Finches display yellow once again
Spring is close at hand
Winter passes
Have no fear
Hang on
Orchid, Frederick Meijer Gardens
Put winter garb away
Sun shines radiantly
Vibrant color palettes replace
Dismal gray
Our God truly reigns!
“I love the Lord, for he heard my voice” – (He listened to me! No one else on planet earth always has the time or even the inclination to listen to me all the time).
“Because he turned his ear to me (He listened so intently), I will call on him as long as I live” – vs. 1, 2
Orchid Water Lily – photo by Steve Lasher
“The Lord is gracious & righteous; (it is he who makes things right — not one person, not an acceptance/rejection slip) our God is full of compassion” – vs. 5.
“The Lord protects the simple-hearted; when I was in great need, he saved me” (when I find no time to finish my tasks and words don’t come) I cry out to God who hears my plea. In my own strength, I am truly helpless.
“Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you” – vs. 7… (showered me with blessings and dealt bountifully with me.)
“Here I am, your servant, your faithful servant: set me free for your service!” – vs. 16.
Thank you, God, for giving me life, breath, and stories to pen and share with others. Even if only one person reads my story and responds, I know I must tell the story.
Shells on Clearwater Beach, Florida
Recently my husband and I had the opportunity to travel south. One of my favorite pastimes is to look for shells while walking the beach. Each shell’s intricacies never cease to amaze me.
Some portray wholeness
Others appear broken
or partial pieces
Chipped and greatly worn
I see spiny traces
Translucent, fragile exteriors
Various patterns with
Random indentations
Varying degrees of color intensity
Brown, pink, black,
Blue, gray,
and off-white
Sunlight causes one to
Glisten and shine
While another remains flat
and non-descript
Just like shells, people are unique. We display unique characteristics and qualities given to us by our creator, God. We all matter to God. Each represents degrees of stains, joy, and sorrow. No two of us are alike because God created you and me as a special design for a unique purpose in life.
All of us have stories to tell whether they be tragic or more ordinary. Our words may come in the form of an encouraging note to someone hurting. These stories may appear in journal form, newspaper or magazine article, novella, or memoir.
Do you know what special purpose God designed you for?
“Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it… You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed” – Psalm 139:14–16/NLT
Grand Haven Lighthouse (photo by Steve Lasher)
“Go somewhere fear told you you couldn’t go. Find your edge and push it. Speak that truth. Joseph Campbell said, ‘The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.’
The treasure is growth, risk’s reward. Turns out the cave is more amazing than frightening; spacious, pristine and liberating.” (from Soulseeds.com)
Is fear speaking to you right now? Maybe fear is preventing you from submitting a magazine or book proposal. Are you a bit afraid of going to the edge and signing up for a writer’s retreat? Have you considered a retreat or conference might be the jumpstart you need to go to the next level?
The treasure is awaiting you — you need only step out in faith. Reserve your spot now. Don’t delay another day. Is it time to begin Writing in Harmony with your Soul? A perfect opportunity awaits you to join fellow writers for 30 hours of writing, reflective time, learning, brainstorming and much more!
Find out more about finding your treasure and dispelling crippling fear. Come join us on March 22–23. For more information, see:
http://www.meetup.com/wordweavers-wmi/events/101252082/
“Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock & my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken” — Psalm 62:5–6.