Inspiration

God is still God

July 2021 By Editor

Copyright Lauren A. Harrison | Photography

Life’s filled with ups and downs

We’ve all had days when getting up is a chore. And we will have them again. This journey of becoming a published author has had its share of ups and downs. Winning awards is an outstanding feeling. It’s a sense of accomplishment. You know that you’re headed in the right direction, until you hit the moment’s when little happens, your platform needs more work, you don’t have a significant enough email list, and you stare at a blank page on your screen.

Everything screams for your attention

At times the simple things in life gets in the way. Bills need to be paid, the rent or mortgage needs to be covered, or the kids need new clothes. Functions and meetings need to be attended. Life screams at you from all directions—all at the same time. Your mind and heart become a little crowded. Time for God and prayer can sometimes become one more chore rather than the peaceful communication with our Heavenly Father that it is meant to be.

Turn everything off

In these times it’s vital that we turn everything around us off, even for a short time. I like to take walks on nature trails. I love it when I come to a river, lake or a stream. I can close my eyes and not hear the world yelling for my attention. Everything around me becomes quiet. I can focus on the beauty that God’s created in this world. I can focus on the Creator. And I find peace.

God is still God

Whether your quiet space is in your backyard, or a nature trail, or in your prayer closet in your home, peace comes when we are still. In those moments we can know that God is still God. There is none before Him. There is none after Him. He is the first. He will be the last. It is His hand that guides, and His voice that speaks. His hand that moves. In His time you will see Him move. He promises to be with you. Always.

God Bless,

Lauren

When Your Story Doesn’t Jive

April 2021 By Editor

You thought God said turn right

There are moments in this writing journey when the desire to throw up your hands becomes overwhelming. Your story doesn’t jive. The plot merely plods along at a crawl, then comes to a complete halt because you’ve taken a right when you should have taken the left. Then there are those moments after another rejection, from yet another publisher, leaves you deflated.

Yet there are those moments that keep you planted in front of your computer. God spoke a word into your heart. A message. A story. A poem. An article. It’s from Him and is for someone who perhaps you don’t know personally. Your reader.

You could choose to quit

You have to stop and write. I could say you don’t have a choice but to write and muddle through. But we both know you do. One choice is to quit. The other is to stay the course and run the race. At times you wonder how anyone can press on in the face of such bleak uncertainty. It’s not easy, but with God are not all things possible? And if this is true, is he not capable of using your voice to tell His story?

He will make it jive

So, sit yourself down. Power up your computer. Quiet the thoughts running rampant in your brain. Talk to the Author and Finisher of your faith. He’s got the plot laid out. He knows how to make the story line jive. He can put you back on the right path. However, occasionally, that left turn might actually be Him showing you the direction He wanted for your story. To be certain, you will have to spend time with your Heavenly Father.

God Bless,

Lauren.