God Came Knocking

When God knocks on the door of your heart and calls you to act, do not turn your back.

Since my retirement, I've found myself avoiding writing time. I find time to write blogs, post on Facebook, but when it comes to working on my manuscript, I've been finding excuses. Yesterday, I carried my laptop outside and started working on a newly developed story idea. When I stopped, I had nineteen pages completed and it felt wonderful. I've been turning my back on God's calling for me to write. Now, with prayer, I'm finding my joy of writing again.

But, God didn't stop there. He has called me to ministry within the church as well. I'm coordinating the publication of our weekly bulletin, coordinating the typing of a revised Church Staff Handbook, visiting with members who are in nursing facilities, crocheting prayer shawls and lap robes, and I'm a member of the Staff Parish Relations committee.

God has blessed my life so many times in recent months. And, He's opened doors to utilize my talents. I may be retired from one job, but I've been called to others.

Have you been listening to God's knock on your heart?

HIDE AND SEEK

Romans 10:20 And later Isaiah spoke boldly for God, saying, "I was found by people who were not looking for me. I showed myself to those who were not asking for me."

When I first became a Christian, I loved the feeling of being among fellow believers. Church was a warm, safe place to go and have my spirit renewed. All my friend spoke the same language, asked the same questions, sought the same reassurance. I opened my heart and welcomed Jesus to bless me. He has provided for me in my times of need, carried me through my times of trouble, and restored my faith, time and time again.

Lately, I've started to worry that I'm not carrying His word to others to bring them into His fold. I'm not a preacher. I'm a faltering Christian. But, I know that I am doing His good deeds when I reach out to others and share what I can--a smile, a helping hand, forgiveness, love.

Just as the scripture above says, I am showing God's love to those who may not be seeking Him, and in doing so spreading good seeds for His harvest.

Thank you for visiting and remember to thank Him for all the blessings He bestows.

Creative Energy and Spare Time

Years ago, I spent my spare time working on crafts. I've knitted clothes for my children and grandchildren, crocheted afghans, painted ceramics, woodburned pictures, created candle and flower arrangements, and painted rocks into animals. Since I started writing, my crafting time disappeared and I poured all my creative energy into my books.

It seems I do have more spare time now that I've retired from the day job, and with hubby being "tied" to the house, I don't like to spend too much time down in my office away from him. So when I sit upstairs to watch television with him, I needed something to make me feel productive. I heard about prayer shawl ministries and started reading up on what it involved. Now, I have a stash of yarn and a drawer of prayer shawls. As I work on the shawl, I pray for the person who will receive it. As I hear of women in my church who are facing surgery, I pick out the shawl I believe they will like and pray for them while holding the shawl. I visit the person in the hospital and present them with the gift.

Now what would be an unproductive time has turned into a labor of love.

I Saw God Working Through Authors...

Saturday my fellow authors met for our monthly meeting. One of our members has been sending personal packages to soldiers through anysoldier.com. When we all learned of her mission, many wanted to help. On Saturday, she expected to receive a couple cans of shave gel, some wipes, and maybe some beef jerky. The outcome was fantastic. Instead of a bag full of items, her trunk was overflowing! She sat in the middle of the floor and cried at the outpouring of love from the group. I cried right along with her.

Truly, I saw God in that library meeting room. Tears on everyone's cheeks, hearts overflowing.

Thank You, Jesus, for your spirit among us.

