Absence of Blogs!

I totally haven’t thought of blogging in the last few months! I used to roll my eyes when my best friend Rebecca would say, “I just didn’t have time. When you have a baby you’ll understand!” I may have actually forgotten I had a blog. (I also thought my website was no longer viewable to the public, too.) Wrong! I know this because I googled myself when I was doing completing information for a writer’s directory for my writing group. So, having said that . . .

Since I last wrote I spent a full month in the hospital just prior to delivering our beautiful Georgia-Claire. Thirty plus days and three or four hospitalizations later she’s here! She is now 3 months old and even more wonderful than I dreamed her to be! Right now, I am contemplating going back to work part-time doing anesthesia. Also, I will attend training next week to be a Coordinator for Nashville Songwriter Association International. I will be working with the Memphis chapter. SUPER exciting! Rusty and I are taking a break from being small group leaders at Bellevue, but we still remain involved in the Young Married I department. Hopefully, I will have more updates soon – ie. Songwriting contract.

Take care & God Bless

I’ve Been Out

Okay, just in case anyone checks in, I will offer an explanation for my whereabouts. I went out of town (out of state actually) for a couple of months on a job assignment and lost track. I put all writing on hold for a few months. I am now back at home, but working 2 jobs and am often letting it go again. I still have more ideas than I have time, so I fully intend on pushing the pen in the near future. I just thought I owed an explanation. I hope you are great! God Bless! – April

Ananias and Sapphira

Most of us have heard of them. As kids in Sunday school we were taught, “Don’t be like Ananias and Sapphira!” They are the notorious stars of Acts chapter 5. In the previous chapter the Holy Spirit came and filled all the believers so that they could speak with boldness and courage. Acts 4:32 (AMP) says they were of one heart and soul, “and not one of them claimed that anything which he possessed was [exclusively] his own, but everything they had was in common and for the use of all.”

 

It goes on to tell none of them were needy or destitute because the ones who had homes and land sold them “laying the money at the apostles feet” where it was distributed as anyone had need. Amazing! Talk about trusting the leaders of your church! And trusting each other to help meet your needs! And more than that – selling all of their possessions to help another brother or sister in Christ! That’s difficult for me to even imagine. No wonder we don’t go around performing the miracles they performed! God is the same, right?

 

So by the time I get to chapter 5 I’m already feeling pretty inadequate. Forget selling all we own, sometimes I feel like a 10% tithe has to pried out of our hands with a crowbar! Then I venture into chapter 5. Ah ha. Ananias and Sapphira. I immediately recognize the names. These were some bad people God killed. I continue reading.

 

Ultimately, Ananias and Sapphira sold some property. Together (as a good husband and wife agreeing on a financial decision) they decide to keep part of the money, and then give the rest to the Church. I’m assuming it was embarrassment and/or greed but for some reason they chose not to admit the little kickback and present the money as the total profit for their property.

 

Then (I’ve never heard anyone preach on it, but v.3 says) when they presented to Peter he knew they were lying. That, too, is amazing to me. I’ve wondered if people were telling the truth before, but Peter just called them out. Maybe there was a snitch. Maybe he knew their hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit. Either way – pretty amazing in itself. Then they died. One at a time because that’s the way they approached Peter, but each shared the same fate. He even told Sapphira (who came 2^nd) that “The feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out [also].” Then it happened. I’m amazed still.

 

I can’t but question this in my heart. I know God is always right, and His plan is perfect. But then I try to examine myself under the same microscope. They still sold something and gave money to the Church. That’s more than I’ve ever done – lying about it or not. Some say they died because they lied. Well, I won’t even touch that. The telemarketer calls, “Is so-and-so home?”

 

“No, I’m sorry he’s not,” knowing good and well he’s on the couch beside you. I don’t do this anymore partially because it is lying, but partially because they will call back. I’d rather nip it in the bud. Don’t get me started on the Do Not Call List.

 

Some say they were killed based on the nature of the lie. They were trying to deceive the Holy Spirit. Then I recall all of the times I have done something I shouldn’t (or not done something I should), and I really just wish God would stop watching for just a second. (Ha. This is funny: Just as I was writing that, my eyes were drawn to a plaque I have on the buffet table in my dining room that says Psalms 121:3, “He will not let your foot slip. He who watches over you will not slumber.” And the “WATCHES OVER YOU” is in giant all caps just like that.) Thanks, Lord! I got it!

 

Now I have a new conviction. When I need help, (for this reason I bought the plaque), I like to be reminded that He will not slumber. I am grateful He is always there. Then when I mess up, or even just want to, His presence makes me uncomfortable.

 

I am thankful for this story because it has reminded me of the importance of self-examination. We won’t always have a Peter calling us out. As God’s children, He will always be watching and caring over us. As we pursue His will (which is always sin-free) this is one of the greatest blessings He has given us.

I thank God that He is steady – especially because I am not. He is constant. He is always good. He is

always holy. And praise His name a thousand times – He is always merciful!

Too Busy Working

Who’s not busy? We all have things to do – too many things! Many of us also have set some kind of goal or what we feel like is a “higher calling” for our lives. Basically, we’re busy, and we make plans. I want to share two things I was reminded of this morning concerning these areas.

 

First of all, let’s look at our business. Are we busy doing the right things? In Luke 10:38 – 42 Martha was really busy, too. Instead of applauding her efforts, Jesus told Martha that really only one thing was important. It was what Mary had chosen. Mary had chosen to spend time with Jesus. In this case, (as it always does) it meant letting something of lesser importance go in order to make the time. We can’t do everything? What is God asking us to let go to spend time with Him?

