the couch and slept on and off again. He woke me up when he got up and sent me to our bedroom to finish the night there.
That was yesterday morning. Yesterday I knew something had to be done. I couldn't go on like this. My clients are still needing work from me, and I don't have sick days. I'm sure if I had needed to ask for more time from my clients, I would have been given it. But, integrity is an important thing to me, and I hate asking to extend a deadline. So, I pressed on. I told Craig I needed to go to the doctor, and yesterday, he took me.
Thank God.
I was told that I did have the flu when I was sick a month ago, and in fact, I'm just now coming to the end of it. However, in the mean time, the flu has birthed a double ear infection, bronchitis and a sinus infection. I was given an antibiotic and cough medicine with codeine in it, or as I like to call it, miracle sleeping cough medicine.
Yesterday I spent some time reading healing verses out loud. I declared them over my life, and I asked my Pastor to agree with me in prayer that I was going to be victorious over this sickness. I'm so sick of being sick, and feeling yucky all the time. I know that sometimes God uses doctors and medicine to heal. I knew in my spirit that it was time to seek that out. I am believing that God is going to take that medicine and move it through my body quickly, resulting in a fast recovery from this.
I know this is an attack from the enemy because it seems to happen when my work and my business start to take off. I'm getting more work than ever, and I have clients for my business now. God is prospering me and Satan knows what our intentions are with the money I'm going to make. He doesn't want me prospered. Well, my God is bigger. My God is able. My God is my Healer and my Protector. My God is my Provider. Satan already knows he lost. He's lost this battle too.
I am choosing to believe in the Word of my God.
Last month I got a flu shot. I was pressured incredibly by my mom, who couldn't believe I hadn't gotten it yet. Everyone in my house had gotten it, but I rarely go anywhere, so I thought it would probably be okay if I didn't. I finally gave in though, after being told I should "really get it because the flu is bad this year." A week later, I got sick with something that resembled the flu.
I don't think I've ever been so sick. It was awful. There aren't many times when I have to call my best friend and say, "Hey, can you come and take care of Caleb? And make dinner for my family? I feel like I'm going to die." But that's exactly how I felt. And she did. God bless her.
I felt awful for about a week. Then I started to come out of it. I was still coughing, but with a little NyQuil I was sleeping okay. Then I started feeling worse again. The coughing picked up in frequency and severity, and the NyQuil stopped working. In fact, it stopped even making me tired. It did nothing for the cough. I spent one night sleeping on and off. The next night I ended up evicting myself from our bedroom so I didn't bother Craig. I took up residence on the couch and slept on and off again. He woke me up when he got up and sent me to our bedroom to finish the night there.
That was yesterday morning. Yesterday I knew something had to be done. I couldn't go on like this. My clients are still needing work from me, and I don't have sick days. I'm sure if I had needed to ask for more time from my clients, I would have been given it. But, integrity is an important thing to me, and I hate asking to extend a deadline. So, I pressed on. I told Craig I needed to go to the doctor, and yesterday, he took me.
Thank God.
I was told that I did have the flu when I was sick a month ago, and in fact, I'm just now coming to the end of it. However, in the mean time, the flu has birthed a double ear infection, bronchitis and a sinus infection. I was given an antibiotic and cough medicine with codeine in it, or as I like to call it, miracle sleeping cough medicine.
Yesterday I spent some time reading healing verses out loud. I declared them over my life, and I asked my Pastor to agree with me in prayer that I was going to be victorious over this sickness. I'm so sick of being sick, and feeling yucky all the time. I know that sometimes God uses doctors and medicine to heal. I knew in my spirit that it was time to seek that out. I am believing that God is going to take that medicine and move it through my body quickly, resulting in a fast recovery from this.
I know this is an attack from the enemy because it seems to happen when my work and my business start to take off. I'm getting more work than ever, and I have clients for my business now. God is prospering me and Satan knows what our intentions are with the money I'm going to make. He doesn't want me prospered. Well, my God is bigger. My God is able. My God is my Healer and my Protector. My God is my Provider. Satan already knows he lost. He's lost this battle too.