Being Blessed by an Act of Kindness

Yesterday I had to purchase some craft gloves, and on the journey I asked God to show me an opportunity to bless someone with an act of kindness. I walked through the store for several minutes and found what I needed and headed back to the checkout lanes. The lines were long and a new cashier opened her lane. A young man stepped in first and I followed. We had to wait while the cashier put her drawer in and got it ready. She kept apologizing, but I kept looking at what the young man had on the counter as his purchase. He had one bottle of black acrylic craft paint, like one uses for ceramics. I knew it wouldn't cost much. He also had a 40% off coupon. I wondered if this was the opportunity God had planned. The cashier rang his order and it came to only fifty-seven cents. He started to hand her his bank card and I said, "Please put your card away. I will pay for your purchase with mine." He looked at me and said, "Are you sure?" I smiled and said, "Absolutely. Have a wonderful day and one day pass it on." He smiled back and thanked me. The cashier was gushing about how I had made her day...how she'd hoped that would happen one day in her line. I felt that I'd actually blessed three people, the young man, the cashier, and myself. My heart was full of happiness. Then when my register tape printed out, the cashier was amazed. She said, "You got a 20% discount for your next purchase! You blessed someone and received a blessing in return." I thanked her and told her that was something we should all remember.

So, have you blessed someone recently? If so, please share your story by sending it to me. You can do so by using the "contact me" link on my website. I will post it here on my blog. The goal is to show everyone that acts of kindness are happening all around the world, every single day.

God bless and thanks for reading!

Sometimes It's the Little Things that Count

In the morning commute, we all tend to keep our eyes straight ahead intent on getting to work on time and wishing everyone would get out of the way. I try not to dwell on that mentality, but I must admit that it does happen. I've been that person sitting at a crossroads wanting to turn when no one will give me the courtesy. So, I decided yesterday that I would be kind to anyone who needed to turn. Since I travel on a two lane road all the way to work, this wouldn't be difficult. My first opportunity was a school bus driving the opposite direction. The driver was trying to turn left into a subdivision but the long line of traffic kept moving. When I got close enough, I stopped and signaled the driver it was safe to turn. I got a wave in return. As I traveled along the road, I found two more opportunities to allow people to move out of their subdivisions into our lane of traffic. Each person acknowledged the kindness. By the time I reached work, I felt happy and upbeat. Doing little kindnesses will bring a happiness to your soul.

I'd love to share your stories of "keeping hope alive" in our troubled world. It doesn't have to be big and it doesn't have to be monetary. Email your story to me from the "contact" page on my website. I will be happy to keep your name annonymous if you prefer.

HOPE IS THE THING WITH FEATHERS

Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune without the words
And never stops at all.
And sweetest in the gale is heard;
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm.
I've heard it in the chillest land,
And on the strangest sea;
Yet, never, in extremity,
It asked a crumb of me.
--Emily Dickinson

God bless and may your day be filled with His blessings.

Spreading Kindness One Story at a Time

Hello dear friends,

I've decided to reopen this blog after being inspired by another writer friend. There is so much talk about bad things happening, the spiraling economy, depression, and destruction flooding the internet, the newspapers, the radio and television. But, there are wonderful things happening every day that aren't reported. Even though evil is invading our world today, it is no different than in the beginning, when Eve took that first bite of the apple.

But God is still active and he is touching people every day through his followers. My writer friend pulled through a drive thru one morning and asked how much the order was for the car behind her. She then paid for that order as well as her own. When the cashier asked if she knew the people, she told her no, but that she hoped the people in turn would do an act of kindness for someone else. The cashier smiled and said she would pass that on to the unsuspecting recipients of my friend's generosity. Now my writer friend has been inspired to do something good for another person each week, and she has issued the challenge to others.

I've decided to pick up the challenge. Each week, I will look for an opportunity to do something for someone else. And, I'm asking each of my readers to take up the challenge as well. Send me your story of kindness through the contact info on my website (Click here) and I'll post it here on my blog.

Last week my act of kindness was to pay the membership dues for another writer who didn't have the money to pay before having late fees. What about you? Care to share?

I believe God gives us opportunities every day to do a kindness for another person, but sometimes we aren't listening. It doesn't have to be monetary. Perhaps you know an older person who might be lonely. You could visit and share your time. You could visit a nursing home. You could write a letter to a soldier. There are many, many ways to reach out and help someone with a smile, a kind word, or a deed.

I'm looking forward to posting my weekly act of kindness, and I'm looking forward to hearing from you!

God Bless and thanks for stopping by.