 

In Psalm 27:4 (AMP) David said, “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire for, and [insistently] require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, to behold and gaze upon the beauty [the sweet attractiveness and delightful loveliness] of the Lord and to meditate, consider, and inquire in His temple.”

 

The first words of that verse stung me, “One thing!” I ask God for tons of things! If I only asked one thing would it be to know God more? It was followed by another sting – if I spent more time just getting to know God better, then a lot of the other things I pray for might resolve themselves. Some of them might have never happened in the first place. That haunts me a little.

 

Next, what about our goals or the plans we are making? This is where I really fall short! As a matter of fact, that is why I’m so busy. I’m trying to work to accomplish the dreams that I believe God put in my heart. We do whatever it is we do for some sort of reason. Hopefully, we are trying to follow out God’s will for our lives, but even then we can get out of balance.

 

For me, the improper balance comes when I’m not seeing enough progress in a certain area. If I don’t feel like enough is happening – even if it’s God’s will – I try to help it along. This usually comes by some sort of work in my flesh (increasing my stress, frustration, and workload) to make something happen in my time instead of God’s time. Here’s where my favorite two verses from Psalm 27 (AMP) come in:

 

“13 [What, what would have become of me] had I not believed that I would see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living! 14 Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.”

 

In my Bible, verse 13 is in a box, and I have circled “wait” and “hope” in verse 14. Between these three verses from Psalms 27 (4,13,14), I feel like all of my business/prioritization struggles are solved. I have to know God. That is the higher calling for all of us! Because that is the most important task I have every day, I must rearrange or trash anything else that would hinder it. Next, I have to stop creating things to do while I wait for God. That time, too, should be replaced with getting to know Him better. Instead of working and whining, I will expect God’s goodness while I learn to wait on Him and His perfect timing just as David did.

 

Checking It Twice

Today I start a list. Yesterday I heard Joyce Meyer tell the story of how God convicted her of all of the areas in her life where her thoughts were not in agreement with Him. She said at that time she made a list of 65 things God showed her that she needed to change in her thought process and backed each one up with scripture stating, “You can’t just say whatever you want, and make it so. You have to say what God says about it!” She goes on to say that she would read the list aloud twice daily for 6 months before she felt like what she was saying was really down in her heart. And 30 years later, everything on her list has come to pass. ( The Amplified Version of Proverbs 18:21 says,” Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life]“)

 

Of course, I immediately know I need to compose a list of my own, but where to start? In my quiet time this morning I find my starting place. In Acts chapter 2, Peter is addressing the multitude that had gathered after the rushing wind and the tongues of fire. A huge miracle takes place. The power of the Holy Spirit is verified – so many amazing things are happening in the beginning of Acts. Still God chooses something else to get my attention today.

 

Number one on my list will read, “I am happy and secure because the Lord is constantly before me. I cannot be shaken or moved away from my secure and happy place.” I based this on Acts 2:25 which reads, “For David says in regard to Him, I saw the Lord constantly before me for He is at my right hand that I may not be shaken or overthrown or cast down [from my secure and happy state].” (AMP)

 

I can’t tell you the times in the last few days that I have felt confused about what I am supposed to be doing. Satan brings me doubts AND fear! Sometimes I feel like he is shouting at me so loudly it makes it difficult to hear that “still small voice.” But today I can fight back!

 

Under every attack from the enemy (or those pretty good people that are temporarily allowing the enemy to use them in his evil plan) I will confidently remind myself – Jesus himself is constantly before me. There is no way that I cannot be secure and happy. After all, it’s Jesus! I have the Holy Spirit! My circumstances may look harry, but there is definitely nothing stronger than the Holy Spirit! I resolve I shall not be moved either!!!

Hello All

I am very excited to be coming to you via my new blog. I represent the epitome of inexperienced right now, but I hope to change that very soon! Today is a big day, as I am updating my website AND creating the blog account. Hopefully by the end of the day, I will have successfully linked the two.

 

You will find I often have a lot to say regarding my passions. And, as has been my whole life, my passions are many. Right now I am continuing to write Christian living as well as some new topics concerning pregnancy – which is fast growing as a priority for me! I’m experiencing so much right now, and I really want to share it with other people with the hopes of helping them.

 

For those of you who don’t know – I am a nurse. Actually, now I hold the title of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist which means I put people to sleep, give epidurals, etc. I have been blessed enough to take some time off so that I can focus more on my writing. I recently told my writing group that I’ve never been so happy and so scared. That was totally true until the pregnancy hormones kicked in! Now, I should more accurately say, “I have never been so happy with weird periods of sadness for apparently no reason at all, scared, moody, felt not myself, and SUPER-emotional.” I’ve literally gotten off the treadmill the last two mornings because I was crying (from watching TV) – and it wasn’t even a sad show! Thank God, those have been happy tears, but tears all the same. (And don’t be too impressed by the treadmill comment. I’m hanging out around 3 miles an hour these days which is considerably slower than I walk to the bathroom most of the time now. Not very impressive, but I figure it beats 8 hours a day from a recliner, sofa or wherever else I choose to write.) J

 

Hopefully I will see an end to the emotional rollercoaster pretty soon. Now 9 weeks with child, it is supposed to be gone by the 12^th right? Maybe some of you baby – having pros can send some advice my way. I figure I need all the help I can get!

 

Take Care & God Bless