I am choosing to believe in the Word of my God.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Disturbed
This morning, I'm disturbed. When I'm disturbed, it helps me to write about it. So, here I am, meeting with you today.
One of my Facebook friends (actually, a local radio personality) posted an article about Ashley Madison. The article really rubbed me the wrong way. I'll rehash it for you.
If you're not sure what Ashley Madison is, their tagline is, "Life is short. Have an affair." It's a dating site for married people. Basically, you sign up and then you have a chance to meet other married people for the purpose of having an affair.
And we wonder why marriages are failing every day?
In the article, a woman discusses the site with her friend, who is using it to meet men outside of her marriage. The woman decides that her marriage isn't everything she'd like it to be either, and thinks that it might be a good idea to check out Ashley Madison for herself. From the sounds of things, her sex life isn't very good. While she and her husband used to have sex three times a week, now they're having sex once a week...maybe. And when they do have sex, it's quite predictable. She's not getting any younger, and she thinks that having an affair might help her feel better about herself.
She meets a few different men, none of whom are the type of man she's really looking for. Her new job has longer hours, which gives her an excuse to give her husband for why she's not home at a decent hour. Of course, he's taking care of the children while she's out dating other men.
Finally, she meets a man who is a doctor. He's handsome, and he looks younger than his stated age of 43. They hit it off and decide to get a hotel room for their first romantic tryst. When she arrives at the hotel room, they go through the motions of having their first sexual encounter, however he isn't able to "perform". A few weeks later, they try again and it's another failure.
In the end, she decides that what she has at home is good enough, and she doesn't want to lose her husband, her children, her home, or their cottage at the lake.
Well, isn't that a lovely way for this article to end?
It makes me sick.
I've been the victim of infidelity in marriage. Let me tell you...it's the worst feeling ever to know your husband has been cheating on you. I've never felt so betrayed in all my life. Once I was able to reassure myself that I hadn't contracted an STD from his affair, I had to heal from the hurt of not being good enough for him. I had to help my small children through the situations they were facing with a looming divorce. I had to work through my own feelings of self-worth and being able to trust someone again.
Anyone who turns to something like Ashley Madison for an affair (or anyone who simply has an affair) is a coward. Not only that, but they're also lazy. It takes two people to keep a marriage working, not one. And you know what? Sometimes when one person isn't giving enough of themselves to the marriage, you have to do their work for them too. Marriage is not a 50/50 proposition, and people who believe that it is will get divorced. Being married means giving 100% of yourself. And in those times when you can't, your partner should be giving 100% to make up for what you're lacking.
If you're struggling in your marriage, I want to encourage you to do something about it. Sit down and have a talk with your spouse about what you're feeling. If you're not having enough sex, tell them. If money issues are plaguing you, bring them out into the open. When you take the time to have a conversation with your spouse, you'll be amazed at what you can learn about each other.
When you married your husband or wife, you took vows to stick by that person until death do you part. Assuming that there's no abuse in your marriage, those are vows you should keep. There is absolutely nothing that would cause me to break my vows to my husband.
Was I at fault for my first marriage failing? I believe I did the best I could at the time. However, I also believe there are some things I could have done better. Looking back on it, I know that ultimately he was not willing to get help for his problems. These are problems that are still issues for him to this day. His second marriage has already failed. Mine has only gotten stronger over the past six years.
I'll close with this...
If you've considered having an affair, don't. The pain you'll endure isn't worth it. The guilt will drive you crazy. Instead, think of the person you made vows to. Look back and remember what it is that made you fall in love with that person in the first place. If your marriage is broken, don't throw it away. Fix it.
Do it today.
One of my Facebook friends (actually, a local radio personality) posted an article about Ashley Madison. The article really rubbed me the wrong way. I'll rehash it for you.
If you're not sure what Ashley Madison is, their tagline is, "Life is short. Have an affair." It's a dating site for married people. Basically, you sign up and then you have a chance to meet other married people for the purpose of having an affair.
And we wonder why marriages are failing every day?
In the article, a woman discusses the site with her friend, who is using it to meet men outside of her marriage. The woman decides that her marriage isn't everything she'd like it to be either, and thinks that it might be a good idea to check out Ashley Madison for herself. From the sounds of things, her sex life isn't very good. While she and her husband used to have sex three times a week, now they're having sex once a week...maybe. And when they do have sex, it's quite predictable. She's not getting any younger, and she thinks that having an affair might help her feel better about herself.
She meets a few different men, none of whom are the type of man she's really looking for. Her new job has longer hours, which gives her an excuse to give her husband for why she's not home at a decent hour. Of course, he's taking care of the children while she's out dating other men.
Finally, she meets a man who is a doctor. He's handsome, and he looks younger than his stated age of 43. They hit it off and decide to get a hotel room for their first romantic tryst. When she arrives at the hotel room, they go through the motions of having their first sexual encounter, however he isn't able to "perform". A few weeks later, they try again and it's another failure.
In the end, she decides that what she has at home is good enough, and she doesn't want to lose her husband, her children, her home, or their cottage at the lake.
Well, isn't that a lovely way for this article to end?
It makes me sick.
I've been the victim of infidelity in marriage. Let me tell you...it's the worst feeling ever to know your husband has been cheating on you. I've never felt so betrayed in all my life. Once I was able to reassure myself that I hadn't contracted an STD from his affair, I had to heal from the hurt of not being good enough for him. I had to help my small children through the situations they were facing with a looming divorce. I had to work through my own feelings of self-worth and being able to trust someone again.
Anyone who turns to something like Ashley Madison for an affair (or anyone who simply has an affair) is a coward. Not only that, but they're also lazy. It takes two people to keep a marriage working, not one. And you know what? Sometimes when one person isn't giving enough of themselves to the marriage, you have to do their work for them too. Marriage is not a 50/50 proposition, and people who believe that it is will get divorced. Being married means giving 100% of yourself. And in those times when you can't, your partner should be giving 100% to make up for what you're lacking.
If you're struggling in your marriage, I want to encourage you to do something about it. Sit down and have a talk with your spouse about what you're feeling. If you're not having enough sex, tell them. If money issues are plaguing you, bring them out into the open. When you take the time to have a conversation with your spouse, you'll be amazed at what you can learn about each other.
When you married your husband or wife, you took vows to stick by that person until death do you part. Assuming that there's no abuse in your marriage, those are vows you should keep. There is absolutely nothing that would cause me to break my vows to my husband.
Was I at fault for my first marriage failing? I believe I did the best I could at the time. However, I also believe there are some things I could have done better. Looking back on it, I know that ultimately he was not willing to get help for his problems. These are problems that are still issues for him to this day. His second marriage has already failed. Mine has only gotten stronger over the past six years.
I'll close with this...
If you've considered having an affair, don't. The pain you'll endure isn't worth it. The guilt will drive you crazy. Instead, think of the person you made vows to. Look back and remember what it is that made you fall in love with that person in the first place. If your marriage is broken, don't throw it away. Fix it.
Do it today.
Friday, January 11, 2013
Procrastination
I have to be honest with myself. I struggle with procrastination. Each day, I find it difficult to get out of bed. I'm not sure why that is, but I'm sure it has something to do with the fact that it's difficult for me to get to sleep at night. That's not entirely "nature's" fault. Sometimes I spend too much time on my cell phone, reading ads on Craigslist or looking at Facebook. Last night, I couldn't believe when a whole hour just flew by and I was still looking at stuff on my phone. Of course, Craig is sleeping beside me...he falls asleep so fast. Last night I think it was record speed-about 90 seconds.
Each day I struggle. I was doing pretty good for most of this week. I was showered and dressed by the time Matt went to school. Today...not so much. In fact, I'm still in my pajamas. I'm planning on taking a shower when Caleb goes down for his nap. Then I'll have to spend some time writing. I'm just not feeling it today. I don't know why. It's kind of a blah day.
I know I need to start spending more time in prayer. I kind of feel like my spirit is tired. There's so much going wrong in the world right now, and I think it's messing with me a little bit. I don't usually pay too much attention to the news. Craig is good about filling me in on stuff.
I don't want to rehash all of that stuff here. Nor do I want to go over it in my mind. I just know I need some motivation. Somehow. I'm just struggling today...
Each day I struggle. I was doing pretty good for most of this week. I was showered and dressed by the time Matt went to school. Today...not so much. In fact, I'm still in my pajamas. I'm planning on taking a shower when Caleb goes down for his nap. Then I'll have to spend some time writing. I'm just not feeling it today. I don't know why. It's kind of a blah day.
I know I need to start spending more time in prayer. I kind of feel like my spirit is tired. There's so much going wrong in the world right now, and I think it's messing with me a little bit. I don't usually pay too much attention to the news. Craig is good about filling me in on stuff.
I don't want to rehash all of that stuff here. Nor do I want to go over it in my mind. I just know I need some motivation. Somehow. I'm just struggling today...
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Making The Most Of Every Opportunity
Colossians 4:5-6 says, "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."
I realize that as I write this, I'm taking a portion of this verse of out context. But this particular portion spoke to my heart this morning when I considered some of the things I had heard or read. There was a word that also kept repeating itself in my mind. Prayer.
I will be the first to admit that my prayer life isn't everything I would like it to be. I think there are many reasons behind that, but they all only add up to a bunch of excuses. I should be praying way more than I do. And to say, "My work keeps me so busy" or "I slept really late so I got behind on other things", just doesn't cut it.
The first instance I saw this morning was a Facebook friend saying, "I'm up way too early. Grrrrr." My instant thought was, "God wants you to pray!" I didn't say that to her...I probably should have. Second, my best friend from college told me this morning that her father was just diagnosed with prostate cancer. My first thought was, "Pray for healing!" While I was talking to her, my husband texted me and told me that the truck he was driving today broke down and he has to wait for someone to come and fix it. I just texted him and told him that I felt like God wanted him to use this time to pray.
How often do things happen that we consider inconveniences in our lives (or even tragedies), and all God wants is for us to stop for a second and talk to Him?
According to Scripture, we're supposed to make the most of every opportunity. In this particular passage, I know God is talking about being a witness for Him to other people. But what about other opportunities we're presented with? Are we making the most of those opportunities?
I'm talking to myself as much as I'm talking to anyone else. So, please don't feel that I'm pointing my finger at you.
When I'm sitting in the doctor's office waiting for an appointment, do I make the most of that opportunity? Do I read the Bible on the app on my phone? Or do I sit there and play games? How about when I'm sitting on the couch while my husband is watching something that only he likes on television? Or when I am at the store and I see someone who needs help? There are a million different scenarios and a million different opportunities. I'm not saying I need to completely stop everything that isn't "Godly". For instance, I don't really think God cares if I play the "Bubble Pop" game on my phone. But, each of those things has their place. Facebook has its place. My business blog has its place. My clients have their place. None of them should take the place of God.
Sometimes God creates times for us when we'll want to spend a few minutes with Him. Time that's out of the ordinary time. I spent time with God this morning when I did my devotions. It was beautiful, rich time. But when He calls my name today because He wants me to be with Him again...will I be listening?
I'm going to work on that. I hope you will too.
I realize that as I write this, I'm taking a portion of this verse of out context. But this particular portion spoke to my heart this morning when I considered some of the things I had heard or read. There was a word that also kept repeating itself in my mind. Prayer.
I will be the first to admit that my prayer life isn't everything I would like it to be. I think there are many reasons behind that, but they all only add up to a bunch of excuses. I should be praying way more than I do. And to say, "My work keeps me so busy" or "I slept really late so I got behind on other things", just doesn't cut it.
The first instance I saw this morning was a Facebook friend saying, "I'm up way too early. Grrrrr." My instant thought was, "God wants you to pray!" I didn't say that to her...I probably should have. Second, my best friend from college told me this morning that her father was just diagnosed with prostate cancer. My first thought was, "Pray for healing!" While I was talking to her, my husband texted me and told me that the truck he was driving today broke down and he has to wait for someone to come and fix it. I just texted him and told him that I felt like God wanted him to use this time to pray.
How often do things happen that we consider inconveniences in our lives (or even tragedies), and all God wants is for us to stop for a second and talk to Him?
According to Scripture, we're supposed to make the most of every opportunity. In this particular passage, I know God is talking about being a witness for Him to other people. But what about other opportunities we're presented with? Are we making the most of those opportunities?
I'm talking to myself as much as I'm talking to anyone else. So, please don't feel that I'm pointing my finger at you.
When I'm sitting in the doctor's office waiting for an appointment, do I make the most of that opportunity? Do I read the Bible on the app on my phone? Or do I sit there and play games? How about when I'm sitting on the couch while my husband is watching something that only he likes on television? Or when I am at the store and I see someone who needs help? There are a million different scenarios and a million different opportunities. I'm not saying I need to completely stop everything that isn't "Godly". For instance, I don't really think God cares if I play the "Bubble Pop" game on my phone. But, each of those things has their place. Facebook has its place. My business blog has its place. My clients have their place. None of them should take the place of God.
Sometimes God creates times for us when we'll want to spend a few minutes with Him. Time that's out of the ordinary time. I spent time with God this morning when I did my devotions. It was beautiful, rich time. But when He calls my name today because He wants me to be with Him again...will I be listening?
I'm going to work on that. I hope you will too.
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Biblical Womanhood
It took me a long time to arrive at the place where I am today.
I ran away from God's plans for me for a long time. I'm not even sure why. God's desires were ultimately my desires for me. I wanted to be a writer since I was ten years old. Ever since I penned that first four page story that featured myself, my best friend Heather, and Davy Jones. I wrote more of those types of stories than I can count. Then I began writing what I referred to as "Monkees Notes" where I would write about different aspects of The Monkees. I didn't realize it at the time, of course, but I know now that I was writing my own version of news articles.
As my tastes grew older, my writing grew too. I still wrote what is referred to now as "Fan Fiction" featuring myself, my friends and my favorite music groups (New Kids On The Block, dcTalk, etc.), but before long I began writing real fiction. Stories I created in my mind about different characters that didn't have anything to do with any of my friends. I wrote all of these stories long-hand. Each Wednesday night when our youth group had our weekly meeting, I would bring my notebook with me and it would get confiscated as soon as I got on the church van. It would get passed around and the pages read as we picked up other kids. On the way home, I would be the last stop on the route, which allowed for all of my friends to have a go at reading the next section of my story.
After I got married (the first time) I wrote my first "book". I wrote it long-hand as well, but typed it was over three hundred pages. It was a remarkable love story. I wanted so badly for it to get published...
But I never even tried to find a publisher.
I think I doubted God. I thought that my dreams were only dreams and there was no way that I could ever really become someone that got paid for writing. I continued through college and struggled through my marriage. I still wrote. I wrote many stories that had beginnings but no endings. And then one day I got an idea for a new story and in my mind, it was a story that was begging to be written.
That was Drop By Nine Spoonfuls.
If you've never read Drop By Nine Spoonfuls, you should. I don't say that because it's mine. I say it because that was the first book I ever had published. Yes, it was a "vanity" publisher who I wholeheartedly believe scammed me. But, it felt good to have someone believe in my abilities to write. So, I signed the contract and prayed for the best.
But I continued on in my secular job. I continued working in the world with the "dream" of being a writer in the back of my mind. You would think that it would be a clue that I was doing the wrong thing when doing copywriting-type work was a part of every job I did. It wasn't much, but in each position I held, I was constantly being asked to look something over for grammar or write this or that for a newsletter.
I still didn't have any idea what it meant to do what God wanted me to do in my life. I knew what I loved. But it took a huge blow for me to get it through my head that God wanted me writing NOW. It took me walking out on my job one day in the beginning of March before God could get a hold of me. It was quite a situation. But He sure did get my attention.
For the longest time I thought that being a Godly woman meant that I did the best I could to help my husband take care of our family. For me, it meant different things for a while. There was a season where it meant holding down a full time job because my husband (my first husband) constantly jumped from job to job.
There was a season where it meant staying home and taking care of my house and kids.
There was a season where it meant working a 32-hour a week job doing Christian ministry.
There was a season where it meant that someone was so desperate to have me working for them that they offered me an incredible supervisor job with lots of perks.
But none of those things was what God had in mind for me.
If I had been smart, and if I had just stopped for a second and listened to the heart of God, I would have realized what God wanted me to do. I do wonder where I would be today if I had just taken some time to listen to Him then. But, I know that God's timing is perfect. I know I am exactly where He wants me to be.
Now, I have three published books. I've cancelled the contract on that "vanity" published book and am working on getting it published electronically, like my other two books. I'm working some of the greatest clients in the country (in my opinion, anyway) providing them with website content. I'm highly esteemed by my clients and my work is sought-after by them.
And I LOVE doing it.
I feel God's blessing on my work now. I work while I'm sitting at my dining room table. While my son plays next to me on the floor. I can stop when I want to, and I can play with him. And some mornings that's what we do. I'm here when my older children get home from school. I'm here when my husband gets home from work. And quite often, he has clean clothes and dinner is on the table for him. Not all the time, of course. But I do my best. And he knows that.
And you know what? Doing what I'm doing now is showcasing my God-given talents. And it's helping my husband incredibly.
It's taken me a long time. But I've figured out what Biblical womanhood means for me. It's following God's plan for my life, using the talents He's blessed me with, and constantly finding myself in the center of His Will.
It's a great place to be.
I ran away from God's plans for me for a long time. I'm not even sure why. God's desires were ultimately my desires for me. I wanted to be a writer since I was ten years old. Ever since I penned that first four page story that featured myself, my best friend Heather, and Davy Jones. I wrote more of those types of stories than I can count. Then I began writing what I referred to as "Monkees Notes" where I would write about different aspects of The Monkees. I didn't realize it at the time, of course, but I know now that I was writing my own version of news articles.
As my tastes grew older, my writing grew too. I still wrote what is referred to now as "Fan Fiction" featuring myself, my friends and my favorite music groups (New Kids On The Block, dcTalk, etc.), but before long I began writing real fiction. Stories I created in my mind about different characters that didn't have anything to do with any of my friends. I wrote all of these stories long-hand. Each Wednesday night when our youth group had our weekly meeting, I would bring my notebook with me and it would get confiscated as soon as I got on the church van. It would get passed around and the pages read as we picked up other kids. On the way home, I would be the last stop on the route, which allowed for all of my friends to have a go at reading the next section of my story.
After I got married (the first time) I wrote my first "book". I wrote it long-hand as well, but typed it was over three hundred pages. It was a remarkable love story. I wanted so badly for it to get published...
But I never even tried to find a publisher.
I think I doubted God. I thought that my dreams were only dreams and there was no way that I could ever really become someone that got paid for writing. I continued through college and struggled through my marriage. I still wrote. I wrote many stories that had beginnings but no endings. And then one day I got an idea for a new story and in my mind, it was a story that was begging to be written.
That was Drop By Nine Spoonfuls.
If you've never read Drop By Nine Spoonfuls, you should. I don't say that because it's mine. I say it because that was the first book I ever had published. Yes, it was a "vanity" publisher who I wholeheartedly believe scammed me. But, it felt good to have someone believe in my abilities to write. So, I signed the contract and prayed for the best.
But I continued on in my secular job. I continued working in the world with the "dream" of being a writer in the back of my mind. You would think that it would be a clue that I was doing the wrong thing when doing copywriting-type work was a part of every job I did. It wasn't much, but in each position I held, I was constantly being asked to look something over for grammar or write this or that for a newsletter.
I still didn't have any idea what it meant to do what God wanted me to do in my life. I knew what I loved. But it took a huge blow for me to get it through my head that God wanted me writing NOW. It took me walking out on my job one day in the beginning of March before God could get a hold of me. It was quite a situation. But He sure did get my attention.
For the longest time I thought that being a Godly woman meant that I did the best I could to help my husband take care of our family. For me, it meant different things for a while. There was a season where it meant holding down a full time job because my husband (my first husband) constantly jumped from job to job.
There was a season where it meant staying home and taking care of my house and kids.
There was a season where it meant working a 32-hour a week job doing Christian ministry.
There was a season where it meant that someone was so desperate to have me working for them that they offered me an incredible supervisor job with lots of perks.
But none of those things was what God had in mind for me.
If I had been smart, and if I had just stopped for a second and listened to the heart of God, I would have realized what God wanted me to do. I do wonder where I would be today if I had just taken some time to listen to Him then. But, I know that God's timing is perfect. I know I am exactly where He wants me to be.
Now, I have three published books. I've cancelled the contract on that "vanity" published book and am working on getting it published electronically, like my other two books. I'm working some of the greatest clients in the country (in my opinion, anyway) providing them with website content. I'm highly esteemed by my clients and my work is sought-after by them.
And I LOVE doing it.
I feel God's blessing on my work now. I work while I'm sitting at my dining room table. While my son plays next to me on the floor. I can stop when I want to, and I can play with him. And some mornings that's what we do. I'm here when my older children get home from school. I'm here when my husband gets home from work. And quite often, he has clean clothes and dinner is on the table for him. Not all the time, of course. But I do my best. And he knows that.
And you know what? Doing what I'm doing now is showcasing my God-given talents. And it's helping my husband incredibly.
It's taken me a long time. But I've figured out what Biblical womanhood means for me. It's following God's plan for my life, using the talents He's blessed me with, and constantly finding myself in the center of His Will.
It's a great place to be.
Monday, October 8, 2012
The Appeasement Of Prayer
Matthew 25: 35-40 says, "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’"
We should all be ashamed of ourselves.
We're all guilty of it, at one time or another. Someone comes to us with a need and what do we do? We don't take the time to consider whether or not we can help with the need. Instead, we assure our brother or sister (or friend, or even STRANGER) that we'll pray for them. Do we? I don't know. Sometimes I suppose we probably do. If we remember to. Other times...well, we mean well. But we forget.
Since when did the church stop being the church? And since when did prayer become the substitute for actually doing something to help people who truly need help?
As I write this post, I'm pretty fired up. I had the opportunity this past week to witness someone who truly needed help. She was lost and alone and abandoned by many of the people in her life she thought once loved her. Her mother approached her church to get help for her and the church turned her down.
I'm past being angry.
Now, don't get me wrong. Prayer is important. I'm not saying it's not. Prayer is essential in fact. Especially when you're dealing with the situation this girl is currently in, where her very soul is at stake. But this church had the opportunity to do more than pray. They had the opportunity to do more than provide a token gesture as way to appease her for a little while. This church had the opportunity to change her life. They had the opportunity to draw her to God; to allow her to climb up in the lap of her Daddy and realize that He really is taking care of her after all. Even in the midst of the mess.
They chose not to.
I would be embarrassed if that were my church. I'm so glad it's not. No...in fact, my church did just the opposite of this church. I posted a specific need for this girl in the groups that my church has on Facebook. Within minutes, the need was met. By the end of the day, the need was surpassed. And it was done by people who had never even laid eyes on this girl...in fact they don't even know her first name.
Consider Jesus. How many people do you think approached Him on a daily basis with needs? Although there are many mentioned in the Bible, my guess is that there were many more than that. How many times did Jesus tell them that He would pray for them and then walk away?
None.
Instead, He met their needs. He took them in His arms and He loved them. So, what I can't understand is...why do we think it's okay to simply pat people on the back and tell them that we'll pray for them without once thinking about meeting their needs?
It's NOT okay.
When this need was presented to me, I knew that I couldn't meet it. I didn't have the finances to meet it myself. But, I knew who COULD meet it. And I knew who WOULD meet it. It wasn't hard. And it only took a few minutes.
This is something that we as Christians need to change about ourselves. Jesus Himself said that when you don't take the time to help your brother or sister in need, you will be separated from Him in heaven. I don't know about you, but I don't want to be separated from Him. I want to give where I can. I want to help when I can help. I want to love people the way that Jesus loves people--without expecting anything in return.
I keep being led back to the song by Tait, "Talk About Jesus". It's an incredible song and I wanted to add it here. I think it really drives my point home. Take a minute and watch this video. And then take some steps to get out of your comfort zone and help someone around you who needs help. Just like Jesus did.
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